Arayes Kafta
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Prep Time10 mins
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Cook Time10 mins
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Serving4
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Ready In20 mins.
An effortless meal, Arayes Kafta are kid-friendly Lebanese sandwiches. Kafta is a Lebanese ground beef kebob. In other countries in the Middle-east, it is more known as kofta. Ground beef is combined with chopped parsley and onions along with some spices.
There are a few different ways kafta is served. It is often grilled in the summertime or, another very popular way, is in a casserole with potatoes in a tomato-based sauce and served with Lebanese vermicelli rice.
I have fond memories as a child of my mother making these sandwiches for me and my siblings for lunch or, as a quick dinner with “leftover” kafta. My mother would either be making kafta bi soneye or preparing kafta for a family barbeque. She would put some kafta aside to make these grilled sandwiches as a quick lunch for me and my siblings. Arayes Kafta are very kid-friendly sandwiches as I loved them growing up and so do my children. They are delicious eaten with plain yogurt on the side.
Cheesy Kafta?
The last time I was visiting Lebanon, me and my husband went out to dinner with some family and friends in Beirut. Our friends ordered these Arayes Kafta with cheese. I had only ever eaten them plain so, I was very excited and pleased with the cheesy version of these. I knew I had to try and recreate these when I got back home.
Akawi cheese is a Lebanese salty white cheese. It is the cheese used when making manakeesh and cheese rolls. Since akawi is quite salty, I like to soak it for a bit before shredding to remove some of the saltiness. I also add mozzarella with the akawi to tame the saltiness a bit. Mozzerella also gives the Arayes Kafta the cheesy pull factor that akawi does not provide on its own.
If you are not able to find akawi cheese, queso blanco is a great substitute. You could also use just mozzarella cheese on its own.
Type of Bread
These sandwiches are traditionally made using pita bread. However, tortillas are a great substitute for pita bread. In this recipe, you will see I made them using both pita bread and multi-grain tortillas. You could use your favorite tortilla bread, I just happened to have multigrain on hand. If you are on a gluten-free diet, you could even substitute gluten-free tortilla bread. You could think of these Arayes Kafta as kafta quesadillas!
These cheesy Arayes kafta can be made in the oven on a flat tray or on a griddler. Keep in mind because the meat is raw going in, it will release a bit of liquid as it cooks through.
STEP 1
Soak the akawi cheese in a medium-sized bowl of cold water for 30 minutes.
Pat dry using a paper towel and shred using a large box grater. Add the shredded mozzarella and mix to combine.
STEP 2
Open up the pita and add about ½ cup of kafta and spread it out on one side of the pita (or tortilla) for an even layer of filling.
Sprinkle ½ cup of the cheese mixture over the meat.
Place and additional tortilla on top and cover over the half pita.
STEP 3
BakingArrange the arayes on a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Spray the top pita (or tortilla) with non-stick spray (I used avocado oil spray).
Bake for 10 minutes on 375 until the kafta is fully cooked and cheese has melted.
Using a GriddlerStart out on medium heat for the first 6-7 minutes until the meat is almost cooked through. Then, cook on high heat for the last few minutes to crisp up the bread.
STEP 4
Cut the arayes kafta into triangles or in half. Enjoy!
Arayes Kafta
Ingredients
- 1 lb. Kafta
- 1 cup Akawi Cheese
- 1 cup Mozzarella Cheese
- 4 sm. Pita Bread or 8 tortillas
- Non-Stick Spray
Instructions
- Soak the akawi cheese in a medium-sized bowl of cold water for 30 minutes. Pat dry using a paper towel and shred using a large box grater. Add the shredded mozzarella and mix to combine.
- Open up the pita and add about ½ cup of kafta and spread it out on one side of the pita (or tortilla) for an even layer of filling.Sprinkle ½ cup of the cheese mixture over the meat and cover with the other half of the pita (or tortilla). Place and additional tortilla on top and cover over the halfpita.
- Arrange the arayes on a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Spray the top with non-stick spray (I used avocado oil spray).Bake for 10 minutes on 375 until the kafta is fully cooked and cheese has melted. *If using a griddler, start out on medium for the first 6-7 minutes until the meat is almost cooked through, then cook on high for the last few minutes to crisp up.
- Cut the arayes kafta into triangles or in half. Enjoy!
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