Let’s just call this what it is: kinda amazing. In Egypt, it is known as hawawshi; in Lebanon, it’s known as arayes–but it might make the most sense to you when called by its colloquial moniker, the Arabic hamburger. From the recipe photo, it certainly looks like a cross between a pita pocket and a hamburger, but it’s what you don’t see that makes the difference: all those middle eastern warming spices–cardamom, cinnamon, coriander–and a lot more vegetables than you might have an imagined hiding within meat and bread. Both soft and crunchy, rich and homey, bold and simple–it’s a bit of everything in one hand-holdable package, and a great addition to your lunch repertoire and/or your burger recipes.
Ingredients Overview
This recipe uses lean ground beef (or lamb) spiced with Middle Eastern flavours and bulked up with finely minced onions and red pepper for extra veggies and texture. Stuffed into soft pita halves, it becomes a handheld meal that’s easy for toddlers to grip and for parents to prep in under 20 minutes.
Steps Summary
- Finely mince onion and red pepper and combine with ground meat (or lamb), tomato paste, garlic powder and either a Middle Eastern or shawarma spice mix (or your own blend of cumin, cardamom, coriander) plus dried parsley/cilantro.
- Cut each pita in half and open the pocket (microwave ~10 seconds if necessary).
- Press the spiced meat-vegetable mixture into half-moon shapes matching each pita half, then tuck into the pita.
- Heat a large pan over medium, coat the outside of each pita with cooking spray, cook each side until brown (~2 minutes per side) and meat fully cooked (~4 minutes total).
- For toddlers: slice the filled pita into triangles (like quesadilla wedges) and serve with a squeeze of lemon for juiciness and added flavour.
FAQ
Q: Can I substitute lamb for the ground beef?
A: Yes — this recipe allows for ground lamb instead of beef for a slightly richer flavour.
Q: Are there vegetarian or meat-less options?
A: You could swap the meat with a seasoned lentil/bean mixture or finely chopped mushrooms if you want a meat-free version; remaining steps are the same.
Q: Can I make these ahead of time or freeze them?
A: The patties can be formed ahead and stored in the fridge for a short time, then cooked on demand; freezing is possible, but cooking from fresh gives the best texture, especially for toddlers who may prefer a crisp exterior.
Recipe Links
What to Serve With Hawawshi
- Easy Watermelon And Feta Salad — A classic Mediterranean salad, made even better with the addition of cucumber.
- Carrot Fries — A toddler-friendly side that delivers on both veggies and deliciousness.
- Beet Hummus — Great for dipping pita (or even this sandwich) into while munching on lunch.
More Toddler-Friendly Recipes Like This
- Chicken Rice Dinner— A showstopping Persian dish that’s got big middle eastern flavors in a presentation kids love
- Mashed Potato and Peas Quesadilla (AKA Samosdilla) — A similar “mash a bunch of things between two thin slices of bread” approach, this time fusing Mexican and Indian flavors.
- The Ultimate Toddler Burger — When you want a more traditional burger, this recipe has all the best tips for making a great one for your kiddo.
Toddler-Friendly Pita Pocket “Burger” with Ground Beef & Hidden Veggies
Description
Stuffed pita halves filled with spiced ground beef and hidden veggies make this handheld meal a breeze for toddlers to hold and parents to cook. With Middle Eastern seasonings and quick stove-top cooking, it’s a fun, flavour-packed lunch or dinner your little one can eat like a mini burger.
Ingredients
Instructions
Prep
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Remove shell and ends from onion and seeds and pith from pepper; cut each into 3-4 pieces.
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Blend onion and pepper pieces until finely minced. Drain any excess liquid from the blender jar.
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Add a splash of olive oil, followed by the ground meat, tomato paste and a couple of shakes each of garlic powder, parsley or cilantro, and your middle eastern spice mix. Blend again until a smooth paste forms, adding an additional glug of olive oil as needed to break apart meat and vegetable mix.
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Cut your pita in half. (If the inside of each half doesn’t open readily, microwave for 10 seconds and then poke a hole in it to open up).
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Take a clump of the meat mixture and press it down into a half-moon shape roughly the same size as the pita halves.
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Stick the meat mixture inside the pita and close the pita up; place your fingers on top of the pita and push the meat mixture inside towards the edges of the pita to distribute.
Cook
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Heat a large pan to Medium. Once hot, coat the outside of the pita in cooking spray and place in the pan; repeat for remaining pieces.
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Cook until the bottom side of the pita is brown, roughly 2 minutes; flip, then cook until meat inside the pita is fully cooked, roughly two minutes more.
Serve
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While it’s more traditional/authentic to eat this dish holding a half or quarter of a pita, it’s easier–and possibly more familiar–for young children to eat this cut into smaller triangles, much like you might do for a quesadilla. Squeeze a bit of lemon over the top and eat quickly–the meat juice will soak the pita and make it go soft soon after it leaves the stove.
Adapt
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You can ditch the red pepper and onion and just stick spiced burger meat inside the pita–you’ll miss an easy opportunity to add some veggies, but you’ll save a few minutes and the pita will stay crisper longer. A crunchier version of this can be made by oven cooking: 375 degrees for about 12-15 minutes–with a flip midway–will ensure a crunchy exterior (albeit with less juicy meat). You can also add some cheese to the mix, which won’t affect the process or cooking time.
Nutrition Facts
Servings 4
Serving Size 1/2 pita filled with meat and veggie blend
- Amount Per Serving
- Calories 350kcal
- % Daily Value *
- Total Fat 16g25%
- Sodium 200mg9%
- Potassium 300mg9%
- Total Carbohydrate 30g10%
- Dietary Fiber 2g8%
- Protein 18g36%
- Vitamin A 750 IU
- Vitamin C 15 mg
- Calcium 65 mg
- Iron 3 mg
- Zinc 6 mg
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
User Reviews
I wasn’t sure this would work with my child, but he really liked the crunch outside!