09/14/2026
Get ready for crispy, juicy Arayes—Middle Eastern meat-stuffed pitas paired with a creamy Garlic Tahini Sauce! 🥙🔥 These are perfectly spiced, seared for a crust, and baked to perfection for an unforgettable meal.
Arayes Ingredients
🥙 4 small pitas, cut in half
🧅 1 yellow onion, grated & squeezed dry
🧄 7 garlic cloves, minced
🍅 2 tbsp tomato paste
🌿 1/3 cup fresh parsley, chopped
🌿 1/3 cup fresh cilantro, chopped (optional but excellent!)
🫒 1 tbsp olive oil
🥩 1 lb (0.45 kg) lean ground beef
🧂 Spices: 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp black pepper, 1 tsp cinnamon, 2 tsp cumin, 2 tsp paprika, 1 tsp allspice
Garlic Tahini Sauce
🥣 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
🥄 3 tbsp tahini
🍋 1/2 lemon, juiced
🧄 2 garlic cloves, minced
🫒 2 tbsp olive oil
🌿 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
🌿 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
🌶️ 1 tsp each: cumin, salt, pepper, paprika
Instructions
🌡️ Prep: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grate your onion and squeeze out every last drop of liquid using a paper towel or cheesecloth.
🥣 Mix: In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, tomato paste, minced garlic, all the spices, parsley, cilantro, and the dry grated onion. Mix with your hands for about 2 minutes.
🥙 Stuff: Cut each pita in half. If they don’t have a pocket, carefully open one with a knife. Pack them fully with the beef mixture, being careful not to rip the bread!
🍳 Sear: Brush the outsides of the stuffed pitas lightly with olive oil. Heat a lightly oiled skillet over medium heat. Place each Arayes meat-side down and sear for 1–2 minutes to build a gorgeous crust, then sear the pita sides until golden and crisp.
⏲️ Bake: Transfer the seared Arayes to a baking sheet and finish in the oven for 10–15 minutes until fully cooked through.
🍋 Sauce: While they bake, whisk together all the garlic tahini sauce ingredients in a bowl. Taste and adjust to your liking.
🧈 Finish: Pull the hot Arayes from the oven and optionally brush with melted garlic herb butter. Dip in the sauce and enjoy! 🫡
Nutrition Estimate (per serving of 2 halves with sauce)
💪 Protein: 34g | 🍞 Carbs: 38g | 🌾 Fiber: 6g | 🥑 Fat: 24g | ⚖️ Calories: ~500 kcal