Description
Spiced Lamb Pitas with Feta Mint Sauce are a quick and flavorful Mediterranean-inspired dish featuring ground lamb seasoned with warm spices and fresh herbs, served in pita bread with a creamy, tangy feta mint sauce. Perfect for a satisfying weeknight meal or casual gathering, this recipe combines aromatic spices, fresh vegetables, and a refreshing yogurt-based sauce for a delicious and balanced bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Spiced Lamb
- 1 pound ground lamb
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/4 cup white onion, finely diced
- 4 cloves garlic, finely minced
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon allspice
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- Pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup fresh mint, chopped plus more for garnish
- 1/4 cup flat leaf parsley, chopped plus more for garnish
Feta Mint Sauce
- 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1/2 cup fresh mint
- 2 ounces feta cheese
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Assembling Pitas
- 4 pita breads
- 1/2 cucumber, diced
- 1/2 tomato, diced
Instructions
- Make the Feta Mint Sauce: Add the plain Greek yogurt, feta cheese, fresh mint, and lemon juice to a small food processor or blender. Pulse the ingredients until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Set aside for serving.
- Cook the Aromatics: Heat a large sauté pan over medium heat and add the olive oil. Once the oil is hot, add the finely diced onions and minced garlic. Sauté for about 5 minutes until the onions start to soften but have not browned, releasing their flavors.
- Brown the Ground Lamb: Add the ground lamb to the sauté pan with the onions and garlic. Cook, breaking it up with a spatula, until the lamb is browned and cooked through, with no pink remaining.
- Add Spices and Herbs: Stir in the smoked paprika, allspice, red pepper flakes, ground ginger, kosher salt, and pepper. Mix well and cook for another 1-2 minutes to allow the spices to meld with the meat. Remove the pan from heat and fold in the chopped fresh mint and flat leaf parsley for a burst of fresh flavor.
- Assemble the Pitas: Warm the pita breads slightly if desired. To each pita, add a generous amount of the spiced lamb mixture, followed by diced cucumber and tomato. Drizzle the prepared feta mint sauce over the filling and garnish with additional fresh mint and parsley if desired. Serve immediately.
Notes
- You can substitute ground beef or turkey if lamb is not available, but lamb provides a distinctive flavor.
- For extra heat, increase the amount of red pepper flakes according to taste.
- Warming the pita breads before assembling improves the texture and flavor.
- This recipe can be doubled easily to serve a larger crowd.
- Leftover spiced lamb can be used as a topping for salads or rice bowls.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
