Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
Spicy Chicken
- 2 tablespoons harissa paste
- 1 lemon, juiced
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 8 chicken tenderloins
- salt and pepper
Gyros
- 4 flatbreads, pitas or gyros
- 1 cup frozen chips
- rocket leaves
- 2 tomatoes, sliced
- ¼ red onion, sliced
- 1 cup tzatziki
Instructions
- Combine the harissa paste, lemon juice, paprika, cumin, Cajun seasoning and salt and pepper in a mixing bowl. Add the chicken to the harissa mixture and toss to coat.
- Transfer the chicken to the air fryer basket, along with the frozen chips and air-fry at 180 °C for 16 minutes.
- Heat the gyros/flatbreads in a frypan while the chicken is cooking.
- Assemble the gyros. Start with the gyros/flatbread and add a handful of rocket leaves. Next add a layer of slices of tomato and onion. Add 2 chicken tenderloins and a handful of chips and then finish with a drizzle of tzatziki.
Typically, a gyro is a Greek style sandwich, normally served in a pita type bread and often served wrapped with tzatziki and fries. This spicy chicken gyros recipe is my take on a gyro dish. It’s not a traditional gyro recipe but it tastes great. The spiciness of the chicken marinade is balanced out with the fresh salad and the tzatziki sauce. Of course, the dish can be taken to the next level by the use of fresh flat bread.
A gyro’s typically uses a soft pita bread, but for this recipe you can use a wrap, pita, naan, or whatever other flatbread you fancy. For the tzatziki, you can use store-bought or homemade (which will always taste better in my opinion)
Preparing the Spicy Chicken Marinade
To start the marinade, combine harissa paste, fresh lemon juice, paprika, cajun seasoning, cumin and salt and pepper in a mixing bowl. Add your chicken tenderloins, and toss to coat all over.
At this point the chicken can be cooked straight away, or you may choose to cover and leave it in the fridge to marinade until needed.
Note: Not a fan of spice. Instead mix 1 tablespoon of mixed herbs with 1/2 teaspoon of lemon zest and 1 tablespoon of olive oil to make a chicken marinade instead. Coat the chicken and follow the rest of the recipe as is.
Cooking the Spicy Chicken
Take the marinaded chicken and shake off any excess marinade. Add the chicken to the basket of your air-fryer. Add a cup of frozen chips at the same time and then cook on 180 °C for approximately 16 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through. You can also add an extra bit of char to the chicken by preheating the air-fryer basket for 2-3 minutes before adding in the chicken.
Alternatively, a barbecue grill or conventional oven can both also be used to cook the chicken if you don’t own an air-fryer.
Assembling the Gyros
While the chicken is cooking, take the time to prepare the tzatziki, chop the salad ingredients and then toast the pita breads. Typically, the pitas are toasted on both sides for 1-2 minutes, to warm them through.
To assemble the gyro. Take the toasted pita, spread a generous amount of tzatziki on top and spread using the back of a spoon. Add a handful of rocket leaves, and then some slices of tomato and onion. Finish with a handful of chips and 2 chicken tenderloins before rolling up.
Tip: Assemble each gyro on a piece of baking paper (or foil). Once assembled, you can use the baking paper to wrap the gyro, keeping it together and making it easier to eat, which is also great for going in a lunchbox.
Recipe Notes
- Harissa Paste is a hot chilli paste, typically used in dips and marinades. You can find different version, typically in the spice section of your supermarket. Alot of supermarkets will sell a thick like paste in a thin tube. Local growers’ markets will often sell a version that is slightly oilier but has a far superior and stronger flavor.
- Cajun seasoning is a premade blend of spices – typically made with salt, pepper, paprika, onion, garlic and herbs such as thyme and garlic. There are recipes to make your own, or you can buy premade mixes in the spice section at most supermarkets.
