Craving a taste of Lebanon? Get ready to experience Arayes, the irresistible meat-stuffed pitas that are surprisingly simple to make at home.
Packed with a flavorful spice blend that will make your tastebuds sing, this recipe is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.
Making the Meat Filling
Let's explore into making the spiced meat filling which is easy and super fun! First, I grate half a brown onion using a standard box grater. Yeah, we want all the juices–it adds so much flavor!
Next, in a bowl, I combine 500g (that's around 1 lb) of lamb or beef mince with the grated onion. I then add 2 finely grated garlic cloves and 1 tbsp of finely chopped parsley if you're feeling fancy! Adding cooked rice can also act as a flavor and texture enhancer similar to how it transforms a baked fried rice dish.
Now is the fun part–seasoning! I mix in 3 tsp each of ground coriander and cumin, 1 1/2 tsp of smoked paprika, 3/4 tsp of ground allspice (or mixed spice), and 1/2 tsp of cayenne pepper (easy on this if you don't want it too spicy!). Finally, I add 1 1/4 tsp of cooking salt.
I mix it really well with my hands until everything's combined. Now we are ready to stuff the pita bread — mmm!
Assembling the Arayes
Once the spiced meat filling is ready, I divide it into 10 portions, each about 55 to 60g (or 1/4 cup)—think of it as making little meat patties, but before the patty shape!
Next, I gently open each pita half, creating a cozy little pocket. Arayes is a lot like a beef burrito since it is meat wrapped inside of bread; both include meat and other delicious ingredients. If your pita's being stubborn, a quick nuke in the microwave—about 30 seconds—helps soften it up!
Now, grab a portion of the meat and flatten it into a semi-circle, just a tad smaller than the pita half. I wouldn't want meat hanging over the edges!
Then, I carefully place the meat inside the pita, close it up, and press it down. This helps spread the meat evenly to the edges—yay, flavor in every bite! If the pita starts to tear, handle it gently or use slightly less meat, it happens to the best of us!
Cooking and Serving
Now comes the fun part—cooking these Arayes until they're golden and crispy! I like to preheat my oven to 50C/120F and pop a rack on a tray, so cooked Arayes stay warm—it's like their own little spa!
Heat a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Don't be shy with the olive oil spray on both sides of the pita. Now, it's time to cook each side of the pita for about 2 minutes; press down lightly with a spatula—think of it like giving them a gentle hug!
Transfer them to the oven to keep warm, like tucking them in! Cut each Arayes half—sometimes I don't, depends on my mood! Pile them high on a platter and serve with that amazing, whipped tahini sauce. Dig in and enjoy.
Short Recipe Version
Arayes Recipe (Short Version)
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 4
Ingredients:
- 1 pound ground lamb or beef
- 1/2 cup finely chopped onion
- 1/4 cup finely chopped parsley
- 1 teaspoon allspice
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 4 pita breads
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- In a bowl, combine ground meat, onion, parsley, allspice, cinnamon, salt, and pepper.
- Cut pita breads in half.
- Stuff each pita half with meat mixture.
- Brush pita bread halves with olive oil.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown and meat is cooked through.
- Slice each half again and Serve immediately with tahini sauce.
Nutrition Information (Per Serving – Estimated):
- Calories: 400
- Protein: 30g
- Fat: 25g
- Carbohydrates: 20g