# Arayes

Crispy, juicy Middle Eastern meat-stuffed pitas with a garlic tahini sauce.

- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
- Category: Appetizer
- Language: en

## Ingredients

- 4 small pitas
- 1 yellow onion, grated & squeezed dry
- 7 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 0.33 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 0.33 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 2 tsp cumin
- 2 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp allspice
- 0.5 cup Greek yogurt
- 3 tbsp tahini
- 0.5 lemon, juiced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 0.25 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 0.25 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp pepper
- 1 tsp paprika
- melted garlic herb butter

## Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Grate your onion and squeeze every last drop of liquid out using paper towel or cheesecloth.
3. In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, tomato paste, minced garlic, all the spices (salt, black pepper, cinnamon, cumin, paprika, allspice), parsley, cilantro (if using), and the very dry grated onion.
4. Mix with your hands for about 2 minutes.
5. Cut each pita in half. If they don’t already have a pocket, carefully use a knife to make one.
6. Pack them with your beef mixture, ensuring they are full but not bursting.
7. Brush the outsides of the stuffed pitas lightly with olive oil.
8. Heat a lightly oiled skillet over medium heat.
9. Place each arayes meat-side down and sear for 1–2 minutes until you get a gorgeous crust.
10. Then sear the pita sides until golden and crisp.
11. Transfer the seared arayes to a baking sheet.
12. Finish them in the oven for 10–15 minutes, until fully cooked through.
13. While they bake, whisk together all the garlic tahini sauce ingredients (Greek yogurt, tahini, lemon juice, minced garlic, olive oil, chopped fresh parsley, chopped fresh cilantro, cumin, salt, pepper, paprika) in a bowl.
14. Taste and adjust lemon, salt, or garlic levels to your liking.
15. When the arayes are hot out of the oven, optionally brush them with melted garlic herb butter.
16. Enjoy!

## Equipment

- oven
- paper towel
- cheesecloth
- large bowl
- knife
- skillet
- baking sheet
- whisk

## Tips

- Ensure the grated onion is very dry before mixing with beef.
- Stuff the pitas full but avoid ripping them.
- You can adjust lemon, salt, or garlic levels in the tahini sauce to your liking.

## Source

- Original video: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DS3DPehEnpA/?igsh=MWN6Y25iaGc2aTU1cg==
- Recipe page: https://www.cliprecipe.com/recipe/d38069fb-06fd-41c2-b9ab-168990c37743
- Extracted: 2026-01-22

Extracted from the video by Clip Recipe (https://www.cliprecipe.com). Quantities and steps are as stated or shown in the video. Site guide for agents: https://www.cliprecipe.com/llms.txt