Mediterranean Beef Pita Pockets (Print Version)

Spiced ground beef with fresh veggies, feta, and yogurt sauce inside warm pita pockets for a vibrant meal.

# What You'll Need:

→ Beef Filling

01 - 1.1 lbs lean ground beef
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
04 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
05 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
06 - 1 teaspoon paprika
07 - 0.5 teaspoon ground coriander
08 - 0.5 teaspoon dried oregano
09 - 0.5 teaspoon salt
10 - 0.25 teaspoon black pepper

→ Yogurt Sauce

11 - 0.5 cup Greek yogurt
12 - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
13 - 1 small garlic clove, minced
14 - Pinch of salt
15 - Pinch of black pepper

→ Assembly

16 - 4 whole wheat pita breads
17 - 1 cup diced cucumber
18 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
19 - 0.25 cup red onion, thinly sliced
20 - 0.25 cup feta cheese, crumbled
21 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

# How to Make It:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chopped onion and cook for 2-3 minutes until softened. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Add ground beef, breaking it apart with a spatula. Sprinkle in cumin, paprika, coriander, oregano, salt, and pepper. Cook for 6-8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until beef is browned and cooked through. Remove from heat.
02 - In a small bowl, whisk together Greek yogurt, lemon juice, minced garlic, salt, and pepper until smooth and well combined.
03 - Warm pita breads briefly in the microwave or toaster for 10-20 seconds until pliable. Cut each pita in half to form pockets.
04 - Fill each pita half with a generous spoonful of warm ground beef mixture. Top with diced cucumber, cherry tomatoes, and sliced red onion. Sprinkle with crumbled feta cheese, drizzle with yogurt sauce, and garnish with fresh parsley.
05 - Serve while the pitas are warm and filling is fresh.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • Ready in 30 minutes flat, which means you can go from craving Mediterranean food to eating it before your favorite show comes back from commercial.
  • The warm, seasoned beef paired with cool, crisp vegetables and creamy yogurt sauce creates this perfect temperature and texture contrast that somehow feels fancy but tastes like comfort.
02 -
  • Don't skip warming the pitas; cold, stiff pita bread is the enemy of everything you've just made, and those extra 15 seconds change everything.
  • The beef filling and yogurt sauce can be prepped hours ahead, but assemble everything right before serving so your pita stays crispy and your vegetables stay crisp instead of getting soggy.
03 -
  • If your pitas start to cool while you're assembling, wrap them in a clean kitchen towel to keep them warm and pliable until you're ready to fill them.
  • The yogurt sauce is actually brilliant for dipping on its own, and I often make extra because it disappears faster than the pitas.
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