Arayes (Lebanese Crispy Meat-Stuffed Pita)
Arayes are a popular Middle Eastern street food made with pita bread stuffed with seasoned ground meat and cooked until crispy on the outside and juicy inside. They’re simple to make but packed with flavor from warm spices, fresh parsley, and grated onion. Slice them into wedges and serve with a creamy tahini sauce for an easy appetizer or snack.
What makes Arayes so appealing is the contrast in textures. The pita gets golden and crisp in the skillet while the filling stays tender and well seasoned. They cook quickly, use simple ingredients, and are perfect when you want something a little different for a party platter or casual gathering.
Helpful Tips
- Grate the onion instead of chopping it. This helps it blend into the meat mixture and keeps the filling moist while cooking.
- Press the meat thin inside the pita. A thin layer cooks evenly and ensures the pita gets crispy without burning.
- Use medium-high heat. This allows the pita to toast nicely while the meat cooks through.
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Arayes
Arayes are a popular Middle Eastern street food made with pita bread stuffed with seasoned ground meat and cooked until crispy on the outside and juicy inside.
Ingredients
- 1 small white onion
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley minced
- 1 pound ground beef (or lamb or chicken)
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon sumac
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 teaspoon allspice
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 6 pitas
- olive oil for brushing
For the dipping sauce:
- 2 tablespoon Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoon tahini
- 2 tablespoon lemon juice
- water to thin if necessary
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Grate the onion on a cheese grater, into a bowl.
- Add the parsley, ground beef, cumin, coriander, all spice, garlic powder, sumac, salt and pepper. Mix well. Divide into about 1/4 cup pieces. Flatten with your hands until thin circles slightly smaller than the pita.
- Cut the pita halfway down the seam and open it up. Set the flattened meat into the pita and spread it out evenly. Press the pita together again.
- Heat a skillet over medium-high heat.
- Brush olive oil on both sides of the pita and place them on the skillet. Cook for 3-4 minutes on each side, until the meat is cooked through and the pita is toasted.
- Mix the yogurt, tahini, and lemon juice in a bowl. Thin as necessary with water. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- When the arayes are done, cut them into quarters. Serve with the sauce.
Nutrition
Calories: 293kcalCarbohydrates: 26gProtein: 15gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 40mgSodium: 559mgPotassium: 269mgFiber: 2gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 166IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 67mgIron: 2mg
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