Meat Stuffed Pitas

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Arayes is a popular street food in Lebanon that is basically kafta meat stuffed inside pita bread and then grilled or oven baked. It’s a great way to use up leftover kafta meat or hashweh meat and works well as an appetizer or main meal.

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The best way to enjoy arayes is a delicious condiment like yogurt sauce or with creamy tahini sauce on top. The sauce is the perfect complement to the rich and savory flavors of the meat. What’s great about arayes is that they’re so versatile. You can eat it as a lunch or dinner or add your crispy meat stuffed pitas to a mezze board.

Why you’ll love this beef arayes recipe

• So flavorful with Lebanese flare. Beef arayes are packed with flavor, thanks to the combination of savory meat and aromatic spices such as cumin, 7-spice, cinnamon, and cayenne.
• Easy to make. Beef arayes are surprisingly easy to make, despite their impressive flavor. All you need to do is prepare the meat filling, stuff it into pita bread, and grill or bake until the bread is crispy and the filling is cooked through.
• Authentic and delicious. Beef arayes is a beloved street food in the Middle East that has stood the test of time. Its authentic flavor and rich history make it a delicious and intriguing option for anyone looking to try something new and exciting.

Ingredients & substitutions

• Ground Beef: The beauty of this recipe is that you don’t have to cook the beef before you stuff the pitas, so it’s so fuss free to make! I prefer to use lean ground beef that is 85% fat free but you can go lower to 80% so keep it juicy especially if you’re baking.
• Seasonings: Fresh parsley, 7 spice, cumin, cinnamon, coriander, cayenne, salt and pepper.
• Onion: Finely mince the onion so that it combines easily with the ground beef.
• Pita: Use double ply pita bread for these arayes. We spread the seasoned beef between the two layers of the pita, so you need pita with a pocket.
• Oil: For cooking. I always like to use olive oil, but canola or vegetable will work too.

How to make Arayes

1. Add the ground beef and seasonings to a bowl.
2. Use your hands to combine together.
3. Cut each pita into quarters.
4. Spread the beef mix into each piece of pita.
5. Heat the oil in a grill pan, once hot, place in the stuffed pitas.
6. Cook on both sides til golden brown.

Tips for making arayes

1. Use ground beef with some fat in it. Aim for 85% or 90% fat-free ground beef which has some fat in it to keep the pita pockets juicy without drying out.
2. Don’t over-cook the arayes. You want to make sure that the pita is crisp and golden on the outside and that’s your cue that they are done cooking. Over-cooking the beef can make it really dry. Feel free to lift up the pita to check on the beef.
3. Use thin pita bread if possible. The thin pita bread allows the beef mixture on the inside to cook faster since the heat permeates through it more easily. It also tends to get more crispy.
4. Don’t over-stuff the pita bread. When stuffing the pita bread, make sure not to overdo it. The filling should be evenly distributed throughout the pita bread, but not so much that it becomes difficult to seal.

Popular Substitutions + additions

• Add veggies inside. While it’s traditional to enjoy these meat stuffed pitas alone, you can certainly stuff veggies inside for a full meal. It’s best to use cooked veggies like peppers, zucchini or mushrooms and add them after cooking.
• Add cheese. Try adding feta, halloumi, or mozzarella are common choices that can be added to the meat mixture or placed on top of the arayes before grilling or baking your ground beef stuff pitas.
• Different sauces and dips. In addition to the classic tahini sauce, you can also try serving arayes with hummus, tzatziki, or a spicy harissa sauce for a bit of heat.

How to store and reheat Lebanese arayes

Arayes are best enjoyed fresh and hot, but if you have any leftovers allow them to cool completely and then store them in an airtight container in the fridge.

To reheat the arayes, preheat your oven to 350°F and place them on a baking sheet. Bake for 10-15 minutes until they are heated through and the pita bread is crispy.

How long does this arayes kafta recipe last in the fridge?

You can store arayes in the fridge for up to 2-3 days.

Can I freeze meat stuffed pitas?

If you want to keep your arayes for longer, you can freeze them. Wrap them individually in plastic wrap or foil and place them in a freezer-safe container or bag. They will keep well for up to 2-3 months. Reheat in the oven at 350°F for 25 minutes.

Frequently asked questions

So simple to make, but hands down delicious! Arayes are a tasty and satisfying Lebanese snack or meal that are enjoyed by many around the world. With their flavorful meat filling, crispy pita bread, and creamy tahini sauce, they are a delicious treat that can be enjoyed on their own or as part of a larger meal. Whether you’re a fan of Middle Eastern cuisine or just looking to try something new, arayes are definitely worth a try!

More lebanese recipes:

• Lebanese Rice
• Chicken Fatteh
• Baklava
• Stuffed Grape Leaves
• Crushed Lentil Soup
• Homemade Kanafa
• Kibbeh Nayyeh

If you’ve tried this healthy-ish feel good Meat Stuffed Pitas recipe or any other recipe on FeelGoodFoodie, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below! I would love to hear about your experience making it. And if you snapped some shots of it, share it with me on Instagram so I can repost on my stories!

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Review

Meat Stuffed Pitas (Arayes)

Quick and easy to make, these Lebanese meat stuffed pitas are one delicious recipe! These beef arayes are ready to enjoy in minutes and every bite is truly tasty!

5 from 264 votes

Author Yumna Jawad

Servings 4 servings

Course Appetizer, Main Course

Calories 444

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 15 minutes mins

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Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• ▢ 1 pound ground beef 80-85% lean
• ▢ ¼ cup chopped parsley
• ▢ 1 small yellow onion minced
• ▢ 2 teaspoons 7 spice
• ▢ ½ teaspoon cumin
• ▢ ½ teaspoon cinnamon
• ▢ ½ teaspoon coriander
• ▢ ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
• ▢ ½ teaspoon salt
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon black pepper to taste
• ▢ 2 double-ply pita breads
• ▢ 2 tablespoons olive oil for stovetop cooking
• ▢ Olive oil spray for oven baking

Instructions

• Place the ground beef, parsley, onions, 7 Spice, cumin, cinnamon, coriander, cayenne pepper, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Use your hands to mix until well combined.
• Cut each pita into fourth. Pull part the two sides of pita. Spoon about 2 tablespoons of the beef mixture

Stovetop Instructions

• Heat a grill pan or regular pan on medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil.
• Place four of the stuffed pitas on the grill pan and cook until the pita is golden in color and beef is cooked to your liking, about 7-10 minutes total. Repeat with the remaining olive oil and the remaining stuffed pitas.

Baking Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 400°F.
• Place the stuffed pitas on a baking dish and spray with olive oil cooking spray. Bake until the pita is golden and crispy and the beef is cooked to your liking, about 8-10 minutes.
• Serve hot with plain yogurt for dipping, if desired.

Equipment

• Mixing Bowl Set
• Grill Pan

Nutrition

Calories: 444kcal, Carbohydrates: 19g, Protein: 23g, Fat: 30g, Saturated Fat: 10g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 81mg, Sodium: 537mg, Potassium: 429mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 644IU, Vitamin C: 7mg, Calcium: 65mg, Iron: 3mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate. It will vary based on cooking method and specific ingredients used.

Cuisine Lebanese

Course: Appetizer, Main Course