Arayes Recipe
Arayes is a delicious Middle Eastern dish featuring pita bread stuffed with a flavorful mixture of spiced ground beef, herbs, and pomegranate molasses, then grilled or baked until crispy and golden. Perfect as a savory snack or appetizer, these meat-stuffed pitas deliver a wonderful blend of spices and textures.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 8 Arayes halves (4 whole pitas) 1x
- Category: Snack/Appetizer
- Method: Grilling and Baking
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
- Diet: Halal
Ingredients
Scale
Meat Filling
- 1 lb extra lean ground beef (500g)
- 5 garlic cloves (peeled)
- 1/2 onion (peeled and quartered)
- 1/2 cup parsley (packed)
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon seven spice (or substitute with allspice)
- 2 tablespoons pomegranate molasses
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (for the meat mixture)
For Assembling and Cooking
- 4 round pitas (smaller 4 inch size)
- 2–3 tablespoons olive oil (for brushing the pitas)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven (if baking): Set your oven to 400°F (200°C) to prepare for baking the Arayes.
- Prepare the herb mixture: Finely chop the onions, garlic, and parsley by hand or pulse them in a food processor until very fine and well combined.
- Mix the meat filling: In a bowl, combine the ground beef with the chopped onion, garlic, parsley, black pepper, salt, seven spice, pomegranate molasses, and 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Use your hands to mix thoroughly and evenly incorporate all ingredients.
- Stuff the pitas: Cut each pita in half to form pockets. Stuff each half with about 1.5 to 2 tablespoons of the meat mixture, making sure to fill fully but not overstuff. Press down lightly to flatten and spread the filling evenly to the edges.
- Brush pitas with oil: Lightly brush all sides of the stuffed pitas with 2-3 tablespoons of olive oil to ensure crisping during cooking.
- Cooking option 1 – Grill: Heat a cast iron grill pan over medium-high heat and brush it with oil. Grill the pitas 3-4 minutes per side, pressing down with a spatula. Flip so the exposed meat side directly contacts the grill, searing the meat. Adjust heat if needed and check doneness carefully.
- Cooking option 2 – Bake: Place the stuffed pitas on a baking sheet with a rack (avoid parchment paper). Bake for about 20 minutes, turning halfway through for even cooking. The rack helps to keep them crispy.
- Crisp the pitas if needed: If desired, finish them by broiling for a few minutes. Monitor closely to avoid burning while achieving the perfect crispy exterior.
- Serve: Serve your Arayes immediately with yogurt, tahini sauce, ketchup, or fries for a delightful meal.
Notes
- Seven spice is a Middle Eastern blend usually containing cinnamon, allspice, black pepper, cloves, nutmeg, coriander, and cumin; if unavailable, allspice is a good substitute.
- Pomegranate molasses adds a tangy sweetness; if unavailable, a mix of lemon juice and a little honey can be used as a substitute.
- Using a baking rack prevents sogginess and promotes an evenly crisp pita crust.
- Adjust the amount of olive oil brushed on the pitas according to desired crispness and calorie preference.
Keywords: Arayes, Middle Eastern, grilled pita, stuffed pita, ground beef, pomegranate molasses, appetizer, snack, baked meat pita
Find it online: https://tastewithamy.com/arayes-recipe/
