Oriental Chicken Pitas
Oriental Chicken Pitas offer a flavorful combination of tender chicken, crunchy sprouts, and water chestnuts, all wrapped in whole wheat pita with a savory soy and sesame dressing. Perfect for a quick, healthy lunch or dinner.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Combine chopped cooked chicken, alfalfa sprouts, chopped water chestnuts, and sliced green onions in a large bowl.
- Mix rice wine vinegar, reduced sodium soy sauce, and dark sesame oil in a small bowl.
- Pour the dressing over the chicken mixture and toss gently to combine.
- Line each pita half with lettuce.
- Spoon 1 cup of the chicken mixture into each pita half and serve.
Tips & Substitutions
For a crunchier texture, consider adding shredded carrots or chopped bell peppers to the chicken mixture. If you want a lighter option, substitute the whole wheat pita with lettuce wraps. You can also use leftover grilled chicken or rotisserie chicken to save time. For a spicier kick, add a dash of sriracha or chili sauce to the dressing.
Serving Suggestions
These Oriental Chicken Pitas make a great light lunch or dinner. Serve with a side of crunchy vegetable sticks or a fresh salad. They also pair beautifully with Chilled Tomato Soup With Basil Sorbet for a refreshing summer meal. For extra flavor, consider adding a side of Rice With Mushrooms And Peas(Riso Con I Funghi E Piselli).
Storage & Reheating
Store any leftover chicken mixture in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, gently warm the mixture in a pan over low heat, stirring occasionally. If you prefer cold pitas, you can assemble them with the chilled chicken mixture straight from the fridge.
Nutrition & Diet Analysis (per serving)
Each serving of Oriental Chicken Pitas contains roughly 62 calories, with 6g protein, 9g carbohydrates, and 1g fat. It is a good source of protein (12% of the Daily Value). Note that it is relatively high in sodium, at 2237mg per serving (97% of the Daily Value).
Estimated from ingredients & per-serving nutrition — verify against package labels for allergies or strict diets.
* % Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet (FDA 2020).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use raw chicken instead of cooked chicken for this recipe?
No, it's essential to use cooked chicken for safety and to ensure the flavors meld properly. If you have raw chicken, cook it thoroughly before adding it to the salad mixture. Grilled or rotisserie chicken works great.
What can I substitute for water chestnuts?
If you can't find water chestnuts, sliced cucumber or jicama can provide a similar crunch. Alternatively, you can omit them altogether and add extra alfalfa sprouts for texture.
Can I make these pitas ahead of time?
Yes, you can prepare the chicken mixture a day in advance and store it in the fridge. However, it's best to assemble the pitas just before serving to keep the pita bread from becoming soggy.
Nutrition is estimated from USDA FoodData Central ingredient data and may vary with brand, portion and preparation — see our methodology. This information is for general educational purposes only and is not medical or dietary advice (disclaimer).