Arayes (Middle Eastern Meat-Stuffed Pita)

Name: Arayes (Middle Eastern Meat-Stuffed Pita)
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 6 pita halves
Ingredients: 3 pitas (5-6 inches in diameter), halved; 1 lb lean ground beef; 1 small-medium yellow onion, grated; 2 garlic cloves, grated or pressed; 1 tbsp garlic powder; 1 tbsp onion powder; 2 tsp salt; 1/2 tsp pepper; 6 tbsp fresh minced mint; 1/4 tsp chili flakes; Lemon wedges; 1-2 tbsp fresh minced parsley; 1/2-1 cup tzatziki; 3 pitas (5-6 inches in diameter), halved; 1 lb ground chicken; 1/2 cup crumbled Feta cheese; 1 small-medium red onion, grated; 4 garlic cloves, pressed; 1 1/2 tsp salt; 1/2 tsp ground pepper; 1 tbsp olive oil; zest from one lemon; 4 tbsp minced fresh mint; 2 tbsp minced fresh basil; 1 jalapeno (seeds removed), minced; serve with: lemon wedges, fresh basil or mint for garnish, tzatziki

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5.0

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Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
35 mins
Servings
6 pita halves
Calories
256 kcal
Course
Main Course

Arayes (Middle Eastern Meat-Stuffed Pita)

Ulric Berry

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Arayes are a typical street food in the Middle East that are stuffed with minced meat. They are kid-friendly and delicious.

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Ingredients

Servings

3 pitas (5-6 inches in diameter), halved

For the beef filling

1 lb lean ground beef
1 small-medium yellow onion, grated
2 garlic cloves, grated or pressed
1 tbsp garlic powder
1 tbsp onion powder
2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
6 tbsp fresh minced mint
1/4 tsp chili flakes

For serving

Lemon wedges
1-2 tbsp fresh minced parsley
1/2-1 cup tzatziki (use our easy greek tzatziki recipe)

Variation: Chicken Arayes

3 pitas (5-6 inches in diameter), halved
1 lb ground chicken
1/2 cup crumbled Feta cheese
1 small-medium red onion, grated
4 garlic cloves, pressed
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground pepper
1 tbsp olive oil
zest from one lemon
4 tbsp minced fresh mint
2 tbsp minced fresh basil
1 jalapeno (seeds removed), minced
serve with: lemon wedges, fresh basil or mint for garnish, tzatziki (use our easy greek tzatziki recipe)

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Instructions

Make the meat filling: combine the beef, grated onion, grated garlic, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, olive oil, lemon zest, fresh mint, fresh basil and diced jalapeno in a bowl and mix well with your hands or a spatula to combine.
Divide the meat filling into 6 portions. Shape each portion into a semi-circle that's just a bit smaller than half of a pita.
Carefully open each pita half and put a flattened portion of meat into each. Close the pita and gently press to make the pita flat, the meat filling should be a half-inch thick.*Note: depending on the size of pita you use, you may have more or less portions. Simply use up the beef filling between as many pita halves as needed.
Cook the pitas: Place a pan on medium heat and add a drizzle of olive oil. When the pan is hot add 2 pita halves and cook for 4-5 minutes per side until golden and crispy, pressing down slightly on each side as the pita halves cook. Repeat until all pita halves have been cooked, adding more olive oil to the pan as needed.
Serve pita halves with lemon wedges for squeezing lemon juice over top, a pinch of fresh minced parsley and tzatziki sauce for dipping.

Variation: Chicken Arayes

Make the meat filling: combine the feta, ground chicken, grated onion, grated garlic, salt, pepper, fresh mint, fresh basil and minced jalapeno in a bowl and mix well with your hands or a spatula to combine.
Divide the meat filling into 6 portions. Shape each portion into a semi-circle that's just a bit smaller than half of a pita. Carefully open each pita half and put a flattened portion of meat into each. Close the pita and gently press to make the pita flat.
*Note: depending on the size of pita you use, you may have more or less portions. Simply use up the beef filling between as many pita halves as needed.
Cook the pitas: Place a pan on medium heat and add a drizzle of olive oil. When the pan is hot add 2 pita halves and cook for 4-5 minutes per side until golden and crispy, pressing down slightly on each side as the pita halves cook, cooking until the chicken is done at 165F. Repeat until all pita halves have been cooked, adding more olive oil to the pan as needed.
Serve pita halves with lemon wedges for squeezing lemon juice over top, a pinch of fresh minced parsley and tzatziki sauce for dipping.

Notes

Depending on the size of pita you use, you may have more or less portions. Simply use up the beef filling between as many pita halves as needed.
Depending on the size of pita you use, you may have more or less portions. Simply use up the beef filling between as many pita halves as needed.
This recipe is great for sharing! Cut the cooked pita halves in half once more and serve on a platter as an appetizer with tzatziki for dipping.
If you love the flavours of this recipe you're sure to love our Greek Meatball Recipe (Keftedes)

Nutrition Information

Show Details

Calories 256kcal (13%) Carbohydrates 25.2g (8%) Protein 21.7g (43%) Fat 8.4g (13%) Saturated Fat 2.1g (11%) Polyunsaturated Fat 1.1g Monounsaturated Fat 4.5g Trans Fat 0.1g Cholesterol 46.4mg (15%) Sodium 1036.1mg (43%) Fiber 3.3g (13%) Sugar 1.9g (4%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 6pita halves

Amount Per Serving

Calories 256 kcal

% Daily Value*

Calories	256kcal	13%
Carbohydrates	25.2g	8%
Protein	21.7g	43%
Fat	8.4g	13%
Saturated Fat	2.1g	11%
Polyunsaturated Fat	1.1g	6%
Monounsaturated Fat	4.5g	23%
Trans Fat	0.1g	5%
Cholesterol	46.4mg	15%
Sodium	1036.1mg	43%
Fiber	3.3g	13%
Sugar	1.9g	4%