Deconstructed Pita Arayes

Arayes! What are they? They’re a middle-eastern meat-stuffed pita street food. The meat is seasoned with strong flavors and it’s typically grilled or pan-fried. They’re quick-ish to make and are a great weeknight dinner.

For this version, I saw Sivan from @SivansKitchen making them yesterday and knew I had to make her version. They remind me of the ones I ate in Israel walking the streets of Tel Aviv years ago. I was so happy these tasted just as good as I remembered. Flavor-packed, super healthy, and extremely filling!

Many cultures have similar dishes – what’s your favorite one? I’d love to hear in the comments below! Happy cooking!

Deconstructed Pita Arayes

Servings: 10
Time: 30 minutes
Difficulty: medium
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Ingredients

For the meat filling:

1 lb. ground meat (any kind)
1 onion, finely chopped
1 red bell pepper, finely chopped
4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 bunch fresh parsley, chopped
¼ cup oil
1 tablespoon salt
2 teaspoons paprika
1 teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon cumin
5 pita bread pockets (to make 10 halves)

For the Salad:

1 onion, sliced thin
2 beefsteak tomatoes, chopped
1 bunch cilantro, roughly chopped
¼ cup olive oil
Juice of 1 lemon
2 teaspoon salt

Tahini or hummus, to serve (optional)

Directions

Make the Meat Filling: In a large bowl, combine the ground meat, parsley, onion, red pepper, and garlic. Add the oil and spices, then mix everything until well combined. Cover and chill in the fridge while you prep the salad.
Prepare the Salad: Cut all your veggies nice and chunky. Toss with olive oil, lemon juice, and salt.
Assemble: Use kitchen shears to cut around the edge of each pita pocket to separate it into two flat rounds. Spread a handful of the meat mixture on the inside face of each half — not too thick, so it cooks through.
Heat a little oil in a skillet over medium heat. Place the pita meat-side down and sear for 5–7 minutes. Flip and cook the other side for another 3–4 minutes. Repeat with remaining pitas.
Serve: Top each with the salad, a generous tahini drizzle or dollop of hummus, fold it up, and enjoy!