Thai Beef Pitas

Susie D's Note:

This is a tasty under 30 minute meal perfect for a busy day and made with ingredients usually on hand. The recipe serves the meat mixture in pitas, but flour tortillas or lettuce wraps would be a good choice too. The recipe is from Family Circle magazine.

• Total Time: 25 mins
• Prep Time: 10 mins
• Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 4

• 1 lb lean ground beef
• 2 red bell peppers, seeded and thinly sliced
• 2 tablespoons fresh ginger, minced
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (or less according to your taste)
• 1/2 cup cilantro
• 3 tablespoons peanut butter
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• 1 lime, juice of
• 2 green onions, sliced thin including green tops to garnish
• 4 pita pockets, whole
• romaine lettuce leaf

Directions:

1. Crumble beef into large nonstick skillet and cook over medium heat. Stir occasionally until browned, about 5-6 minutes. Drain well.
2. Add peppers, ginger, garlic, and red pepper flakes to skillet. Cook until peppers are crisp tender.
3. Whisk together in a small bowl peanut butter, cilantro, soy sauce, lime juice, and sesame oil. Stir into beef and pepper mixture.
4. Cut pitas in half and line with lettuce leave. Fill each with about 1/2 cup of the meat mixture. Sprinkle with green onions and serve.

Reviews

[loof]

Great flavorful recipe! I left out the onions and cilantro, otherwise made as directed. Loved the lime in the peanut sauce and the crushed red pepper - great flavor combination. Great in a pita and as a lettuce wrap - thanks for sharing the recipe! Made for Spring Pick-A-Chef 2013

[Chef #494084]

This was great! Made it just as is but with no cilantro (just because I hate it) and used a bag of frozen peppers and onions instead of fresh. Easy and yummy! Gets 5 stars from me!! Thanks SusieD

[CaliforniaJan]

This is a 5+ star recipe because the flavor is outstanding! We served them in pitas but it would be fantastic in lettuce or just on rice. It is jumping right into my Best of 2010 cookbook! Made for ZWT #6 and I'm a Quisine Queen.