Crispy Lebanese Arayes
Crispy Lebanese Arayes are savory, fast, and totally addictive, featuring a crunchy exterior and juicy spiced meat inside, served with cooling raitha on the side.
Ingredients
For the arayes
- 4 pieces Pita bread Cut into pockets
- 1 lb Ground beef or lamb Can substitute with ground turkey or plant-based beef
- 1 medium Onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves Garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup Parsley, chopped
- 1 teaspoon Cumin
- 1 teaspoon Paprika
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1/2 teaspoon Pepper
- 2 tablespoons Olive oil For brushing
For serving
- 1 cup Raitha (yogurt sauce) For serving
Instructions
Preparation
- In a bowl, combine ground beef or lamb, chopped onion, minced garlic, parsley, cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper. Mix well.
- Cut pita bread to form pockets and stuff with the meat mixture. Stuff gently; don’t overfill or they’ll burst.
- Brush the outside of the stuffed pita with olive oil.
Cooking
- Heat a grill or grill pan over medium heat. Grill each stuffed pita for about 4-5 minutes on each side, or until crispy and cooked through. If you prefer oven-baked, bake at 400°F for 12-15 minutes.
- Serve hot with cooling raitha on the side.
Notes
Make the filling up to 24 hours ahead and refrigerate. You can cook from frozen, adding a minute or two to each side. Avoid microwave reheating for crispness; use a skillet or oven instead.