Middle Eastern Ground Beef Pita Sandwich
Sandwich night is about to get better with this easy ground beef pita sandwich recipe. Simply cook up and season some lean ground beef and load it into warm pita pockets with tomatoes, cucumber, and a sauce of your choice. Dinner in 20 minutes!
Servings: 6 people
Ingredients
- Extra virgin olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, chopped
- 1 ½ pounds ground beef or ground turkey
- Salt and pepper
- 1 ½ teaspoon ground allspice
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ½ teaspoon green cardamom
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
To serve
- 3 Pitas, cut into halves (should make 6 pita pockets)
- 2 medium tomatoes, halved and thinly sliced
- 1 small red onion, sliced
- ½ English cucumber, halved and thinly sliced (half moons)
- 1 radish, sliced (optional)
- 1 Tahini sauce recipe, tzatziki or hummus will also work here
Instructions
- In a large non-stick pan, heat about 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the onions and garlic and cook, stirring regularly, until golden brown (about 3 to 5 minutes).
- Add the ground meat and break it up with a wooden spoon. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the meat is fully browned. Carefully drain extra fat (this is especially helpful if you did not use lean meat). Season with Kosher salt and black pepper. Add the rest of the spices and the parsley and toss to combine.
- To assemble the pita sandwiches, stuff each pita pocket (or pita half) with the meat mixture. Tuck slices of tomatoes, onions and cucumbers around the beef. Finish with a drizzle of tahini sauce and serve!
Video
Notes
- Best ground beef for this recipe: 80% or 90% lean ground beef works best in this recipe. Meat that is any leaner will become too dry when cooked. And we drain the fat, so don't worry about the beef being too fatty and oily when it's cooked.
- Swap the beef: For an even leaner option, you could use ground turkey instead of beef. But because turkey is so lean, it is prone to drying out, so you will need more cooking fat (like olive oil) to counter this.
- Serving ideas: Stuff your pita sandwich simply like I do, with tomato and cucumber. A simple drizzle of tahini sauce is a great finishing touch. Or, add fixings of your choice like pickled turnips or pickled cucumbers. A different sauce like tzatziki or herby chermoula would be great. For sides, try a tomato salad, Greek potatoes, or sweet potato fries.
- How to store leftovers: Ground beef keeps in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. To reheat, pop it into a skillet with a little olive oil, and warm up on medium heat. Pita will stay fresh for 2 to 3 days in an airtight bag on your counter.
- Visit our Shop to browse quality Mediterranean ingredients including extra virgin olive oils, organic spices, and more!
Nutrition
Calories: 309.4kcal | Carbohydrates: 22.9g | Protein: 26.5g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 4.8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.7g | Cholesterol: 73.7mg | Sodium: 426.3mg | Potassium: 631.6mg | Fiber: 2.3g | Sugar: 3.2g | Vitamin A: 944.1IU | Vitamin C: 16.4mg | Calcium: 67.9mg | Iron: 3.6mg
QR code
Scan this QR code with your phone's camera to view this recipe on your mobile device.
