Arayes: Middle Eastern Stuffed Pita Sandwiches with Spiced Ground Beef and Feta Recipe
Arayes are a delicious Middle Eastern dish featuring pita bread stuffed with a flavorful ground beef mixture and grilled to perfection in a skillet. Infused with aromatic spices, feta cheese, and fresh herbs, these savory stuffed pitas are crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, making for a perfect appetizer or main course. Served with lemon wedges and an optional lazy tzatziki dip, arayes offer a delightful combination of textures and tastes that bring a taste of the Levant to your table.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 8 arayes (4 pita breads, halved) 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
- Diet: Halal
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1/3 cup feta cheese, crumbled
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp ground cumin
- 1/2 tsp ground coriander
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp dried mint
- 1/8 tsp ground cloves
- Black pepper, to taste
- 4 pita breads, about 6 inch diameter
Optional Serving
- Lazy tzatziki dip
- Lemon wedges
Instructions
- Prepare the Filling: In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, crumbled feta cheese, minced garlic, olive oil, all the spices (salt, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cumin, coriander, cayenne, cinnamon, dried mint, ground cloves, and black pepper), and chopped fresh parsley. Mix thoroughly using your hands until all ingredients are evenly incorporated.
- Form Patties: Divide the mixture into 8 equal portions. Shape each portion into thin, half-moon shaped patties that will fit inside the pita halves.
- Prepare Pitas: Cut each pita bread in half to create pockets. Place one meat patty inside each pita half, spreading the filling evenly within.
- Preheat Skillet: Heat a large skillet over medium heat and drizzle a small amount of olive oil to prevent sticking.
- Cook Arayes: Place the stuffed pita halves in the skillet, cooking for 4 to 5 minutes on each side. Be sure to sear the open meat side carefully to ensure the filling cooks thoroughly. Maintain medium to medium-low heat to avoid burning while allowing the meat to fully cook through.
- Serve: Remove from heat and serve the arayes hot, accompanied by lemon wedges and optional lazy tzatziki dip for dipping.
Notes
- Use medium heat to avoid burning the pita before the meat is cooked through.
- Press the meat patties thin for even cooking and crispier pita.
- Variations can include using lamb instead of beef, or adding chopped onions for extra flavor.
- Serve immediately for best texture and taste; leftovers can be reheated in a skillet or oven.
- Lazy tzatziki can be made by mixing Greek yogurt with minced cucumber, garlic, lemon juice, and dill.
Keywords: Arayes, Middle Eastern stuffed pita, ground beef pita, grilled stuffed pita, Lebanese dish, easy beef recipe
