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    Home » Recipes » Main Dishes » Beef » Arayes (Middle Eastern Stuffed Pita)

    Arayes (Middle Eastern Stuffed Pita)

    4.86 from 14 votes
    April 30, 2020 (last updated March 12, 2023) by Amina Al-Saigh

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This post may contain affiliate links.

    Arayes are a Lebanese classic street food which is grilled pita bread that is stuffed with spiced ground beef (or kofta). This stuffed pita recipe is so easy to make and they're a quick weeknight dinner that everyone loves!

    Pita bread stuffed with ground beef and grilled, served on a tray with fries and sauce

    Table of Contents

    1. What are Arayes?
    2. Ingredients You Will Need
    3. How to Make Arayes (Grill or Oven)
    4. FAQs and Expert Tips
    5. Recipes You Will Love

    What are Arayes?

    Arayes are really simple to make and they're a common street food in the middle east. They are one of my favourite ground beef recipes. There's an Egyptian version called Hawawshi as well. They're stuffed pita bread typically served as a light dinner and dipped into either yogurt, a tahini sauce or even ketchup.

    I love to serve mine with fries for the kids. I typically use my kofta ground beef mixture (or this lahm bi ajeen mix if I have any leftover) which is made of onions, parsley and various spices. The best part about this arayes recipe is that:

    1. Its so simple and perfect for using up ground meat in your fridge
    2. Its a finger food and easy for kids to handle
    3. Its very quick to make!

    Here is what you'll need to make Arayes

    You need the typical Kofta ingredients for the pita filling. I also add pomegranate molasses to the filling to give it extra depth. The onions and parsley are there to give it lots of moisture, but if you're rushing, you can skip them.

    One note on the ground beef: make sure you use extra lean ground beef to avoid a really greasy result. That's because they end up getting brushed with olive oil at the end!

    Finally, you need pita bread of course! I love using the smaller rounds that are thicker, similar to Greek style pita. I find they hold up really well to the stuffing.

    Kafta ingredients which are ground beef, parsley, onions, garlic, olive oil and spices

    How to Make Arayes step by step

    As promised, we're going to keep this super simple. Start by making the ground beef mixture. This involves finely chopping the onions, garlic and parsley, OR using a food processor to make this faster.

    Parsley, onions and garlic being pulsed in a food processor

    Next, mix the onions and parsley with the ground beef, all the spices, olive oil (only add this if you are using lean or extra lean ground beef), and pomegranate molasses. Mix well using your hands. You can allow it to marinate in the fridge for a few hours if you have time.

    Ground beef, spices, parsley, onions and garlic mixed together

    The next thing you need to do is cut your pita in half to create half circle pockets. Place a few tablespoons of the mixture inside and spread it out evenly. You don't want a really thick layer so they cook all the way through. You also want the filling to come all the way to the edge so it gets a nice sear when we grill them.

    Process steps for stuffing a pita with ground beef

    This step is optional but highly recommended if you have a stove-top grill. Brush the arayes with olive oil on each side, then sear on each side for a few minutes to get those beautiful grill marks. I also flip it onto the exposed meat side and get a nice sear on that too, which helps the meat caramelize.

    You can do this using an outdoor BBQ as well, and continue cooking them on the grill by lowering the heat slightly after searing. They need a total of 12-15 minutes to cook all the way through. This method will result in the crispiest Arayes.

    Grilling pita stuffed with ground beef on cast iron grill

    If you want to bake them, after searing, place them on a baking sheet spaced evenly apart. If you have an oven sheet rack such as this one, I suggest you use it. This will ensure that the liquid drips to the sheet and allows the arayes to stay nice and crispy. Bake them for approximately 20 minutes, flipping halfway. Then, broil each side for a few minutes to crisp them up.

    Grilled pita stuffed with ground beef on a baking sheet

    FAQs and Expert Tips

    How to avoid soggy Arayes and ensure they are crispy?

    1. Use lean or extra lean ground beef to avoid too much oil making the bread soggy
    2. Grill them on a grill vs. baking in the oven for a crispier result
    3. If baking, don't use parchment paper. I suggest laying them on a rack on top of a baking sheet which will ensure the air circulates them and the drippings fall onto the sheet.
    4. Broil them at the end for a few minutes on each side (watch them closely!)

    Can I make these in advance?

    I have not tried freezing them uncooked. However, if you would like to make this easier, you can make the kofta mixture a few days ahead and store in the fridge, covered.

    What can I serve with Arayes?

    I love serving them with a yogurt tahini sauce and ketchup (which is the kids' favourite). You can also serve with plain or herby yogurt, or my 5-minute toum if you love garlic! I also usually make some fries which makes this a quick meal, or serve them with a bowl of Arabic lentil soup.

    Pita stuffed with ground beef and grilled, stacked in a pile of three

    More Recipes You Will Love:

    • chicken shawarma rice with white sauce and a side salad
      Shawarma Rice with White Sauce (in one pot)
    • Kafta skewers served on pita bread with onions and parsley
      Ground Beef Kafta Kabobs (Skewers or Patties)
    • Grilled chicken skewers served on a plate
      Shish Tawook | Grilled Chicken Skewers
    • Sheet Pan Arabic Shawarma (Chicken)

    If you tried these recipes, please consider leaving a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page - I'd love to hear from you! You can also hop on over to Instagram and say hello!

    Pita stuffed with ground beef and grilled, stacked in a pile of three

    Arayes (Middle Eastern Stuffed Pita)

    Arayes are a classic middle eastern street food. Pita bread, stuffed with spiced ground beef and grilled (or baked) to perfection. Enjoy them with a yogurt or tahini dipping sauce as a lunch or light dinner! They are quick and perfect for using up some ground beef.
    4.86 from 14 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main
    Cuisine: middle eastern
    Keyword: Arayes
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes
    Servings: 12 pieces
    Calories: 156kcal
    Author: Amina Al-Saigh

    Ingredients

    • 1 lb extra lean ground beef (500g)
    • 5 garlic cloves
    • ½ onion
    • ½ cup parsley packed
    • ½ teaspoon black pepper
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1 teaspoon seven spice or substitute with allspice
    • 2 tablespoons pomegranate molasses see notes
    • 2 tablespoons olive oil for the meat
    • 2-3 tablespoons olive oil for the pitas
    • 4 round pitas smaller 4 inch pitas

    Instructions

    • Start by preheating your oven to 400F
    • Peel the garlic cloves and onions and wash then dry the parsley
    • Finely chop the onions, garlic and parsley or throw them in a food processor and process until fine
    • Mix the ground beef with the onion, garlic and parsley mixture, along with all the spices and the olive oil. Mix well using your hands, ensuring all the spices are well incorporated. If possible, allow the meat to marinate in the fridge for a few hours or overnight.
    • Cut pitas in half and open them to form pockets. Stuff them with about 1.5 to 2 tbsp of the meat mixture, ensuring the pita is full but not overfilling it. Press them down to flatten and ensure the filling comes all the way to the edge (check photos in post)
    • Brush the outside of the pitas with olive oil on all sides
    • Brush a cast iron gril with oil, then sear the pitas for 1 minute on each side, on medium high heat. Flip onto the exposed meat side and sear as well.
    • Place on a baking sheet (don't use parchment paper) and bake in the oven for approximately 20 minutes, turning them half way through. If you have an oven rack, place them on the rack, on top of the oven sheet. This allows them to get more crispy and avoids sogginess.
    • Ensure the pita is crispy by broiling for a few minutes if necessary. Watch them closely so they don't burn.
    • Serve immediately with some yogurt, tahini sauce or ketchup and some fries. Enjoy!

    Notes

    • Serving suggestions: Ketchup or Yogurt tahini sauce
    • If you don't have pomegranate molasses, you can skip it
    • You can also use the large 8" pita bread and cut it into 4 quarters for stuffing (but I prefer the smaller ones because they make a perfectly sized pocket)
    • If you don't have an oven rakc, bake directly on a baking sheet without parchment paper to ensure the Arayes crisp up evenly

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1g | Calories: 156kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 23mg | Sodium: 323mg | Potassium: 183mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 261IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 1mg
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      Recipe Rating




      Comments

    1. Heba says

      June 18, 2022 at 9:06 pm

      5 stars
      This was so delicious! Thanks for the easy recipe!

      Reply
    2. Humaira Shah says

      September 27, 2021 at 10:17 pm

      5 stars
      This was delicious! Was surprised with quickly and easily it came together. I didn’t have time to let the meat marinate in the spices and it was still delicious and flavourful!

      Definitely keeping this in my Arsenal for quick and easy dinners!

      Reply
      • Amina Al-Saigh says

        December 13, 2021 at 9:06 am

        Thank you for the feedback Humaira!

        Reply
    3. Nikki says

      September 15, 2021 at 2:11 pm

      4 stars
      This was very tasty. I did fail the first time I attempted to make these, and forgot the step to bake on a raised rack - and they got soggy. The second time I made them they turned out PERFECTLY! Thank you for sharing this recipe.

      Reply
      • Amina Al-Saigh says

        September 18, 2021 at 5:12 pm

        I'm glad it worked out the second time! Yes having them on a raised rack definitely helps they get nice and crispy. 🙂

        Reply
    4. Palwasha says

      June 26, 2020 at 10:12 pm

      So good, and so easy!

      Reply
      • Amina says

        August 13, 2020 at 5:39 am

        Thanks so much Palwasha!!

        Reply
    5. AC says

      May 18, 2020 at 2:35 am

      5 stars
      Just made this and it I turned out sooo good! I’m Pakistani so I’ve never heard of this dish before but it looked so good I had to try it. Super easy to make and totally hooked!

      Reply
      • Amina says

        May 20, 2020 at 8:12 pm

        I'm so glad you enjoyed the Arayes Anica! 🙂

        Reply
    6. Anica says

      May 18, 2020 at 2:34 am

      5 stars
      Just made this recipe and they turned out sooo good! I’m Pakistani so I’ve never seen or heard of this dish before but I’m definitely hooked!

      Reply
      • Amina says

        August 13, 2020 at 5:48 am

        Yay Anica - so glad you are hooked on these Arayes! Thanks for the kind review 🙂

        Reply
    7. Basant says

      May 06, 2020 at 12:54 am

      So delicious and the recipe is very easy to follow! A crowd pleaser. Will defiantly be making it again..

      Reply
      • Amina says

        May 07, 2020 at 5:31 am

        Thanks for the review Basant - so happy you enjoyed these. 🙂 I love how easy they are to make!

        Reply
    8. Asiya says

      May 02, 2020 at 1:59 am

      5 stars
      Excellent and very easy to make!

      Reply
      • Amina says

        May 07, 2020 at 5:31 am

        So glad you loved them Asiya! Thanks for the review!

        Reply

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    ABOUT ME

    Hi friend! I'm Amina, a wife and busy mother of two. And I know you're super busy too. I'm here to help you figure out dinner for your family with my easy, quick, and Middle Eastern inspired recipes. Hope you enjoy your stay - and please - have a look around and get in touch!

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