Delicious Egyptian Stuffed Pita

Name: Egyptian Stuffed Pita (Hawawshi)
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 1 h 5 min
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 1 lb ground beef; 1 onion, finely chopped; 1/4 cup fresh mint, chopped; 2 tsp ground cumin; 1 tsp paprika; Salt and pepper to taste; 4 pita bread rounds

Hawawshi is an Egyptian street food of seasoned ground beef mixed with mint and cumin, stuffed into pita bread and baked until the exterior crisps. It's a quick, handheld meal that delivers bold spice and tender meat in every bite.

🏷️Delicious egyptian stuffed pita recipe - hawawshi

Total

1h 5m

Servings

4

Difficulty

Medium

Est. Cost

$16–$26

Recipe Source

View original recipe

From Michiganplum · by MichiganPlum

Ingredients

1 lb ground beef
1 onion, finely chopped

1/4 cup fresh mint, chopped

2 tsp ground cumin

1 tsp paprika

Salt and pepper to taste

4 pita bread rounds

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Instructions

1
Preheat oven to 375°F.
2
In a bowl, mix together ground beef, onion, mint, cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper.
3
Cut pita bread rounds in half and stuff each half with the meat mixture.
4
Place stuffed pitas on a baking sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes, until meat is cooked through and pita is crispy.
5
Serve hawawshi hot with tahini sauce or a side salad.

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Tips & Notes

Pro tips

Chop the onion finely and cook it briefly in a pan with the beef to remove excess moisture—this prevents soggy pita.
Don't overstuff the pita; 3–4 tablespoons of filling per half is ideal to keep it intact during baking.
Brush the outside of the stuffed pita lightly with oil before baking for a golden, crispy crust.
Let the filling cool for a few minutes before stuffing to prevent the pita bread from becoming too soft.

Substitutions

ground beef → ground lamb (more traditional; use same quantity)
fresh mint → 1 tablespoon dried mint (reduce to 1 tbsp; rehydrate slightly with a splash of water)
paprika → ground coriander or cayenne pepper (adjust to taste for heat level)

Storage & make-ahead

Store cooled hawawshi in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days; reheat in a 350°F oven for 10 minutes or wrap in foil and warm on the stovetop.

Common Questions

Can I make the filling ahead of time?

Yes. Prepare the meat mixture up to 1 day ahead, refrigerate covered, then stuff and bake when ready.

What's the difference between hawawshi and regular stuffed pita?

Hawawshi is baked after stuffing, creating a crispy exterior, whereas most pitas are served soft. The spice blend (cumin, paprika, mint) is also distinctly Egyptian.