Classic Middle Eastern salads are folded into a pita to create a delicious and portable vegetarian meal.
Lemon, garlic and olive oil runs through my veins so it probably comes as no surprise when I tell you I could eat Middle Eastern/Lebanese/Syrian food every day of my life. In fact, we eat a traditional Lebanese salad just about every evening with dinner.
Why buy salad dressing when you can use lemon juice, garlic and olive oil? Of course, that’s how my mom dresses salad and the lemon doesn’t fall far from the tree.
Speaking of lemon, garlic and olive oil – have you made my hummus yet? I’m confident Bobby Flay will receive a secret packet regarding our Hummus Throw Down any day now.
Today’s Middle Eastern Pita Sandwich is inspired by a local pita shop famous for their gyros and delicious toppings bar offering cucumber sauce, baba ghannoush, feta and more. Since they never give you enough hummus, I decided to create my own vegetarian version.
For extra flavor and nutrition, I added a little chopped fattoush-style tomato salad and a creamy cucumber yogurt mint sauce. Boom.
Your pita bread is waiting.
- 1 large pita
- 2 tablespoons hummus
- 1/2 cup diced tomatoes
- 1/2 cup diced cucumber
- 1 teaspoon za'atar
- 1 teaspooon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1/2 cup plain low fat yogurt
- 1 teaspoon dried mint
- 1 clove garlic grated
- salt and pepper to taste
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Lay pita flat and spread hummus along the middle leaving space at the edges.
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In a small bowl, combine diced tomato with half of the cucumber (1/4 cup), za'tar, olive oil, half of the lemon juice (1 tablespooon) and salt/pepper to taste; spread on top of hummus in the pita.
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To create cucumber yogurt sauce, combine remaining 1/4 cup cucumber, yogurt, dried mint, garlic and remaining 1 tablespoon of lemon juice in a small bowl. Season with salt/pepper to taste then drizzle on top of the tomato salad.
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Roll pita into a wrap and slice in half to serve.
Another option is to serve the salads on a big platter and use pita bread for dipping instead of creating a sandwich.
Photography by Alejandro Photography // Recipe by The Lemon Bowl
Check out my Pinterest board to see more Lebanese recipes!
KC
I just wanted to tell you how much I just LOVE your website, your recipes and how you write about your dishes. You certainly have a way of really pumping me up to cook!!
THANK YOU!
Liz DellaCroce
Wow thank you so much – that really means the world to me!!! :-) Thank you!!
middle east books
Pretty nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wished to mention that I’ve really enjoyed surfing around your blog posts. After all I’ll be subscribing for your rss feed and I am hoping you write once more soon!
Liz DellaCroce
So glad you found my blog!! Glad you’re enjoying my blog posts. Are you getting my daily feeds? I post 3 new recipes a week but I know Feedly has been having issues so I just want to make sure you’re not subscribed on there. Let me know!!
megan @ whatmegansmaking
Oh, this looks and sounds amazing! There is a lebanese restaurant near my parents house and I try to go every time I’m visiting – now I can just re-create at home! :)
Liz DellaCroce
Oh I hope you like it!! It’s one of our favorite easy lunches and the little man loves it. :)
Katie | The Hill Country Cook
My mouth is watering! I can’t wait to start expanding my Middle Eastern palette! And healthy, to boot! :) xoxo
Rachael {SimplyFreshCooking}
This looks so good to me! Why do I always browse your recipes when I’m starving to death??!!! :)
addie | culicurious
This looks fabulous! I love to make pita pocket sandwiches. I have a baked falafel recipe that I need to publish ;)
The Lemon Bowl
I would love to see that recipe!!!!
Ashley - Baker by Nature
I love sandwiches like this, Liz! Move a little closer to NYC, will ya?!
The Lemon Bowl
Same here!!! Twist my arm… I’ll move to NYC. (I WISH!) :)
Julia
All of the foods I love!!! We think alike :)
The Lemon Bowl
Same here!!! I could eat this every day. ;-)
Nikki @Pennies on a Platter
I’ve decided that whenever my Syrian MIL comes to visit, I will only cook from your blog! :) I love your version of this pita wrap. Yum yum!!
The Lemon Bowl
Aww you are so sweet!! Make her do the cooking!! I bet she has some amazing recipes!!!
Liz DV
We love Sami’s, too. When we get to Eastown, we can never decide between Yesterdog and Sami’s! But your version will be much healthier for me :)
The Lemon Bowl
That’s too funny!!! I love Sami’s but I always seem to overdo it. ;-)
Katrina @ In Katrina's Kitchen
I made hummus today and thought of you lol
EA-The Spicy RD
Oh, man…I’m sorry I ate lunch already! This sandwich looks so delicious!!! I have found the Udi’s gluten-free pizza crust makes a great sub for pizza, so I will be making this soon for sure!
The Lemon Bowl
You must make this- so healthy and satisfying!!
brandi
this looks SO good! We love middle eastern food…sometimes, i just eat hummus on a spoon, nothing else. so good.
The Lemon Bowl
Same here!! We go through so much hummus it’s embarrassing. Sometimes I even eat it on toast. ;-)
Alyssa (Everyday Maven)
YUM! This is the type of food that I can eat every single day as well and never get sick of. Along with Asian soup or noodle dishes ;).
The Lemon Bowl
You and me both sista!! Craving noodle soup right now!
Lauren @ Climbing Grier Mountain
I could eat this pita sandwich for breakfast, lunch, or dinner! It looks so healthy and delicious!! Can’t wait to dig in.
The Lemon Bowl
Same here!! Make extra of the fillings – hummus and cucumber sauce are really tasty with grilled meats of any kind!