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This is the archived version of the Milk Street website and is no longer up to date.

Please visit 177milkstreet.com to see the current website with all of the latest recipes!

Skillet-Toasted Beef-Stuffed Pitas (Arayes)

4 to 6 Servings

45 minutes

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The Levantine favorite called arayes are pita breads stuffed with spiced ground beef or lamb, then pan-fried or griddled until the meat is juicy and the bread is crisp. We season the meat with baharat, a Middle Eastern spice blend. If you can’t find it, use 1 teaspoon each ground cumin and sweet paprika, plus ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon. Six-inch pitas offer the best bread to meat ratio, and thick, fluffy ones are ideal—they have more structure than thin pitas, which quickly turn soggy after cooking. Look for rounds about ½ inch thick and be sure they’re fresh and supple, not dry and brittle. Angel Bakeries classic white pita is one of our top picks. A cast-iron skillet works best because of its ability to retain heat, but a heavy nonstick skillet works, too. We serve these with a tangy yogurt sauce to balance the rich, spiced filling.

4 to 6

Servings

Tip

Don’t cook the stuffed pita halves over too high a heat or the bread will scorch before the filling is cooked through. Also, don’t skip searing the cut sides of the pitas. It creates a crust that adds flavor and texture.

45 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1

    pound 90 percent lean ground beef or ground lamb

  • 1

    small yellow onion, grated on the large holes of a box grater

Directions

Reviews
John C.
January 14, 2025
Very good, you'd think it was lamb.
I've made this three times. First time per the recipe. The other two times I added more salt and cooked the patties before adding them to the pitas. This method turned out better, it was both easier to tell when the filling was cooked and to ensure the meal was hot when serving. Either way, delicious. My wife thought they were lamb.
Brendan S.
October 1, 2024
Really really good
Our pitas completely fell apart but it still tasted delicious. Definitely making this again.
Becky W.
October 20, 2025
A bit of work but it pays off
I made two batches: one with beef and another with tempeh and cooked mushrooms. Both turned out tasty. The pitas were kinda fiddly and the beef juices ran out of the cracks. I can see why John C. cooked the beef in advance. The juices burned and stunk up the kitchen before the beef was fully cooked. I don't know if I'll make these again, but they were yummy and a fun treat.

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