Servings
Font
Back
5.0 from 3 votes

Arayes

Popular throughout the Middle East, arayes (or ara'yes), a word meaning “bride,” are pita sandwiches stuffed with ground lamb, and spices and herbs.

Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
40 mins
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 683 kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Middle Eastern , Syrian , Jordanian

Ingredients

  • 4 large pita breads (recipe here)
  • 20 oz. ground lamb
  • 3 cloves garlic , crushed
  • 1 onion , finely chopped
  • 1 Small bunch flat-leaf parsley , finely chopped
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon pomegranate molasses
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon baharat
  • ½ teaspoon cumin
  • 1 large tomato , peeled, seeded and chopped
  • olive oil (for brushing)

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Preheat the oven to 430 F (220˚C).
  2. Combine all the ingredients, except the tomatoes and the pita bread, and knead the mixture for 5 minutes.
  3. Add the tomatoes and mix well for 5 minutes.
  4. Spread a layer of the meat mixture into each pita bread.
  5. Brush each pita bread with olive oil on both sides.
  6. Arrange the stuffed breads on the oven rack in the center of the oven.
  7. Bake at 430 F (220°C) for 20 minutes, turning them halfway through baking so that the arayes are golden and crisp on both sides.
  8. Cut each sandwich into 3 or 4 and serve hot, accompanied by a vegetable salad (salata baladi), green salad and labneh.

Notes

  • These can also be cooked on the barbecue, in a sandwich toaster, or in a cast iron pan.