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A flatbread topped with a layer of creamy white sauce, minced grilled meat, and a fresh tomato-cucumber salad, served on a white plate.

Ground Beef Smashed Pita with Tomato Cucumber Salad

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  • Author: Laney Schwartz
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 5 minutes
  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x
  • Category: Dinner
  • Method: Sautéing
  • Cuisine: Mediterranean

Description

Crispy seasoned ground beef smashed right into a fluffy pita and pan-fried until golden, then topped with hummus and a cool lemony cucumber tomato salad. My favorite smash yet, on the table in under 20 minutes.


Ingredients

Scale

Meat mixture:

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp dried thyme
  • 1 tsp paprika

Pita:

Salad:

  • 2-3 persian cucumbers, finely diced
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, finely diced
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • ⅛ tsp black pepper
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • Juice of 1 lemon
  • 1 tbsp fresh mint, chopped
  • 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

To serve:

  • Hummus


Instructions

  1. In a bowl, combine the ground beef, salt, onion powder, garlic powder, cumin, pepper, thyme, and paprika. Mix well with your hands or a fork until fully combined.
  2. Preheat a pan over medium-high heat for 2-3 minutes.
  3. Cut each pita butterfly-style into two thin circles.
  4. Smash a portion of the meat mixture (about 2-3 tablespoons onto the inside of each pita half, forming a thin, even layer across the pita.
  5. Spray the pan with cooking spray. Place the pita meat-side down and cook for 3-5 minutes, until the meat is browned and crispy, pressing down occasionally.
  6. Flip and cook for another 1-2 minutes to crisp up the underside of the pita.
  7. While the pitas cook, combine the cucumber, tomato, salt, pepper, olive oil, lemon juice, mint, and parsley in a bowl. Mix well.
  8. Spread a dollop of hummus on each crispy meat pita, top with the salad, and serve.