Crispy Lebanese Meat Stuffed Pita
Crispy Lebanese Meat Stuffed Pita, known as Arayes, is a delicious and satisfying dish made with spiced meat and soft pita, perfect for quick dinners or party appetizers.
Ingredients
Pita and Filling
- 5 pieces pita bread (the thin pocket type, ~15cm/6" diameter) Cut in half
- 1 spray olive oil Or brush with olive oil
- 1/2 pieces brown onion Finely chopped
- 500 grams lamb or beef mince (ground meat)
- 2 cloves garlic Finely grated
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped parsley Optional
- 3 teaspoons ground coriander
- 3 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 1/2 teaspoons smoked paprika Sub plain paprika if desired
- 3/4 teaspoon ground allspice Sub mixed spice if desired
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper Reduce/omit for less spicy
- 1 1/4 teaspoons cooking/kosher salt
Whipped Tahini Sauce
- 1 cup plain yogurt
- 2 tablespoons tahini Or Chinese sesame paste
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 clove garlic Finely grated
- 1/2 teaspoon cooking/kosher salt
Instructions
Preparation
- Chop the onion finely.
- In a large bowl, mix the minced meat with the chopped onion, finely grated garlic, parsley, and spices (ground coriander, ground cumin, smoked paprika, ground allspice, cayenne pepper, and salt). Combine everything well until it's mixed evenly.
Cooking Arayes
- Preheat your grill or a pan over medium-high heat.
- Take a pita half and fill it generously with the spiced meat mixture. Press the pita to close it.
- Lightly spray or brush the outside with olive oil. Place it on the grill or in the pan and cook for about 2-3 minutes per side, or until the pita is crispy and the meat is cooked through.
- Repeat this step with the remaining pita halves.
Whipped Tahini Sauce
- In a small bowl, mix the yogurt, tahini, lemon juice, grated garlic, and salt. Whisk everything together until smooth.
Serving
- Serve Arayes hot with the whipped tahini sauce on the side. You can also add fresh salad or pickles for an extra crunch.
Notes
Make sure not to overfill the pita to prevent it from bursting while cooking. Adjust the spices according to your taste; feel free to add more spices for extra flavor. A splash of hot sauce can give an added kick if you like it spicy. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.