Crispy Beef Arayes

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef (15–20% fat for the juiciest result)
• 1 onion (medium, finely grated)
• 0.5 red bell pepper (finely grated)
• 1 handful fresh parsley (finely chopped)
• 2.5 garlic cloves (minced; 2-3 cloves)
• 2 tsp 7-spice (baharat)
• 1 tsp paprika
• 0.5 tsp cumin
• 1.5 tsp salt (or to taste)
• 0.5 tsp black pepper
• 1 tbsp sour cream (optional, but makes it more juicy)
• 3.5 Pita bread (3-4 pieces)
• Melted butter (for brushing)
• Olive oil (for filling and brushing)
• 0.75 cup sour cream or greek yogurt
• 1 garlic clove (grated)
• 0.5 lemon juice (juice of 1/2 lemon)
• salt and black pepper (to taste)

Steps

1. 1

   In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, grated onion, grated red bell pepper, minced garlic, chopped parsley, 7-spice, paprika, cumin, salt, pepper, a drizzle of olive oil, and the optional tablespoon of sour cream.

2. 2

   Mix the ingredients thoroughly by hand or with a spoon until the meat and aromatics are fully combined.

3. 3

   Prepare the bread by slicing the pita rounds in half. If the bread is stiff, warm it up slightly to make it more pliable and easier to handle.

4. 4

   Spread the meat mixture evenly inside each pita half, using your fingers or a spoon to press the filling firmly all the way to the edges.

5. 5

   Brush both sides of the stuffed pitas generously with melted butter or olive oil.

6. 6

   Heat a grill or grill pan over medium-high heat. Cook the arayes for 5–7 minutes per side, pressing down occasionally with a spatula, until the bread is golden and crispy and the meat is cooked through.

7. 7

   Optional: For extra insurance that the meat is fully cooked, transfer the grilled arayes to an oven preheated to 220°C (425°F) for 5–8 minutes.

8. 8

   Prepare the garlic dip by mixing the sour cream (or Greek yogurt), grated garlic, and lemon juice in a small bowl. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.

9. 9

   Serve the crispy arayes hot with the garlic dip, fresh herbs, and lemon wedges.

Notes

If you don't have 7-spice (baharat), you can make a blend using allspice, cumin, coriander, black pepper, paprika, cinnamon, and a pinch of nutmeg. The sour cream in the meat mixture is a secret tip for keeping the beef moist during the high-heat grilling process.

Nutrition per serving

• main
• appetizer
• Middle Eastern
• grilled
• beef
• Palestinian
• snack