chicken-cucumber-pita-sandwiches-with-yogurt-sauce

Lunch Food

Chicken & Cucumber Pita Sandwiches with Yogurt Sauce

Cucumbers do double duty in this healthy Greek-inspired chicken pita recipe—they're grated to lend a refreshing flavor to the quick cucumber-yogurt sauce and sliced to provide cool crunch tucked into the pita. Serve these sandwiches for a healthy dinner or light lunch.

Ingredients

  1. 1 teaspoon lemon zest

  2. 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

  3. 5 teaspoons olive oil, divided

  4. 1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano or 1 teaspoon dried

  5. 2 ¾ teaspoons minced garlic, divided

  6. ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper

  7. 1 pound chicken tenders

  8. 1 English cucumber, halved, seeded and grated, plus 1/2 English cucumber, halved and sliced

  9. ½ teaspoon salt, divided

  10. ¾ cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt

  11. 2 teaspoons chopped fresh mint

  12. 2 teaspoons chopped fresh dill

  13. 1 teaspoon ground pepper

  14. 2 (6 1/2 inch) whole-wheat pita breads, halved

  15. 4 lettuce leaves

  16. ½ cup sliced red onion

  17. 1 cup chopped plum tomatoes

Directions

  1. Combine lemon zest, lemon juice, 3 tsp. oil, oregano, 2 tsp. garlic, and crushed red pepper in a large bowl. Add chicken and toss to coat. Marinate in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour or up to 4 hours.

  2. Meanwhile, toss grated cucumber with 1/4 tsp. salt in a fine-mesh sieve. Let drain for 15 minutes, then squeeze to release more liquid. Transfer to a medium bowl. Stir in yogurt, mint, dill, ground pepper, and the remaining 2 tsp. oil, 3/4 tsp. garlic, and 1/4 tsp. salt. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

  3. Preheat grill to medium-high.

  4. Oil the grill rack (see Tip). Grill the chicken until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the center registers 165 degrees F, 3 to 4 minutes per side.

  5. To serve, spread some of the sauce inside each pita half. Tuck in the chicken, lettuce, red onion, tomatoes, and sliced cucumber.