Middle Eastern Crispy Chicken + Chickpea Pita

Crispy roasted chicken, cumin-spiced chickpeas and quick-pickled onion tucked into warm pita with a fresh garlic herb yoghurt, a fast, flavourful midweek meal using leftover or store-bought roast chicken. 

Prep time: 10 minutes  
Cook time: 15 minutes  
Serves: 4 

Ingredients: 

Chicken 

  • 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 

  • 2 cups pre-cooked roasted chicken, torn into pieces 

  • 1 tsp cumin seeds 

  • 1 x 400g can chickpeas, drained and rinsed 

Pickled Onion 

  • 1 Spanish onion, finely sliced 

  • ¼ cup white wine vinegar 

  • ¼ cup caster sugar 

  • Garlic Herb Yoghurt 

  • 1 cup plain full-fat yoghurt 

  • 1½ tbsp garlic dip 

  • ¼ cup dill, finely chopped 

  • ¼ cup mint leaves, finely chopped 

  • juice of ½ lemon 

To Serve 

  • 4 pita breads 

  • 1 Lebanese cucumber, finely sliced into half moons 

  • lemon wedges 

Method: 

  1. Place the white wine vinegar and caster sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir until the sugar dissolves, then bring to the boil. Remove from heat and set aside to cool. 

  1. Place the sliced onion in a bowl, pour over the cooled pickling liquid and stir to combine. Refrigerate while you prepare the remaining components. 

  1. Combine the yoghurt, garlic dip, dill, mint and lemon juice in a bowl. Season with salt and freshly cracked black pepper and stir to combine. 

  1. Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan over high heat. Add the chicken and cook for five minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden and crisp. 

  1. Add the cumin seeds and stir through. Cook for a further three minutes until fragrant. 

  1. Add the chickpeas and stir to combine. Cook for three minutes until heated through, then remove from heat. 

  1. Warm the pita breads and cut in half to form pockets. 

  1. Spread each pita pocket generously with garlic herb yoghurt, fill with the chicken and chickpea mix, and top with cucumber slices and pickled onion. Serve with lemon wedges. 

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Ingredients for Middle Eastern Crispy Chicken + Chickpea Pita