Arayes – Lebanese Meat-Stuffed Crispy Pita
Courtesy of Recipe Tin Eats
INGREDIENTS
Prep Time
15 minutes
Cook Time
15 minutes
Servings
10
Pita Bread:
5 Thin pita bread cut in half
Olive oil spray (or brush with olive oil)
Spiced Meat Filling:
1/2 brown onion
1 lb lamb or ground beef
2 garlic cloves , finely grated
1 tbsp finely chopped parsley , optional
3 tsp ground coriander
3 tsp ground cumin
1 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
3/4 tsp ground allspice
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1 1/4 tsp cooking/kosher salt
Whipped Tahini Yogurt Sauce:
1 cup plain yogurt
2 tbsp tahini
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 garlic clove , finely grated
1/2 tsp cooking/kosher salt
INSTRUCTIONS
Spiced Meat Filling:
Grate the onion in a bowl using a standard box grater. We want the juices and all!
Meat filling – Add remaining meat filling ingredients. Mix well with your hands.
Divide stuffing in 10 (1/4 cup). Flatten into a semi-circle shape slightly smaller than the pita bread half.
Stuff – Gently open a pita then place the meat inside. Close, then press to spread to the edge and make it fairly evenly flat.
Cooking Arayes:
Preheat oven to 120F. Place a rack on a tray. (To keep cooked Arayes warm.)
Cook – Heat a large frying pan over medium high heat. Spray both sides of the pita with olive oil then place 2 or 3 pieces in the pan (whatever you can fit). Cook for about 2 minutes on each side, pressing down lightly with a spatula, until golden and crispy. The meat is spread so thin it cooks really quickly!
Keep warm – Transfer cooked Arayes onto the rack and put in the oven to keep warm. Cook remaining pita.
Serve – Cut in half if desired. Pile Arayes onto a serving platter. Serve with Whipped Tahini sauce. Enjoy!
Whipped Tahini Sauce:
Place ingredients in a heatproof bowl and whisk to combine. Microwave for 15 seconds on high. Whisk again – it should resemble soft whipped cream. Use slightly warm or at room temperature.