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Spicy Pita Pockets with Chicken, Lentils, and Tahini Sauce
© Ashley Rodriguez

Spicy Pita Pockets with Chicken, Lentils, and Tahini Sauce

Contributed by Quick From Scratch Chicken
  • ACTIVE: 10 MIN
  • TOTAL TIME: 45 MIN
  • SERVINGS: 4
  • FAST

Here's something to do with roasted chicken from the deli—a Middle Eastern sandwich chock-full of spicy lentils, bulgur, lettuce, tomato and tahini sauce. Two pockets per person is enough to make a meal. If you like, serve extra Tabasco sauce at the tabl...

  1. 1 cup dried lentils
  2. 1/2 onion, cut in half
  3. 2 3/4 cups plus 6 tablespoons water
  4. 1 tablespoon olive oil
  5. 2 1/2 teaspoons salt
  6. 1 bay leaf
  7. 1/2 cup coarse bulgar
  8. 1 1/2 teaspoons Tabasco sauce
  9. 1/2 cup tahini
  10. 2 cloves garlic, minced
  11. 5 teaspoons lemon juice
  12. 1 cup plain yogurt
  13. 8 pitas
  14. 1 roasted chicken, bones and skin removed, meat shredded
  15. 2 large tomatoes, chopped
  16. 1 head romaine lettuce, shredded
  1. Heat the oven to 350°. In a medium saucepan, combine the lentils, onion, the 2 3/4 cups water, the oil, 1 teaspoon of the salt, and the bay leaf. Bring to a boil; simmer, partially covered, for 15 minutes. Stir in the bulgar and continue cooking, partially covered, stirring occasionally, until the lentils and bulgar are just done, about 12 more minutes. Remove from the heat, stir in the Tabasco sauce, and let sit, partially covered, for 5 minutes. Remove the onion and the bay leaf.
  2. Meanwhile, in a medium glass or stainless-steel bowl, whisk together the tahini, the remaining 6 tablespoons water, the garlic, the lemon juice, the remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and the yogurt.
  3. Wrap the pitas in aluminum foil and warm them in the oven, about 10 minutes.
  4. Cut the top third off of each pita. Spoon 1/4 cup of the lentil mixture into each pita. Divide half the chicken and tomatoes among the pitas and drizzle each with 1 tablespoon of the sauce. Top with half the lettuce. Repeat. Serve with the remaining sauce.

Suggested Pairing

You need a straightforward wine that won't compete but will be gulpable enough to prepare the palate for the next hot bite. Try a Chenin Blanc or a White Zinfandel from California.