Hawawshi (ground/minced meat pitas)

Ingredients

• 3 baladi bread (or pita - suggest pita pockets)
• 1/4 large onion (or 1/2 small/medium)
• 1/4 green pepper
• 1/2 tomato
• 1 small clove garlic
• 1/2 lb ground beef (minced beef, eg 80% - recommend not lean for this)
• 2 tbsp chopped parsley
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp coriander
• 1/4 tsp cumin
• 1/8 tsp paprika
• 1/8 tsp allspice
• 1/8 tsp cinnamon
• 1/8 tsp cardamom
• 1/8 tsp pepper (or use 1tsp sabaa baharat blend plus salt)

Instructions

1. 1

   Preheat the oven to 400F/200C. Brush a large baking sheet with a little oil.

2. 2

   Either cut the breads in half or cut a slit along the edge on one side around 2 inches in length.

3. 3

   Finley chop the onion, pepper and tomato and crush or finely chop the garlic.

4. 4

   Mix together the ground beef, onion, pepper, tomato, garlic, parsley and spices. Mix everything well so the ingredients are well-distributed - this is often easiest by hand.

5. 5

   Divide the mixture between the breads and fill, taking care not to break the bread, as far as possible, and spreading the filling relatively evenly in towards the edges.

6. 6

   Place the filled bread on the baking sheet and brush either side of the bread with a little oil.

7. 7

   Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 15 minutes, then turn and bake for another 5 minutes, approximately, until the bread is browned and gently crisp on both sides and the meat is cooked through.

8. 8

   Best served warm, or can be served at room temperature - typically served with tahini sauce on the side to dip.