Spiced Ground Lamb Pita Recipe take your favorite Mediterranean inspired ingredients and pairs them up with ground lamb. The ground lamb is cooked in rich, warm spices that works nicely with the cool, creamy tzatziki sauce. Spread the tzatziki sauce on a pita, top with feta and the Greek style topping and enjoy this Mediterranean style taco!
SPICED GROUND LAMB PITA RECIPE
You guys have loved my recipe for this Spiced Beef with Hummus and Toasted Pine Nuts recipe so today I wanted to share a version using lamb.
I often rotate between this Spiced Ground Lamb Pita Recipe, Lamb Curry, Braised Lamb Shanks, Lamb Croquette, Minced Lamb, Braised Lamb Shanks, Lamb Kofta and these Mediterranean Zucchini Boats when I want to make lamb.
I love this recipe because of the warm spices that are mixed with the ground lamb.
It works so well together and also is perfect served over hummus.
You can add all kinds of toppings to this pita recipe. I often will serve a salad alongside the pita but also top the pita with that salad.
Sometimes I like to make are this Easy Lebanese Salad, Israeli Salad or this Persian Tomato Cucumber Salad.
Recipe Ingredients
- GROUND LAMB
- SWEET RED ONION
- GARLIC
- SPICES: PAPRIKA, OREGANO, THYME, CINNAMON, ALLSPICE, CLOVE, CAYENNE PEPPER
- PITA BREAD
- TZATZIKI
- FETA CHEESE
- PINE NUTS
How do You Make Spiced Lamb
For the Lamb:
In a large skillet heat the olive oil {or ghee} over medium high heat.
1. Saute Lamb: Add the onion and garlic and saute until the onion is translucent. Add the ground lamb and turn to medium heat. Use a wooden spoon to break apart the ground lamb and let it begin to cook.
2. Add the Spices: Add the paprika, oregano, thyme, cinnamon, allspice, clove and cayenne pepper to the lamb and continue to cook until the lamb is cooked through and no pink is left. Remove from the stove and drain excess fat.
For the Pitas:
3. Create the Pitas: On a large cutting board lay out your pita bread or flatbread. Spread an even layer of tzatziki on each pita. Layer on the lamb, feta cheese and top with the Greek topping. You also can add pine nuts {opptional}.
Ways to Use This Ground Lamb
- Grain Bowls: Grain bowls are a nice way to use this lamb. Some bowls you could sub lamb into are this Chicken Shawarma Bowl, Greek Quinoa Bowl or this Slow Cooker Cuban Pork Rice Bowls.
- Tacos: This ground lamb would be great in tacos with either Mediterranean inspired ingredients or regular Mexican style tacos. You could add these Quick Pickled Red Onions or this Mexican Street Corn Salad.
- Hummus Bowls: I love adding ground lamb to hummus bowls. You can sub the lamb into this Shredded Beef Hummus Bowl or this Easy Mediterranean Hummus Bowl. Another option is to add it to this Hummus Platter. If you want to make your own hummus try this Lebanese Hummus Recipe, Lemon Hummus Recipe or Roasted Red Pepper Hummus.
- Pita Pitza: Another nice way to use this spiced lamb is on this Chicken Feta Cheddar Pita Pitza, Spiced Beef and Hummus Pita Pitza or this Greek Pita Pitza.
- Salads: Another nice way to use ground lamb is salads. Some of my favorites that you could add it to is this Easy Lebanese Salad, Fattoush Salad, Mediterranean Bean Salad, Tomato Cucumber Feta Quinoa Salad and this Mediterranean Eggplant Salad.
What to Serve With This Ground Lamb Recipe:
There are a lot of great Mediterranean sides and salads to serve with this lamb.
- Salads: Some salads I love to serve with this recipe is this Mediterranean Lentil Salad, Persian Tomato Cucumber Salad, Greek Village Salad and Lebanese Tabbouleh.
- Sides: When it comes to sides try serving these Mediterranean Roasted Vegetables, 4 Ingredient Cheesy Orzo Recipe, Turmeric Roasted Cauliflower or this Lemon Herb Couscous.
- Potatoes: Potatoes would be a nice addition to this dish. Try these Spicy Lebanese Potatoes, Lemon Cilantro Potatoes or these Paprika Roasted Potatoes.
Other Middle Eastern Recipes You Might Like:
LEBANESE MEAT STUFFED PITAS
LEBANESE CHICKEN KEBABAS
TURKEY KOFTA KEBABS
CHICKEN KOFTA
LEBANESE MEAT PIES
Spiced Ground Lamb Pita Recipe
Spiced Ground Lamb Pita Recipe take your favorite Mediterranean inspired ingredients and pairs them up with ground lamb. The ground lamb is cooked in rich, warm spices that works nicely with the cool, creamy tzatziki sauce. Spread the tzatziki sauce on a pita, top with feta and the Greek style topping and enjoy this Mediterranean style taco!
Ingredients
- 1 pound of ground lamb, cooked and drained
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/4 of a sweet or red onion, chopped
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon thyme
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon allspice
- 1/4 teaspoon clove
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper {optional}
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
- Pita bread or flatbread
- 1 cup of tzatziki sauce, store-bought or homemade
- Feta cheese for garnish
- Pine nuts {optional}
FOR THE GREEK STYLE TOPPING
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, quartered
- 1 cup english cucumber, diced
- 1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled
- 3 green onions, chopped
- 1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 1/2 of a lemon, juiced
Instructions
- In a large skillet heat the olive oil {or ghee} over medium high heat.
- Add the onion and garlic and saute until the onion is translucent. Add the ground lamb and turn to medium heat.
- Use a wooden spoon to break apart the ground lamb and let it begin to cook.
- Add the paprika, oregano, thyme, cinnamon, allspice, clove and cayenne pepper, salt and pepper to the lamb and continue to cook until the lamb is cooked through and no pink is left.
- Remove from the stove and drain excess fat.
- On a large cutting board lay out your pita bread or flatbread.
- Spread an even layer of tzatziki on each pita. Layer on the lamb, feta cheese and top with the Greek topping. You also can add pine nuts {optional}.
- Serve with a side of tzatziki sauce.
Elicia
Wednesday 17th of July 2024
Unfortunately, this recipe was not a win. Followed instructions, but the lamb had no flavor. Needs salt and pepper at least.
Julia
Thursday 18th of July 2024
The recipe calls for cinnamon, paprika, allspice, cloves, cayenne pepper and of course you can always add salt and pepper to taste with every recipe. When I eat this recipe it has tons of flavor so not sure what happened in your version. You also can always add more toppings to enhance the flavor like Greek yogurt, hummus, chopped veggies, ect.
Carol sue
Saturday 16th of March 2024
This came out so tasty! I had to play around with spices a bit (had no cloves, used cardamom). Will use this again in other formats as suggested, for sure. So good, it’s company worthy.
Julia
Sunday 17th of March 2024
I am so glad you like it! Great idea to add cardamom.
Hannah
Monday 2nd of May 2022
This is incredible. I crave it even half an hour after eating it! The flavors are amazing - even my five year old enjoyed it (wrapped in foil 'cause pita-holding takes skill haha).
Julia
Tuesday 3rd of May 2022
Thank you! I hope you enjoy it.