Hawashi (Egyptian Pita Pockets)

  I made these, and they were a hit!  I halved the recipe, and it fed 2 guys with some extras.

Ingredients:

1 large yellow onion, quartered

2 garlic cloves

1 green bell pepper, cored and chunks

1 jalapeno seeded and halved

1/2 oz fresh parsley stems trimmed

2 lbs lean ground beef

3T tomato paste

Kosher salt

extra virgin olive oil

6 loaves of pocketed pita bread

Spice mixture:

1t coriander

1t allspice

1t paprika

1t black pepper

1/2 t cumin

3/4 t cardamom

1/4 t cinnamon

Directions:

Heat the oven to 400F

In a small bowl, add spices, and mix

Put the onion, peppers, garlic and parsley into a food processor fitted with a blade, and pulse until finely chopped.

Transfer the onion mixture to a large bowl. Add the beef and tomato paste.  Mix, to combine. Add spice mixture, Kosher salt, and mix, again.  

Cut the pita in halves, to create pockets, and stuff with 1/3c of the meat mixture.

Place the pita onto a prepared sheet pan.  Brush the tops with the olive oil.

Bake in the oven for 15 minutes, then carefully, turn over the pitas and cook on the other side for another 5-10 minutes until the meat is fully cooked and the pita is crispy on both sides.