Pitas Stuffed with Minced Beef
A quick Middle Eastern-inspired meal featuring juicy spiced beef wrapped in fluffy pitas and served with a tangy yogurt sauce. Perfect for busy weeknights or easy lunches.
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: 10
- Total Time: 25
- Yield: 6
- Category: Quick Dinner Recipes
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern-inspired
- Diet: Non-Vegetarian (Halal alternative available)
Ingredients
Plain yogurt, 250 ml
Fine salt, 1 ml
Ground coriander, 0.5 ml
Ground cumin, 0.5 ml
Ground black pepper, 0.5 ml
Ground sumac, 0.5 ml
Lean ground beef (85% lean or higher), 340 g
Small onion, 1 (finely chopped)
Fresh parsley, 15 g (chopped)
Plain breadcrumbs, 10 ml
Ground coriander (for meat), 10 ml
Ground cumin (for meat), 5 ml
Finely grated lemon zest, 2.5 ml
Salt and pepper (for meat), to taste
Pita breads, 3 (20 cm diameter)
Olive oil, 30 ml (for brushing)
Instructions
Preheat oven to 200°C (190°C for fan) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper
In large pan, brown beef with onion over medium heat until fully cooked
Add chopped parsley, breadcrumbs, 10 ml ground coriander, 5 ml ground cumin, 2.5 ml lemon zest, and season with salt and pepper
Mix thoroughly until meat forms a thick mixture
Meanwhile, prepare yogurt sauce by combining 250 ml yogurt with 1 ml salt, 0.5 ml coriander, 0.5 ml cumin, 0.5 ml black pepper, and 0.5 ml sumac
Cut pitas in half and spoon meat filling into each pita half
Brush tops with olive oil and bake for 10 minutes until golden
Notes
Use freshly ground spices for brightest flavor
Meat mixture can be prepared in advance
For halal option, use halal-certified ground beef
Serve with extra yogurt sauce on the side
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 stuffed pita
- Calories: 340
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 500mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 70mg