Middle Eastern Ground Beef Pita Sandwich

User Reviews

4.8

99 reviews
Excellent

Middle Eastern Ground Beef Pita Sandwich

Sandwich night is about to get better with this easy ground beef pita sandwich recipe. Simply cook up and season some lean ground beef and load it into warm pita pockets with tomatoes, cucumber, and a sauce of your choice. Dinner in 20 minutes!

I Made This!

74 people made this

Save this

59 people saved this

Ingredients

Servings
  • extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 1 ½ pounds ground beef or ground turkey
  • salt and pepper
  • 1 ½ teaspoon ground allspice
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • ½ teaspoon green cardamom
  • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ½ teaspoon paprika
  • ½ cup chopped flat-leaf parsley

To serve

  • 3 Pitas, cut into halves (should make 6 pita pockets)
  • 2 medium tomatoes, halved and thinly sliced
  • 1 small red onion, sliced
  • ½ English cucumber, halved and thinly sliced (half moons)
  • 1 radish, sliced (optional)
  • 1 Tahini sauce recipe, tzatziki or hummus will also work here
Add to Shopping List

Instructions

  1. In a large non-stick pan, heat about 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the onions and garlic and cook, stirring regularly, until golden brown (about 3 to 5 minutes).
  2. Add the ground meat and break it up with a wooden spoon. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the meat is fully browned. Carefully drain extra fat (this is especially helpful if you did not use lean meat). Season with Kosher salt and black pepper. Add the rest of the spices and the parsley and toss to combine.
  3. To assemble the pita sandwiches, stuff each pita pocket (or pita half) with the meat mixture. Tuck slices of tomatoes, onions and cucumbers around the beef. Finish with a drizzle of tahini sauce and serve!

Notes

  • try a
  • tomato salad
  • ,
  • Greek potatoes
  • , or
  • sweet potato fries
  • .
  • Best ground beef for this recipe: 80% or 90% lean ground beef works best in this recipe. Meat that is any leaner will become too dry when cooked. And we drain the fat, so don't worry about the beef being too fatty and oily when it's cooked. 
  • Swap the beef: For an even leaner option, you could use ground turkey instead of beef. But because turkey is so lean, it is prone to drying out, so you will need more cooking fat (like olive oil) to counter this. 
  • Serving ideas: Stuff your pita sandwich simply like I do, with tomato and cucumber. A simple drizzle of tahini sauce is a great finishing touch. Or, add fixings of your choice like pickled turnips or pickled cucumbers. A different sauce like tzatziki or herby chermoula would be great. For sides, try a tomato salad, Greek potatoes, or sweet potato fries.
  • How to store leftovers: Ground beef keeps in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. To reheat, pop it into a skillet with a little olive oil, and warm up on medium heat. Pita will stay fresh for 2 to 3 days in an airtight bag on your counter. 
  • Visit our Shop to browse quality Mediterranean ingredients including extra virgin olive oils, organic spices, and more!

Nutrition Information

Show Details
Calories 309.4kcal (15%) Carbohydrates 22.9g (8%) Protein 26.5g (53%) Fat 12g (18%) Saturated Fat 4.8g (24%) Polyunsaturated Fat 0.6g Monounsaturated Fat 5g Trans Fat 0.7g Cholesterol 73.7mg (25%) Sodium 426.3mg (18%) Potassium 631.6mg (18%) Fiber 2.3g (9%) Sugar 3.2g (6%) Vitamin A 944.1IU (19%) Vitamin C 16.4mg (18%) Calcium 67.9mg (7%) Iron 3.6mg (20%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 6people

Amount Per Serving

Calories 3094 kcal

% Daily Value*

Calories 309.4kcal 15%
Carbohydrates 22.9g 8%
Protein 26.5g 53%
Fat 12g 18%
Saturated Fat 4.8g 24%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.6g 4%
Monounsaturated Fat 5g 25%
Trans Fat 0.7g 35%
Cholesterol 73.7mg 25%
Sodium 426.3mg 18%
Potassium 631.6mg 13%
Fiber 2.3g 9%
Sugar 3.2g 6%
Vitamin A 944.1IU 19%
Vitamin C 16.4mg 18%
Calcium 67.9mg 7%
Iron 3.6mg 20%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

Genuine Reviews

User Reviews

Overall Rating

4.8

99 reviews
Excellent

Write a Review

Drag & drop files here or click to upload
Other Recipes

You'll Also Love

Middle Eastern Beef Stew Recipe with Green Beans

Middle Eastern
4.9 (39 reviews)

Middle Eastern Spiced Beef Kabobs

Middle Eastern
5.0 (6 reviews)

Middle Eastern Bowls with Spiced Beef

Middle Eastern
4.7 (9 reviews)

Middle Eastern Roasted Eggplant with Couscous

Middle Eastern, Vegan
4.9 (27 reviews)

Chicken Shawarma (Middle Eastern)

Middle Eastern, Moroccan, Arabian
5.0 (1,506 reviews)

Spicy Middle Eastern Baked Salmon

Middle Eastern
5.0 (6 reviews)

Middle Eastern Inspired Stuffed Peppers {Vegan}

Middle Eastern, Vegan
5.0 (6 reviews)

Bamia (Middle Eastern Okra and Meat Stew)

Middle Eastern
5.0 (42 reviews)

Fasoolia Baida - Middle Eastern White Bean Stew

Middle Eastern
5.0 (18 reviews)

Middle Eastern Lentil Soup

Middle Eastern
4.1 (33 reviews)

Middle Eastern Yogurt Sauce (Laban)

Middle Eastern
5.0 (6 reviews)

Authentic Middle Eastern Chicken Shawarma Recipe

Middle Eastern
4.5 (60 reviews)

Bamya (Middle Eastern Okra Stew)

Mediterranean, Middle Eastern
0.0 (0 reviews)

Middle Eastern Chicken and Rice

Middle Eastern
5.0 (21 reviews)

Middle Eastern Tofu Rice Bowl

Middle Eastern, Israeli, Vegan
5.0 (9 reviews)