Hawawshi: Spiced Beef-Filled Flatbread

Step 1

Place the red bell pepper on a cutting board stem-side up, then slice straight down along all four sides to remove the flat panels of flesh, leaving the seedy core behind; discard the core.

Step 2

Lay each red pepper panel flat on the cutting board and slice lengthwise into strips about the width of your thumb, then rotate 90 degrees and slice crosswise into 1-inch pieces.

Step 3

Cut the yellow onion in half from root to tip, place flat-side down on the cutting board, and slice lengthwise into strips about the width of your thumb, then rotate and slice crosswise into 1-inch pieces.

Step 4

Mince the garlic cloves until the pieces are smaller than a grain of rice—about the size of pencil-tip dots.

Step 5

Pour 2 tablespoons of olive oil into a 12-inch skillet and place it over medium-high heat until the oil shimmers and slides quickly when you tilt the pan, about 90 seconds.

Step 6

Add the ground beef to the hot oil and use a wooden spoon to break it into bite-sized crumbles, stirring every 15 seconds, until the surface is golden brown and no pink remains, about 5 minutes.

Step 7

Add the minced garlic to the cooked beef and stir continuously for 30 seconds until the smell becomes strongly fragrant.

Step 8

Sprinkle 0.5 teaspoon of cumin and 0.5 teaspoon of paprika over the beef, stir constantly for 30 seconds until the spices coat the meat, then season with a pinch of salt and a pinch of black pepper.

Step 9

Add the bell pepper and onion pieces to the beef, stir once every 20 seconds, and cook until the vegetables are soft and their cut edges turn golden brown, about 4 minutes.

Step 10

Remove the skillet from heat and taste a bite; add more salt and pepper if needed until the filling tastes bold and savory.

Step 11

Place one pita or flatbread on a cutting board and use a fork to split it open along the seam, creating a pocket, then repeat with the second flatbread.

Step 12

Spoon half the beef and vegetable filling into the pocket of the first flatbread, filling it generously so the filling reaches both corners.

Step 13

Spoon the remaining beef and vegetable filling into the pocket of the second flatbread, filling it generously so the filling reaches both corners.

Step 14

Place the first filled flatbread on a plate, then place the second on a second plate and serve immediately while the bread is warm.