Description
Crispy Lebanese arayes bring grilled pita magic to your table with spiced lamb and melted cheese. Mediterranean flavors dance between charred bread layers, promising a quick, irresistible appetizer you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1 pound (454 grams) lean ground beef or ground lamb
Produce:
- ½ medium yellow onion
- 6 sprigs fresh parsley
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1 medium lemon
Bread:
- 4 pocketed pita breads
Spices and Seasonings:
- 1 tablespoon baharat spice
- 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon ground allspice
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
Sauces and Oils:
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon pomegranate molasses (optional)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Yogurt Sauce Ingredients:
- 1 clove garlic
- ½ cup plain Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoons tahini
- 2 tablespoons water, plus more as needed
- Kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
Garnish:
- Sumac (optional)
Instructions
- Pulse yellow onion, parsley, garlic, tomato paste, pomegranate molasses, baharat, salt, cumin, allspice, and cayenne in a food processor until onions are coarsely chopped.
- Transfer the processed mixture into a large mixing bowl and incorporate ground beef or lamb, gently mixing until ingredients are evenly distributed.
- Soften pitas by microwaving wrapped stacks briefly to ensure pliability, then slice each into half-moon shapes.
- Distribute meat mixture evenly inside pita pockets, spreading to create a uniform layer.
- Heat cast iron skillet or grill pan over medium-high temperature and brush olive oil on exterior of filled pita halves.
- Cook arayes in batches, allowing each side to brown and crisp while ensuring meat is thoroughly cooked, approximately 3-5 minutes per side.
- Adjust heat as necessary to prevent excessive browning before meat is fully done.
- For accompanying sauce, combine grated garlic, lemon juice, Greek yogurt, tahini, and water in a small bowl.
- Whisk sauce ingredients until smooth, adding water gradually to achieve desired creamy consistency.
- Season sauce with salt and pepper, then garnish with sumac if desired.
- Serve arayes hot with prepared yogurt sauce for dipping.
Notes
- Authentic Lebanese street food that transforms simple pita into a crispy, flavor-packed meal.
- Baharat spice blend adds warm, complex Middle Eastern flavor profile to the ground meat filling.
- Microwave pitas briefly to ensure they’re soft and flexible for easy stuffing without tearing.
- Use lean ground beef or lamb for best texture and to prevent excess grease during cooking.
- Cast iron skillet provides perfect crispy exterior while ensuring meat is fully cooked through.
- Yogurt-tahini sauce offers cool, tangy contrast to the spicy, crisp arayes, elevating the entire dish.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Dinner
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 470
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 26 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg