Arayes Meat Stuffed Pitas

Arayes, a popular Middle Eastern dish, is delightful meat-stuffed pita bread that combines aromatic spices with juicy ground beef, baked to crispy perfection. Paired with a creamy tahini sauce, this dish is not only delicious but also quite simple to prepare.

Ingredients

For the Arayes:

🥩 2 pounds ground beef
🧅 1 medium-sized onion
🧄 3 cloves garlic
🌶️ 1 jalapeño (seeds removed for less heat)
🌿 A handful of parsley
🧂 1 tablespoon salt
🧅 1 teaspoon onion powder
🧄 1 teaspoon garlic powder
🌶️ 1 teaspoon paprika
⚫ 1 teaspoon black pepper
🌿 1/2 teaspoon cumin
🌿 1/2 teaspoon coriander
🌰 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
🫓 8 pita breads
🫒 3 tablespoons olive oil

For the Tahini Sauce:

🥄 1/2 cup tahini
🍋 1/3 cup lemon juice
🍶 1 heaping tablespoon plain yogurt
🧄 1 garlic clove
🧂 1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
⚫ 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
💧 1/4 cup water to thin the sauce

Instructions

1- Preheat the Oven:

• Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).

2- Prepare the Filling:

• In a food processor, blend the onion, garlic, jalapeño, and parsley until finely chopped.

3- Mix the Meat:

• In a large bowl, combine the ground beef with the processed mixture. Add salt, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, black pepper, cumin, coriander, and cinnamon.
• Mix thoroughly ensuring all ingredients are well incorporated.

4- Prepare the Pitas:

• Cut each pita bread in half to form pockets.
• Stuff each pocket with approximately 2 heaping tablespoons of the meat mixture. Ensure the pitas are full but not overstuffed to avoid tearing.

5- Brush with Olive Oil:

• Lightly brush the outside of each stuffed pita with olive oil on all sides.

6- Bake:

• Place the stuffed pitas on a baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven for about 25 minutes, flipping them halfway through, until they are crispy and golden brown.

7- Prepare the Tahini Sauce:

• While the arayes are baking, combine tahini, lemon juice, yogurt, garlic, salt, and black pepper in a bowl.
• Gradually add water until the sauce reaches your desired consistency.

8- Serve:

• Once the arayes are done, serve them warm with the tahini sauce on the side.
• Enjoy the crisp, savory flavors together!

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Calories per Serving: Approximately 450
Protein: 25g
Fat: 30g
Carbohydrates: 22g
Equipment: Oven, baking sheet, food processor, mixing bowls

Cooking Tips:

• For a spicier kick, leave some jalapeño seeds in.
• This dish can also be grilled for a smokier flavor.

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Arayes