Vegan Arayes (Middle Eastern Grilled Pita Sandwiches)
A quick 15-minute Middle Eastern grilled pita sandwich stuffed with a savory vegan filling of onion, tomato, tomato paste and fresh parsley, toasted until crispy.
Ingredients
- 2 pitas
- 6 Tbsps parsley chopped
- 1 tomato chopped
- ½ onion small, thinly sliced
- 2 Tbsps tomato paste
- ⅓ tsp cumin powder
- 1 pinch chili powder
- ½ Tbsp olive oil
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cut each pita in half so you have pockets you can fold into triangle-shaped sandwiches.
- Heat the olive oil in a small pan over medium heat. Add the thinly sliced onion along with the cumin, chili powder, salt and pepper, and saute for 2-3 minutes until the onion turns soft and translucent.
- Stir in the chopped tomato and tomato paste. Cook on low heat for about 5 minutes, until the mixture thickens slightly. Add the parsley, stir, and remove from the heat.
- Heat a grill pan or a regular skillet over medium-high heat.
- Fill each pita half with the warm filling and press it closed to form a triangle-shaped sandwich.
- Place the sandwiches on the hot pan and grill for 1-2 minutes per side, until golden and crispy.
- Serve immediately, as the pita can turn soggy quickly.
Notes
The filling can be made ahead and refrigerated for up to 2 days. Serve right away to keep the pita crispy. For extra richness, add some optional vegan cheese to the filling.