Middle Eastern Arais

Simone Shapiro
by Simone Shapiro
5 Arais
40 min

Crispy pita with a smoked aroma filled with well-spiced, juicy, ground beef. That's what arais is, made using an old Middle eastern recipe. Arais is usually made on a charcoal grill, simply grilling both sides until the meat is cooked.

Here I have made the recipe that I make in the restaurant I work at but here I sear the pita in a pan and then finish cooking it in the oven.

The version I make is used with ground beef and lamb fat.

If you are a vegetarian you can stuff the pita with a spinach and feta stuffing and it’s simply incredible (but that recipe we will save for another time)

this recipe is filled with flavor, a fun and interesting dinner. I recommend serving it with a spread of salads like tahini, eggplant salad, and Tabbouleh.


Recipe details
  • 5  Arais
  • Prep time: 25 Minutes Cook time: 15 Minutes Total time: 40 min
Show Nutrition Info
Hide Nutrition Info
Ingredients
For the meat filling
  • 5 fresh pita cut in half
  • 1/2 kilo ground beef
  • 100 gram ground lamb fat
  • 1 bunch chopped parsley + cilantro
  • 1/2 chili pepper thinly chopped
  • 1 tomato grated
  • 1 small chopped onion
  • 2 teaspoon Cumin
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Olive oil for pan searing and for brushing the pita bread
Instructions

Mix the ground beef with all the ingredients in a medium size mixing bowl
Cut the fresh pitas in half and stuff each pita with about 4 tablespoons of filling (Heat the oven at 325 degrees)
Heat a medium size frying pan (or grill pan) to medium heat Brush olive oil on both sides of the pita
Heat olive oil in the pan and sear both sides of the pita until golden brown
Place parchment paper on an oven tray and evenly place the pitas on the tray and bake for 8-10 minutes (Serve hot)
Tips
  • You may also serve the arais at room temperature.
Comments
Next