Za'atar Schnitzel Sandwich with Quick Tzatziki Sauce
Rated 5.0 stars by 1 users Mediterranean Madness 6 2 hours 30 minutes Lollygag 4 large chicken breasts- Skinless and boneless 1 C. All purpose flour 4 extra large eggs 1 Tbsp. Milk 2-3 Cups Panko Crumbs 2 Tsp.Green Za'atar plus 1/2 Tsp. for garnish 4-6 small soft fresh pita pockets or flatbread 1 Tsp. Kosher salt 1/2-1 C. Quick Tzatziki Sauce/dip Vegetable or Canola oil for cooking- Recommended for a crispy crust. Sea salt- garnish Harissa oil or Harissa (You can generally find this at your local grocery store or Trader Joe's or World Market. 1 C. Milk 1/2 C. Greek Yogurt 1/4 C. Dill Pickle Juice 1 Tsp. Green Za'atar 1/4 C. Red Onion-Minced 1/2 C. Persian Cucumber- Diced 1/2 C. Ripe Rainbow Cherry Tomatoes or fresh ripe tomatoes- Chopped 4 Tbsp. Fresh Lemon juice 4 Tbsp. Extra virgin olive oil 1/4 C. Fresh Parsley- Leaves only-chopped Salt & pepper-to taste Prepare your Tzatziki sauce and Israeli salad and chill until use. Combine Yogurt, milk, 1 Tsp. Green Za'atar, and pickle juice (this helps create a buttermilk consistency) in a large bowl. Pound out your chicken with a meat tenderizer or kitchen mallet until 1/2” thickness and slice into smaller strips or pieces. Place chicken in a plastic bag or container with your yogurt mixture and let marinate for at least 2 hours or overnight for best flavor. Prep your Israeli salad by combining all the salad ingredients in a small bowl and mix well. Set aside until use. Drain chicken from your marinade and place on paper towel to pat excess moisture off. In a large zip-lock bag- combine the flour and 1 Tsp. of kosher salt and add your chicken pieces too the bag. Close bag and shake well, making sure each piece of chicken is coated thoroughly with the flour mixture. Place eggs and 1 Tbsp. of milk or water in a large bowl and whisk well- set aside. In a large shallow dish mix Panko crumbs and the 2 Tsp.of Green Za'atar, then mix to combine. Next, one by one, remove each piece of chicken from the flour and place them into the egg mixture to coat well. Drain excess egg off, then coat well with Za'atar/Panko crumb mixture patting the crumbs into them. Place them as you go, on a large cutting board to let them dry out a little while you repeat with the rest of the chicken pieces. This allows the crumbs to stick better to chicken when fried. Using a large, deep skillet ( at least 3-4” tall) heat about 1.5” -2" high of vegetable oil to 350 degrees or until a wooden spatula begins to fizz/bubble when placed in oil. Once oil is hot, carefully add your pieces of chicken to the pan making sure to not over crowd them. Cook until each side is nice and golden brown, flipping them periodically. Remove the chicken from pan when they look done and place them on a cooling rack over a paper towel (this keeps them crispy or paper towel if you don't have a rack to absorb excess oil. (see recipe notes below) Repeat with remaining chicken, then remove your pan from the heat. Sprinkle the schnitzel with sea salt while it is still warm and a pinch more Za'atar. Layer a large spoonful of Tzatziki into your pita pocket or flatbread, then add 2 small pieces of schnitzel and top with a spoonful of Israeli salad. Sprinkle with Za'atar and a drizzle of Harissa, Harissa oil, or pepper oil for added flavor. * For best results of crispy chicken- let the battered chicken sit on a cutting board to dry a little before frying in oil, we recommend using canola oil to fry and placing the cooked chicken on a cooling rack over a paper towel to keep it from getting soggy. * Never throw away your left over pickle juice after you've finished that last pickle! Keep it stored in the fridge for adding a pop to your chicken/milk-yogurt marinades. * The smaller and thinner the pieces of chicken, the more moist the chicken will be due to a shorter cooking time but be careful not to overcook them. Za'atar Schnitzel Sandwich with Quick Tzatziki Sauce
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Author: This is the perfect bright, zesty, and delicious snack or fun family night dinner,
easy to make and a true crowd pleaser!
Ingredients
Za'atar Schnitzel Sandwiches
Schnitzel Marinade
Israeli Salad
Directions
Schnitzel Marinade
Schnitzel Prep
Assembly
Recipe Note
* This schnitzel recipe is also great served with Israeli Cous-Cous and roasted vegetables with Turmeric Tahini sauce, or topped with our 5 Minute Hummus & Quick Tahini.
Enjoy!