Lebanese Beef Arayes
While the traditional Lebanese recipe is made with lamb, I love this dish with ground beef, too! It looks intimidating to make, but it is SO easy! Requiring less than 45-minutes of your time, this recipe makes the easiest and crunchiest Arayes, something the entire family will love!
Ingredients
Beef Arayes
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1/2 cup finely chopped red onion
- 3 tbsp minced garlic
- 1 tbsp parsley
- 1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
- 2 tsp mint (optional)
- 1 tbsp paprika
- 1 1sp cumin powder
- 1 tsp coriander
- 1 tsp chili flakes (optional)
- 1.5 tsp salt
- pepper, to taste
- 4 pitas
- 2 tbsp olive oil
Tahini Dipping Sauce
- 4 tbsp tahini
- 4 tbsp water
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 1.5 tbsp lemon juice
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- COMBINE INGREDIENTS: Put all Arayes ingredients into a bowl (except the pita bread and tahini sauce ingredients) and mix to combine.1 lb lean ground beef, 1/2 cup finely chopped red onion, 3 tbsp minced garlic, 1 tbsp parsley, 1/4 cup cilantro, chopped, 2 tsp mint (optional), 1 tbsp paprika, 1 1sp cumin powder, 1 tsp coriander, 1 tsp chili flakes (optional), 1.5 tsp salt, pepper, to taste
- PREP PITA: Cut each pita bread in half, and gently separate both sides of the pita, creating a pocket.4 pitas
- STUFF PITA: Take some of your beef mixture and stuff it into the pocket of each pita. Spread the mixture into a thin layer and then gently press down on the outside of the pita, to spread the beef mixture inside of it. NOTE: You do not want to create a thick layer of beef, as this will make it much harder to cook the beef all the way through without burning the pita bread.
- COOK: In a skillet, over medium to high heat, heat up olive oil. When properly heated, add stuffed pitas to the skillet. In an average sized skillet, you'll likely only be able to fit two to three at a time. Cook on each side for about 4 to 5 minutes. Repeat until all stuffed pitas are cooked.2 tbsp olive oil
- MAKE DIPPING SAUCE: Add all sauce ingredients to a small bowl, and mix together to combine.4 tbsp tahini, 4 tbsp water, 1 tbsp minced garlic, 1.5 tbsp lemon juice, salt and pepper to taste
- ENJOY: Serve Arayes warm and use tahini sauce for dipping.
Notes
NOTE: If the pita bread isn’t as crunchy as you’d like it, or if the beef hasn’t cooked all the way through after cooking it on the stovetop for 4-5 minutes on each side, you’re welcome to cook stuff pitas in the oven, at 400 degrees Fahrenheit, for an additional 5 to 8 minutes. Keep an eye on them though, to ensure the pita bread doesn’t get burnt.