Chicken Pita with Roasted Pepper Sauce

Chicken Pita with Roasted Pepper Sauce

A quick, high-protein weeknight sandwich or lunch to go.

2 servings plus extra sauce

Time: 35 mins

Ethan ChlebowskiBy Ethan Chlebowski
Photography by Ethan Chlebowski

This will make extra roasted pepper mayo, but it’s a great sauce to keep in the fridge. It works well on salads, sandwiches, rice bowls, or more servings of this pita if you scale the rest of the recipe.

Ethan Chlebowski

Ethan Chlebowski

CREATOR

Ingredients

  • Roasted pepper mayo sauce

    • red bell peppers
      1-2~ 2 parts
    • mayonnaise
      130 g~ 1 part
    • aleppo pepper
      a spoonfulor to taste
    • smoked paprika
      a sprinkleor to taste
    • neutral oil
      a spritzfor roasting peppers
    • salt
      to taste
  • Chicken

    • chicken breasts
      1~250 g
    • olive oil
      for searing~10 g
    • salt
      a sprinkle~2 g
  • Remaining pita components

    • pita bread
      , thicker style
      2
    • tomatoes
      , quartered
      1-2 tomatoes1 part
    • shallots
      , thinly sliced
    • arugula
    • feta
      , crumbled

Method

Step 1: Roast & peel the peppers

Slice the peppers in half and remove any core, seeds, or stems. Sprinkle the interior lightly with salt, then barely coat the exterior in a thin layer of oil.

Arrange the peppers cut side down on a sheet tray, and slide under a set to high for 5 minutes or until the skin is & wrinkly.

Remove the charred peppers from the oven and put them into a sealed container to and finish softening, about 3–5 minutes.

While still warm, remove the skin from the peppers, which should now peel away more easily.

Step 2: Blend the sauce

Add the roasted, cleaned peppers to a food processor and add the mayo (you’re looking for a 2:1 pepper:mayo ratio). Add the Aleppo pepper and smoked paprika, then pulse until smooth. Taste and adjust with more salt or spices, if needed.

Add to a squeeze bottle (or other container) and set aside in the fridge until ready to use.

Step 3: Sear the chicken

Slice or butterfly your chicken breast into a thin, even piece for quicker cooking. Sprinkle with an even layer of salt on both sides.

Heat a stainless steel pan over medium-high, then add a drizzle of oil to coat the pan. Lay down the chicken to undisturbed for a few minutes.

When the chicken is taking on some color and releases from the pan, flip to finish cooking through. You can verify with a thermometer and pull it at 155°F/68°C internal.

Allow the cooked chicken to rest off heat while you gather the rest of the pita components.

Step 4: Prep remaining components

Slice the tomato & shallots, gather the arugula and feta, and slice the pita in half like a hamburger bun (if using a thick, fluffy pita; flatter, wider pitas can be used like a wrap).

Thinly slice the rested chicken into bite-sized pieces.

Step 5: Assemble, wrap, & serve

To each pita bread, layer on a handful of arugula, a few tomato slices, shallots, feta, ~120 g of chicken, and ~20 g drizzle of sauce. Close the pita, wrap with parchment paper to compress the ingredients together, then enjoy.

LET'S COOK!

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