Description
This Greek Beef Stuffed Pita with Lemon Garlic Yogurt is a flavorful, easy-to-make meal perfect for a quick lunch or dinner. Ground beef is seasoned with Mediterranean spices and cooked to perfection, then stuffed into warm pita pockets with fresh vegetables and topped with a creamy, tangy lemon garlic yogurt sauce. The combination of savory beef, crisp cucumber and tomatoes, and herbaceous parsley makes this dish irresistibly delicious and satisfying.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Beef Filling
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
For the Lemon Garlic Yogurt Sauce
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 clove garlic, grated or minced
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Salt, to taste
For Assembly
- 4 pita breads
- 1 cup chopped tomatoes
- 1/2 cup sliced cucumber
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Sauté Onions: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat and add the finely chopped onion. Cook until softened and translucent, about 3 to 4 minutes.
- Add Garlic: Stir in minced garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to brown it.
- Cook Ground Beef: Add ground beef to the skillet along with ground cumin, dried oregano, paprika, salt, and black pepper. Cook while breaking the meat apart until browned and fully cooked through, with no pink remaining.
- Make Yogurt Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together plain Greek yogurt, lemon juice, grated garlic, olive oil, and salt until smooth and creamy.
- Warm Pita Breads: Gently warm the pita breads to make them more pliable and enhance their flavor—either in a dry skillet, oven, or microwave for a short time.
- Assemble Pitas: Cut open or fold each warm pita and fill with the cooked beef mixture, chopped tomatoes, sliced cucumber, and fresh parsley.
- Serve: Drizzle each stuffed pita generously with the lemon garlic yogurt sauce and serve immediately while warm.
Notes
- For a spicier kick, add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the beef while cooking.
- Substitute ground lamb for beef to make a more traditional Greek flavor.
- Use whole wheat pita for a healthier option.
- The yogurt sauce can be prepared a few hours in advance and refrigerated.
- Serve with a side of Greek salad or roasted vegetables for a complete meal.
