Arayes (meat stuffed pita)

What is an arayes?

These treats are made by stuffing a pita bread with a seasonned, herb-packed meat mixture, which is then grilled to perfection.

Arayes are always a crowd pleaser and a super easy “finger food” to put together last minute! Great for BBQ, quick dinners or even for party buffets! Plus, cut them in half and they're triangles, making them perfect to blend into the season of Purim!

yields 20 triangles (quarter pita)

• 1.5 lb minced beef (half lean)

• 1 large yellow onion

• 1 cup chopped cilantro

• 3 cloves garlic

• 2 tbsp ketchup

• 1 tsp cumin

• 1 tsp paprika

• 1/2 tsp salt

• 1/2 lemon, juiced

• 5 pitas

• Olive oil

• Cooking spray

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 400F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper then layer a wire cooling rack on top. Spray it with non stick.
   

2. In a medium size mixing bowl, combine meat, cumin, salt, paprika and lemon.
   

3. Process the onion, garlic and cilantro then add it to the mixing bowl. Mix the meat to combine all components.
   

4. Slice pitas in half. Stuff them generously with meat. Slice each half in another half to create a triangle shape.
   

5. Heat a grill pan over medium high heat. Spray non stick on it. Brush olive oil all over the outside of each pita before grilling the meat on the grill pan.
   

6. Grill only the 2 sides of the meat until dark lines form.
   

7. Transfer each pita on wire cooling rack then bake for 10 minutes.
   

8. Serve alongside with tchina, israeli salad and cilantro.

For full video, click here.

Enjoy,

Guila