Arayes (Lebanese Crispy Meat Stuffed Pita)
Arayes are Middle Eastern stuffed pita sandwiches filled with seasoned ground meat and pan-fried until crispy. Enjoy them with a tangy tahini yogurt sauce for a delightful meal or appetizer.
Ingredients
Filling:
- 12 ounces ground lamb beef, or turkey
- 1/4 cup chopped parsley
- 3 cloves garlic finely minced
- 3 tablespoons grated yellow onion
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Tahini Yogurt Sauce:
- 1 rounded tablespoon tahini
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 clove garlic finely grated
- Pinch of cayenne pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt or to taste
Arayes:
- 2 pita breads
- 3 tablespoons olive oil for pan-frying
- Lemon wedges optional
Instructions
- Prepare Filling: In a bowl, combine ground meat, chopped parsley, minced garlic, grated onion, ground cumin, ground coriander, smoked paprika, ground allspice, cayenne pepper, kosher salt, and black pepper. Mix well to combine. Cover and chill for at least 1 hour or up to 12 hours.
- Make Tahini Yogurt Sauce: In a microwave-safe bowl, heat tahini, lemon juice, and water until very hot, about 30 seconds. Transfer to a bowl with Greek yogurt, grated garlic, cayenne pepper, and kosher salt. Whisk until smooth and light. Chill until ready to serve.
- Prepare Pitas: Cut each pita in half and carefully open them without tearing the edges. Optionally, warm the pitas in a dry pan to soften them, making opening easier.
- Fill Pitas: Divide the meat mixture into 4 equal portions and stuff each pita half. Press gently to distribute the meat evenly and ensure it reaches the cut side.
- Cook Arayes: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook each stuffed pita until the meat is cooked through and the bread is nicely browned and crispy, about 3 to 4 minutes per side.
- Serve: Serve the hot arayes with the tahini yogurt sauce on the side. Optionally, serve with lemon wedges for added flavor.
- Chef's Note: The filling is aggressively seasoned, so adjust the spice measurements to taste. Test a small amount of filling and adjust as desired.
Video
Notes
Note: Arayes are a delicious Middle Eastern dish featuring seasoned meat stuffed inside pita bread and pan-fried until crispy. Serve these flavorful sandwiches with a refreshing tahini yogurt sauce for a delightful meal or appetizer.