Chicken Shawarma Pitas

Just before we moved from Iowa, we discovered an amazing Falafel/Mediterranean food place. Why are the best places always discovered during the exit phase? We only got to eat there twice but happily pigged out both times. I've had a few previous disasters with homemade falafel, so I haven't tried it again yet, but I did find a wonderful recipe for chicken schwarma.

Despite the weird name, this is just super yummy chicken stuffed into pita bread with hummus, veggies, and cucumber yogurt sauce. And I could have eaten 12 of these guys. 

Yeah, not the best picture. But I was too excited to eat to try to get a better one.

Chicken Shawarma Pitas

Source: Fannetastic Food

Chicken:

• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon curry powder
• 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil 
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces or strips
• 
  
• Combine all ingredients in a bowl or sealable plastic bag and allow chicken to marinate for at least 20 minutes. Empty contents into a pan sprayed with nonstick cooking spray and cook until liquid has mostly evaporated off and chicken is cooked through.

Cucumber Yogurt Sauce: (You can also use Tzatziki sauce or even Ranch dressing)

6 oz container non-fat plain Greek yogurt
1 clove garlic
Juice from 1 whole lemon
1/3 of a cucumber, peeled and diced 
Salt to taste

Combine all ingredients in a food processor until mostly smooth. Cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour. Adjust salt to taste.

Hummus:

I really like to make homemade hummus (Hello! Cheaper!) but store-bought is also fine. I would recommend plain or garlic for this recipe. 

Assembly:

Warm whole-wheat pita bread slightly (microwave or stove-top) until soft and pliable. These can be served open-face or stuffed (the picture at the top is stuffed, Fannetastic Food is open-faced). For open-face, spread the pita with hummus, top with chicken, tomato slices, and some lettuce (if you want), and drizzle with yogurt sauce. For stuffed, break the pita in half and open it, spread the inside with hummus, and stuff in the chicken and veggies and drizzle the yogurt sauce over the top. Voila!