Ingredients
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4 pita bread rounds
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1 teaspoon paprika
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1 teaspoon dried thyme
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1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
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1 pinch cinnamon
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4 vine-ripe tomatoes, halved, seeded and thinly sliced
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1/2 seedless cucumber, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced
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1 small red onion, thinly sliced
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4 celery ribs, from the heart thinly sliced at an angle
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1 cup flat leaf parsley, coarsely chopped
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salt
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1 cup greek-style plain yogurt
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2 teaspoons ground cumin
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1 lemon, juice of
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1/2-1 teaspoon Tabasco sauce
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1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
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3/4 lb feta, crumbled
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8 jarred pepperoncini peppers (hot peppers)
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1 cup pitted kalamata olive
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8 jarred grape leaves or 8 store-bought stuffed grape leaves, drained
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1 garlic clove, smashed and peeled
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fresh ground pepper
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1 red bell peppers (seeded, quartered lengthwise, thinly sliced) or 1 green bell pepper (seeded, quartered lengthwise, thinly sliced)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°.
- Split the pitas open into 8 halves.
- Lay the bread out on your countertop, insides facing up.
- In a small bowl, mix together the paprika, thyme, oregano and cinnamon. Sprinkle the spices evenly over the split bread.
- Place the bread on an oven rack and toast until golden and crisp, about 4 to 5 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and tear into jagged pieces about the size of tortilla chips and reserve.
- On a large serving platter, combine the tomatoes, half of the cucumber, and the onion, celery, bell pepper and parsley, season with salt and pepper.
- To a food processor, add the remaining cucumber, the yogurt, cumin, garlic, lemon juice and Tabasco sauce and a little salt.
- Process the ingredients, adding the olive oil in a thin stream until smooth; taste the dressing and adjust the seasonings.
- Arrange the pita crisps on the salad, then drizzle the dressing all over. Finish off your salad with a pile of the feta, pepperoncini and olives.
- Serve with the stuffed grape leave on the side.