Spicy Pita Pockets with Chicken, Lentils, and Tahini Sauce
Bailey Farms hot sauces are all natural and of the highest quality. Unlike other sauces that are mostly pepper-vinegar, they are a blend of chiles and fresh vegetables that are cooked down to perfection and deliver the perfect balance of heat and flavor.
Ingredients:
1 cup dried lentils
1/2 onion, cut in half
2 3/4 cups plus 6 Tbsp water
1 Tbsp olive oil
2 1/2 tsp salt
1 bay leaf
1/2 cup coarse bulgar
1 1/2 tsp Bailey Farms Habanero Hot Sauce
1/2 cup tahini
2 cloves garlic, minced
5 tsp lemon juice
1 cup plain yogurt
8 pitas
1 roasted chicken, bones and skin removed, meat shredded
2 large tomatoes, chopped
1 head romaine lettuce, shredded
Instructions:
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 and 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.
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.
Wrap the pitas in aluminum foil and warm them in the oven, about 10 minutes.
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.
Serves 4.
Adapted from recipe in Food & Wine, 1997.