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Spiced Beef Pitas

By America's Test Kitchen

Published on April 18, 2017

Time

30 minutes

Yield

Serves 4

Spiced Beef Pitas

Ingredients

¼ cup tahini 3 tablespoons lemon juice 3 tablespoons water Salt and pepper 1 (14-ounce) bag green coleslaw mix ½ cup fresh parsley leaves 1 pound 85 percent lean ground beef 2 garlic cloves, minced1 teaspoon ground cumin ½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice 2 (8-inch) pita breads, halved

Before You Begin

Garnish with diced tomatoes and plain yogurt. It's unnecessary to temp the burgers because they will reach a food-safe temperature if cooked according to the recipe instructions. (But for more information on food safety, check out this guide.)

Instructions

  1. Whisk tahini, lemon juice, water, and ½ teaspoon salt together in medium bowl. Add coleslaw mix and parsley and toss to combine. Combine beef, garlic, cumin, pie spice, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper in separate bowl. Shape beef mixture into four 6 by 3-inch oval patties.
  2. Place patties in 12-inch nonstick skillet and cook over medium-high heat until browned on bottom, about 4 minutes. Flip patties and continue to cook until browned on second side and just cooked through, about 2 minutes longer. Stuff each pita half with 1 patty, then divide cabbage mixture evenly among pita halves. Serve.
Spiced Beef Pitas

Spiced Beef Pitas

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By America's Test Kitchen
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Time

30 minutes

Yield

Serves 4

Ingredients

¼ cup tahini
3 tablespoons lemon juice
3 tablespoons water
Salt and pepper
1 (14-ounce) bag green coleslaw mix
½ cup fresh parsley leaves
1 pound 85 percent lean ground beef
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon ground cumin
½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
2 (8-inch) pita breads, halved

Ingredients

¼ cup tahini
3 tablespoons lemon juice
3 tablespoons water
Salt and pepper
1 (14-ounce) bag green coleslaw mix
½ cup fresh parsley leaves
1 pound 85 percent lean ground beef
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon ground cumin
½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
2 (8-inch) pita breads, halved

Ingredients

¼ cup tahini
3 tablespoons lemon juice
3 tablespoons water
Salt and pepper
1 (14-ounce) bag green coleslaw mix
½ cup fresh parsley leaves
1 pound 85 percent lean ground beef
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon ground cumin
½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
2 (8-inch) pita breads, halved

Why This Recipe Works

Pumpkin pie spice takes the place of the usual assortment of warm spices to simplify preparation while keeping the depth of flavor.

Before You Begin

Garnish with diced tomatoes and plain yogurt. It's unnecessary to temp the burgers because they will reach a food-safe temperature if cooked according to the recipe instructions. (But for more information on food safety, check out this guide.)

Instructions

  1. Whisk tahini, lemon juice, water, and ½ teaspoon salt together in medium bowl. Add coleslaw mix and parsley and toss to combine. Combine beef, garlic, cumin, pie spice, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper in separate bowl. Shape beef mixture into four 6 by 3-inch oval patties.
  2. Place patties in 12-inch nonstick skillet and cook over medium-high heat until browned on bottom, about 4 minutes. Flip patties and continue to cook until browned on second side and just cooked through, about 2 minutes longer. Stuff each pita half with 1 patty, then divide cabbage mixture evenly among pita halves. Serve.

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