Ingredients
Scale
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, chopped
- 1 1/2 pounds ground beef or ground turkey
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground allspice
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon ground green cardamom
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
- 3 pitas, cut into halves to make 6 pita pockets
- 2 medium tomatoes, halved and thinly sliced
- 1 small red onion, sliced
- 1/2 English cucumber, halved and thinly sliced into half moons
- 1 radish, sliced (optional)
- 1 tahini sauce recipe, or tzatziki or hummus as alternatives
Instructions
- Heat 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil in a large non-stick pan over medium-high heat until shimmering.
- Add the chopped onion and garlic. Cook, stirring regularly, until golden brown, about 3 to 5 minutes.
- Add the ground beef and break it up with a wooden spoon. Cook, stirring occasionally, until fully browned.
- Drain any excess fat from the pan, especially if you are not using lean meat.
- Season with kosher salt and black pepper. Add the allspice, cayenne pepper, cardamom, nutmeg, paprika, and parsley. Toss to combine.
- Stuff each pita pocket with the spiced meat mixture.
- Tuck in slices of tomato, red onion, and cucumber around the beef.
- Drizzle with tahini sauce and serve immediately.
Notes
- Use lean ground beef to reduce the amount of fat you need to drain after cooking.
- Ground turkey works just as well as ground beef in this recipe.
- Tzatziki or hummus can replace tahini sauce if you prefer a different flavor profile.
- Warm your pitas slightly before stuffing to make them easier to open without tearing.
- You can prep the meat mixture ahead of time and store it in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Add radish slices for an extra crunch and a mild peppery bite.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
- Diet: Halal
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 pita sandwich
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 480mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 75mg