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Spicy Harissa lamb shoulder chunks in pita cones with Tahini sauce. A serious Crowd Pleaser that's Loaded with Flavors and a Secret Tip for charring Lamb Chunks I learned form my grandma! Get the recipe and Step by Step at www.twopurplefigs.com

Spicy Harissa lamb shoulder chunks in pita cones with Tahini sauce

This simple yet flavor loaded recipe for Spicy Harissa Lamb Shoulder Chunks in Pita Cones with Tahini Sauce will blow you away! A blend of cubed lamb shoulder seared with plenty of garlic and olive oil until charred and tender then spiked with a fresh pepper Harissa sauce and piled into homemade pita cones.

Course dinner, lunch, Main Course
Cuisine Middle Eastern
Keyword pita cones with lamb, pita cones with tahini sauce, seared harissa lamb shoulder
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 6 servings
Calories 668 kcal
Author Mahy

Ingredients

Lamb Chunks:

  • 3 lbs lamb shoulder or stew meat about 1 inch cubes
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 6 cloves minced garlic
  • 1/4 cup minced fresh mint and parsley
  • 1/3 cup olive oil

Fresh Harissa Sauce:

  • 2 cups fresh hot chili any type, any color, any spice level you prefer, washed and stems removed
  • 3 cloves fresh garlic
  • juice of 1 lime
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/3 cup olive oil

Tahini Sauce:

  • 1/3 cup tahini paste sesame paste
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • juice of a huge lime about 3 tablespoons
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin

Carrot Mint Salad

  • 3 cups shredded carrots
  • 1 cup chopped fresh mint
  • 2 tablespoons Tahini sauce recipe above

Pita cones:

  • 6 thin pita breads

Extra Toppings:

  • iceberg lettuce shredded

Instructions

  1. Make the lamb: Preheat a pot with the lid on over high heat with half the olive oil. Season the cubed lamb chunks with salt, pepper and nutmeg.

  2. Add the garlic and lamb chunks and start sautéing them on high heat with the olive oil. Continue sautéing them for 3-5 minutes until the lamb starts to dry and begin to char. Add a tablespoon of olive oil gradually to the meat while sautéing until a nice char is achieved.
  3. Cover the pot and lower the heat to medium, adding extra olive oil if needed and let the lamb cook for another 20-30 minutes. Turn off the heat and add in the herbs, the Harissa sauce and keep the lamb pot covered for at least 5 minutes to absorb all the flavors. This technique creates a chewy (not hard), flavor-packed, charred tasting lamb with a burst of garlic, spice and freshness of the herbs.
  4. Prepare the Harissa sauce by blending all ingredients together. Set aside.
  5. Prepare the Tahini Sauce by adding the tahini pasta in a bowl and whisk it with the water until it tuns lighter in color and almost like a hard paste. Add in the remaining ingredients and whisk to blend. If the sauce looks too thick for your taste, add a tablespoon of extra water. If it’s too runny for your taste, add a tablespoon of extra tahini paste. Taste salt and adjust seasoning.
  6. Make the carrot salad by mixing all ingredients together. Set aside.
  7. Make the Pita cones. Split each pita bread into 2 half circles. each half circle Pita will have a round side, a straight side and 2 end corners. Place the half circle with one end corner pointed towards you. Take that pointed corner of that pita half and fold it over two inches wide on to the round side of the pita half creating the first fold of the cone. Place your fingers inside the opening of the cone and your other hand at the bottom part of the cone, and start folding the bread over in the same way you created that first cone fold to completely wrap the pita half into a full cone.
  8. Secure the lose edge of the cone with a toothpick and repeat the same process with the remaining pita bread.
  9. Start piling your pita cones, Add shredded lettuce at the bottom, some flavorful lamb chunks, extra Harissa sauce (if desired), some Moroccan carrot salad, more lamb chunks, more Harissa sauce, a generous drizzle of tahini sauce and some extra chopped mint. Enjoy!

Recipe Notes

  • For these Harissa Lamb Shoulder Pita Cones, I always reach for American Lamb. It's actually incomparable to any other when it comes to taste, quality, and freshness, plus it feels great supporting local farmers! You'll find a locator on that website which is the best way to know and locate your lamb!
  • Place some shredded iceberg lettuce at the bottom of the cones to prevent your pita cones from getting soggy with all the saucy goodness.
  • For a party, prepare all the fillings in separate bowls and let guests assemble their own pita cones! 
Nutrition Facts
Spicy Harissa lamb shoulder chunks in pita cones with Tahini sauce
Amount Per Serving
Calories 668 Calories from Fat 351
% Daily Value*
Fat 39g60%
Saturated Fat 7g44%
Cholesterol 91mg30%
Sodium 1418mg62%
Potassium 761mg22%
Carbohydrates 42g14%
Fiber 3g13%
Sugar 3g3%
Protein 36g72%
Vitamin A 10700IU214%
Vitamin C 5.8mg7%
Calcium 113mg11%
Iron 4.4mg24%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.