This is one of my favorites growing up! It's absolutely delicious and loaded with flavor and is one of the EASIEST recipes to make! Do I have your attention? Good! Because you'll definitely want to try making this so keep reading!
Background on this... my aunts would make this for every special occasion or on holidays!
This recipe was inspired by my aunts recipe and I added a modern day twist! I love spicy foods, so this can be made kid-friendly or add additional spice like jalapenos or my favorite middle eastern spicy sauce called Harissa, and pairs well with this Lebanese rice dish on the site.
Instructions
Heat oven to 500 degrees
Add all ingredients (except for ground beef & pine nuts) to a food processor and pulse until finely minced.
Mix ingredients with ground beef and add pine nuts. Mix with hands or with a fork until spice blend is mixed in. Spread mixture on top of pita bread evenly.
Add about 2 tlbs of mix to each pita bread. Place on a flat baking pan and bake for 10 minutes.
Hint: I like mine crispy so you can set to broil for an additional 1-2 mins to get the top nice and crispy!
Substitutions
- Pine nuts - instead of pine nuts, you can use slivered almonds on top
- Pita - Any kind of flat bread can be used here. I used pita, but you can also use gyro bread or use gluten free breads instead of white breads for gluten free options.
- Vegetarian - the ground beef can be replaced with a plant-based ground beef to make this vegetarian.
Variations
- Spicy - add a whole jalapeno, or a spoon full of Harissa spice!
- Kid friendly - cut up into triangles for a middle eastern style pizza!
Equipment
We used the Cuisinart food processor here to mince the ingredients. We also used a flat baking pan like this one to bake the meat pies.
Storage
You can put in a plastic ziplock bag and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days! I reuse the plastic pita bag and keep it tightly sealed.
Top tip
You can toast in the oven to warm up and it will taste just as delicious!
Mediterranean Meat Pies (Sfeeha)
Ingredients
- ground beef
- red onion
- garlic cloves
- garden tomato
- parsley
- jalapeño
- pita bread
- Seven spice
- kosher salt
- black pepper
- pine nuts optional
- Harissa Twist
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 500 degrees
- Add all ingredients (except for ground beef & pine nuts) to a food processor and pulse until finely minced.
- Mix ingredients with ground beef and add pine nuts. Mix with hands or with a fork until spice blend is mixed in.
- Spread mixture on top of pita bread evenly.
- Add about 2 tbls of meat mix to each pita bread.
- Place on a flat baking pan and bake for 10 minutes. TIP: I like mine crispy so you can set to broil for an additional 1-2 mins to get the top nice and crispy!
Rose Chamaa says
You've gotta try this one guys!
Gilbert Chamaa says
I love this as a lunch. It's so easy and yet so filling, healthy, and tasty. It's basically like a Pizza Burger.
CB says
I remember eating this as a young girl from the mentioned aunts, so yummy and simple!
Rose Chamaa says
Yes! So many great memories of us enjoying food together! 😊