Mediterranean Ground Beef Pita Pockets (Printer-Friendly)
Seasoned beef, fresh veggies, and yogurt sauce in warm pita pockets.
# What You'll Need:
→ Ground Beef & Spices
01 - 1 lb lean ground beef
02 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
04 - 2 tsp ground cumin
05 - 1 tsp ground coriander
06 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
07 - 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
08 - 1/2 tsp chili flakes (optional)
09 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
10 - 2 tbsp olive oil
→ Fresh Vegetables
11 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, quartered
12 - 1/2 cucumber, diced
13 - 1/4 red onion, thinly sliced
14 - 1/4 cup flat-leaf parsley, chopped
15 - 1 head romaine lettuce, shredded
→ Yogurt Sauce
16 - 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
17 - 1 tbsp lemon juice
18 - 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
19 - 1 garlic clove, minced
20 - Salt and pepper, to taste
→ Bread
21 - 4 pita pockets, warmed
# How to Make It:
01 - In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add chopped onion and cook for 2–3 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute. Stir in ground beef, breaking it up with a spoon, and cook until browned, about 6–8 minutes.
02 - Sprinkle cumin, coriander, paprika, cinnamon, chili flakes (if using), salt, and pepper over the beef. Stir well and cook for another 2 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together Greek yogurt, lemon juice, olive oil, minced garlic, salt, and pepper until smooth.
04 - In a medium bowl, toss cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, and parsley. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
05 - Cut the tops off warm pita breads to create pockets. Fill each pita with shredded lettuce, a generous spoonful of seasoned beef, some vegetable salad, and drizzle with yogurt sauce. Serve immediately while warm.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It comes together in under 40 minutes but tastes like it simmered all day.
- The tangy yogurt sauce perfectly balances the rich, warm spices.
02 -
- Do not skip warming the pitas or they will crack when you try to fill them.
- Let the beef cool slightly so the lettuce does not wilt immediately upon contact.
03 -
- Double the yogurt sauce because people will want to dip everything in it.
- Leftover beef filling works perfectly scrambled into eggs the next morning.