Ingredients
- 4 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into ¼-inch strips
- ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp salted butter
- 1 yellow onion, sliced lengthwise into 1-inch wedges
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup garlic broth (or chicken broth)
Dry masala
- 1 tbsp paprika
- 1 tbsp curry powder
- 1 tbsp seasoned salt
- 2 tsp black pepper
- 1 1/2 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp turmeric
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2–1 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1/2–1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
To serve
- Pita or flatbread, warmed
- Hummus
- Red onion, thinly sliced
- Dill pickles, diced
- Tzatziki
Instructions
Cook
- Set Instant Pot to Sauté. Add olive oil and butter.
- Add onion and garlic. Sauté 3 minutes until slightly softened — no need to brown.
- Add chicken strips and dry masala. Stir well to coat everything evenly.
- Pour in broth and stir. Scrape any spices off the bottom.
- Seal and pressure cook on High for 7 minutes. Quick release when done.
- The chicken will be tender and sitting in spiced, aromatic oil — don't discard the pot liquid.
Assemble
- Spread hummus generously on a warm pita.
- Layer on chicken and onions from the pot.
- Add sliced red onion, pickles, and a spoonful of tzatziki.
- Drizzle spice-infused oil from the pot over everything.
- Roll tightly and serve immediately.
Notes
- Cut chicken into strips, not chunks — the texture is noticeably better.
- The onion wedges don't need to be fine; they soften in the pot and add sweetness.
- Don't second-guess the spice quantities — it looks like a lot but the result is well-balanced.
- The oil left in the pot after cooking is deeply flavoured; use it as a drizzle, not waste it.
Variations
- Marinated — mix the dry masala with the olive oil and coat the chicken at least 2 hours (or overnight) before cooking. Likely deeper flavour, worth trying.
- Oven method — spread marinated chicken on a sheet pan, roast at 425°F for 25–30 minutes, finishing under the broiler for 2–3 minutes to char the edges.
- Milder — omit the cayenne and red pepper flakes entirely; the remaining spices give plenty of warmth without heat.
My Notes
Mar 29, 2026
Followed exact steps. Chicken was amazing — didn't need to worry about the spice quantity, it all balanced out. Definitely a regular. Want to try marinating the chicken a few hours next time to see if it makes a difference.
Added Aug 27, 2026 · Updated Aug 27, 2026