Pita with Lamb

I can provide you with a recipe to make pita with lamb, inspired by Mediterranean flavors with an Italian twist. Here’s how you can proceed.

Ingredients

  • 500 g of ground lamb
  • 4 pitas
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 2 cloves of garlic, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon of fresh aromatic herbs (for example: rosemary, thyme, mint), chopped
  • 1 teaspoon of ground coriander
  • 1 teaspoon of ground cumin
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 ripe tomato, cut into cubes
  • 1 cucumber, cut into cubes
  • Greek yogurt to serve
  • Fresh mint leaves (optional)

To “Italianize” the dish, you could add some grated Parmesan to the lamb mixture and use typically Italian aromatic herbs such as rosemary and basil.

Preparation

  1. In a large pan, heat a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and sauté the onion and garlic until they become translucent.
  2. Add the ground lamb and brown it until it is well cooked and golden.
  3. Flavor the meat with coriander, cumin, the chopped aromatic herbs, salt and pepper, mixing well to distribute the flavors.
  4. Heat the pitas following the instructions on the package (usually, just put them in a hot oven or on a hot grill for a few minutes).
  5. Once heated, cut the pitas in half and fill them with the cooked lamb, adding the tomato cubes, cucumber and a spoonful of Greek yogurt.
  6. If desired, garnish with fresh mint leaves to add freshness.

Serve the warm pitas, accompanied by a fresh salad or a side dish of grilled vegetables for a complete meal.

Curiosity

Pitas with lamb are a very popular dish in several cuisines of the Eastern Mediterranean. The pita itself has a fascinating history, being a type of flatbread that originated in the Near East and has spread in various forms and recipes throughout the Mediterranean. Sharing dishes like this is a great way to explore different flavors and culinary traditions rich in history.