Egyptian Hawawshi (Stuffed Pita Sandwich) | CookOS

Egyptian Hawawshi

Name: Egyptian Hawawshi (Stuffed Pita Sandwich)
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 12 servings
Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Ingredients: 1/4 cup tahini; 1/4 cup water; 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice; 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt; 1 pound ground beef; 1 medium tomato chopped (about 1 cup); 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley; 1/2 cup chopped white onion; 1/4 cup chopped jalapeno; 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt; 1 1/2 teaspoons McCormick® Ground Cumin; 1 teaspoon McCormick Gourmet® Organic Ground Coriander; 1/2 teaspoon McCormick® Ground Allspice; 1/2 teaspoon McCormick® Garlic Powder; 1/2 teaspoon McCormick® Pure Ground Black Pepper; 1/2 teaspoon baking soda; 6 small pita pockets, halved

Egyptian hawawshi is a grilled and baked pita pocket stuffed with seasoned ground beef, tomato, parsley, onion, and jalapeño. The combination of charred exterior and tender spiced meat filling makes it a satisfying handheld meal.

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Total

30 min

Servings

Difficulty

Medium

Est. Cost

$31–$51

Recipe Source

View original recipe

From Mccormick · by McCormick & Company

Ingredients

1/4 cup tahini
1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
1 pound ground beef
1 medium tomato chopped (about 1 cup)
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
1/2 cup chopped white onion
1/4 cup chopped jalapeno
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 1/2 teaspoons McCormick® Ground Cumin
1 teaspoon McCormick Gourmet® Organic Ground Coriander
1/2 teaspoon McCormick® Ground Allspice
1/2 teaspoon McCormick® Garlic Powder
1/2 teaspoon McCormick® Pure Ground Black Pepper
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
6 small pita pockets, halved

17 Ingredients

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Instructions

1
For the Lemon Tahini, whisk all ingredients in a small bowl until well blended. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
2
For the Hawawshi, place beef in a large bowl; set aside. Place remaining ingredients, except pitas, in a food processor. Pulse until the mixture is finely chopped. Add the mixture to the bowl with ground beef; mix just until blended. Divide the beef mixture into 12 portions.
3
Preheat oven to 400°F. Heat grill on medium heat. Place 1 portion of the beef mixture in each pita half, pressing as needed to fill pita evenly. Brush the outside of pitas lightly with oil. Grill just until lightly charred on both sides.
4
Arrange in a single layer on a foil-lined sheet pan. Transfer the pan to the oven. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until beef is cooked through. Serve immediately with Lemon Tahini on the side.

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Tips & Notes

Pro tips

Pack the filling firmly into pita pockets so it holds together during grilling; don't overstuff or it will burst.
Char the pita lightly on both sides on the grill first, then transfer to a 400°F oven for 8–12 minutes until the meat reaches 160°F.
Mix the tahini sauce (tahini, water, lemon juice, salt) separately and drizzle inside just before serving to keep the pita crisp.
Use a meat thermometer to avoid undercooking; ground beef needs to reach 160°F for food safety.

Substitutions

Ground lamb → Ground beef (more traditional in some regions; use same quantity)
White onion → Red onion (adds slight sweetness; no change to quantity)
Fresh parsley → Cilantro (different flavor profile but works well)
Jalapeño → Serrano pepper (hotter; use 2–3 instead of 1/4 cup)

Storage & make-ahead

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat wrapped in foil in a 350°F oven for 10 minutes.

Equipment

grill or grill pan · meat thermometer

Common Questions

What is the difference between hawawshi and kebab?

Hawawshi is pita bread stuffed with spiced ground beef and vegetables, grilled then baked. Kebab is typically meat threaded on skewers. Hawawshi is a sandwich; kebab is skewered.