Za’Atar Beef Pitas with Everything Bagel Crust and Yogurt Hummus Sauce

These stuffed pitas are a flavor explosion in every bite. We take warm pitas, coat them with everything bagel seasoning and toast them until golden and crunchy. Then we fill them with savory za’atar-spiced ground beef, a creamy yogurt hummus sauce and a bright tomato-cucumber salad. A drizzle of hot sauce ties it all together.

This recipe comes together in just 20 minutes, making it perfect for busy weeknights when you want something delicious without spending hours in the kitchen. The combination of textures and flavors-crunchy, creamy, tangy and spicy-will have everyone asking for seconds.

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Ingredients

10 ounce Chopped Chicken BreastView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

4 tablespoon HummusView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

2 unit PitasView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit LemonView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

2 tablespoon YogurtView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit Mini CucumberView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit Beef Stock ConcentrateView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit TomatoView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 tablespoon Everything Bagel SeasoningView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 teaspoon Hot SauceView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

0.5 tablespoon Za'atar SpiceView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

teaspoon (tsp) SaltView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 tablespoon (tbsp) Olive OilView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

5 teaspoon (tsp) Cooking OilView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

teaspoon (tsp) Black PepperView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

Instructions

1. Wash and dry all produce. Quarter the lemon. Dice the tomato into ¼-inch pieces. Quarter the cucumber lengthwise, then slice crosswise into ¼-inch-thick pieces. Halve the pitas and gently pull apart to create pockets. In a small bowl, whisk together a drizzle of olive oil, juice from one lemon wedge, salt and pepper. Add the tomato and cucumber; stir to combine.
2. Heat a drizzle of oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef, breaking it up into pieces. Stir in the beef stock concentrate, half the za’atar spice (use all for 4 servings), salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until browned and cooked through, 4-6 minutes. Turn off heat; transfer beef to a plate. Wipe out the pan. While the beef cooks, drizzle the outside of each pita half with olive oil, rubbing all over to ensure even coverage. Sprinkle all over with everything bagel seasoning, pressing to adhere.
3. Return the pan to medium heat. Add the seasoned pita halves and cook until lightly toasted, 2-3 minutes per side. Meanwhile, in a second small bowl, mix together the yogurt, hummus, 1 teaspoon water and juice from one lemon wedge until combined (for 4 servings, use 2 teaspoons water and juice from two lemon wedges).
4. Spread the insides of the pita halves with the yogurt hummus sauce (reserve some for drizzling on top). Evenly divide the beef between the pitas; top with the tomato-cucumber salad. Divide the pitas between plates. Drizzle with as much hot sauce and remaining yogurt hummus sauce as you like. Serve with the remaining lemon wedges and any extra tomato-cucumber salad on the side.

Recipe Tips

FAQ

Can I use chicken instead of beef?

Yes! The original recipe calls for chopped chicken breast. Simply season and cook the chicken in the same way as the beef.

What can I substitute for za'atar?

Za’atar is a blend of thyme, sumac, sesame seeds and salt. You can substitute with a mix of dried thyme and sesame seeds, plus a pinch of lemon zest for tang.

How do I store leftovers?

Store the components separately in airtight containers in the fridge for up to 2 days. Reheat the beef and pitas in a pan and assemble fresh.