Arayes (Middle Eastern Stuffed Pita)

🛒 Ingredients

🥩 1 lb (500g) extra lean ground beef
🧄 5 garlic cloves, peeled
🧅 ½ onion, peeled and quartered
🌿 ½ cup parsley, packed
⚫ ½ tsp black pepper
🧂 1 tsp salt
✨ 1 tsp seven spice (or allspice)
🍯 2 tbsp pomegranate molasses
🫒 2 tbsp olive oil (for the meat mixture)
🫒 2–3 tbsp olive oil (for brushing the pitas)
🫓 4 small round pita breads (about 4 inches each)

👩‍🍳 Instructions

1️⃣ Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) if baking.

2️⃣ Finely chop the onion, garlic, and parsley, or process them in a food processor until finely minced.

3️⃣ Place the chopped mixture in a clean kitchen towel or cheesecloth and squeeze out as much liquid as possible.

4️⃣ In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, onion mixture, black pepper, salt, seven spice, pomegranate molasses, and 2 tbsp olive oil.

5️⃣ Mix thoroughly with your hands until all ingredients are evenly incorporated.

6️⃣ Cut each pita in half and carefully open to create pockets.

7️⃣ Stuff each pita pocket with about 1½–2 tbsp of the meat mixture.

8️⃣ Press the pita gently to spread the filling evenly all the way to the edges.

9️⃣ Brush both sides of the stuffed pitas with olive oil.

🔥 Grilling Method

🔟 Heat a cast-iron grill pan or grill over medium-high heat and lightly oil the surface.

1️⃣1️⃣ Grill the arayes for 3–4 minutes per side, pressing gently with a spatula.

1️⃣2️⃣ Place the open meat side directly on the grill briefly to sear the filling.

1️⃣3️⃣ Continue cooking until the pita is crispy and the meat is fully cooked.

🔥 Baking Method

1️⃣4️⃣ Arrange the stuffed pitas on a baking rack set over a baking sheet (do not use parchment paper).

1️⃣5️⃣ Bake for approximately 20 minutes, turning halfway through cooking.

1️⃣6️⃣ If needed, broil for 1–2 minutes at the end to make the pita extra crispy.

1️⃣7️⃣ Watch carefully to prevent burning.

1️⃣8️⃣ Serve immediately with yogurt sauce, tahini sauce, ketchup, or fries.

😋 Enjoy your crispy, juicy homemade Arayes!