Cinnamon-Spiced Kofte Meatball Pita Pockets

Sure! Here’s a detailed recipe for making delicious Kofte Meatball-Stuffed Pita Pockets:

Kofte Meatball-Stuffed Pita Pockets Recipe

Overview:

A fusion of flavors awaits in these Kofte Meatball-Stuffed Pita Pockets. Inspired by Near Eastern cuisine, these meatballs are infused with cinnamon, cumin, and pine nuts, elevating them to a whole new level of deliciousness. Served in warm pita pockets and topped with tangy yogurt and crisp lettuce, this dish is perfect for a quick and satisfying lunch or snack.

Ingredients:

• 1 egg
• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 3 tablespoons pine nuts
• 3/4 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1/2 cup chicken broth
• 1/2 cup water
• 3 green onions, finely chopped
• 1/3 cup plain nonfat yogurt
• 4 pocket breads (pita bread)
• Iceberg lettuce, shredded

Instructions:

1. Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 450°F (232°C) to ensure it’s nice and hot for baking the meatballs.

2. Prepare the Meatball Mixture: In a large mixing bowl, beat the egg using a fork until well blended. Add in the lean ground beef, bread crumbs, pine nuts, ground cumin, ground cinnamon, pepper, chicken broth, water, and chopped green onions.

3. Mix Well: Using your hands, thoroughly mix all the ingredients together until evenly combined. This will ensure that the flavors are well distributed throughout the meat mixture.

4. Shape the Meatballs: Take portions of the meat mixture and shape them into 1 1/2-inch balls. Place the formed meatballs slightly apart on a 10- by 15-inch baking pan.

5. Bake the Meatballs: Transfer the baking pan to the preheated oven and bake the meatballs for about 12 minutes, or until they are no longer pink in the center. You can cut into one of the meatballs to check for doneness.

6. Prepare the Pita Bread: While the meatballs are baking, cut the pocket breads (pita bread) in half crosswise. Wrap them in foil and place them in the oven during the last 5 minutes of baking to warm them up.

7. Assemble the Pita Pockets: Once the meatballs are cooked through and the pita bread is warmed, it’s time to assemble the pockets. Take a warm pocket bread half and fill it with hot meatballs.

8. Add Toppings: Drizzle some plain nonfat yogurt over the meatballs in each pita pocket. Then, generously top them with shredded iceberg lettuce for a refreshing crunch.

9. Serve: Your Kofte Meatball-Stuffed Pita Pockets are now ready to be served! Enjoy them hot as a delightful lunch or snack.

Nutritional Information (Per Serving):

• Calories: 496.3
• Fat Content: 18.5g
• Saturated Fat Content: 5.6g
• Cholesterol Content: 127.2mg
• Sodium Content: 555mg
• Carbohydrate Content: 46.5g
• Fiber Content: 2.9g
• Sugar Content: 4.8g
• Protein Content: 34.5g

Cooking Time Breakdown:

Keywords:

• Fruit
• Nuts
• Meat
• < 30 Mins
• Oven
• Easy

Enjoy these Kofte Meatball-Stuffed Pita Pockets bursting with flavor and goodness! 🥙🍴