Description
Crispy Mediterranean-style pita wraps mozzarella and feta in a delightful grilled cheese experience. Melted cheese, herb-infused layers, and golden-brown edges create a quick, satisfying meal for passionate home cooks.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 pita pockets (from 2 pita loaves, cut in half)
- 3 oz (85 g) feta cheese
- 3 to 4 oz (85 to 113 g) fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced into ¼-inch slices
- 3 heaping cups baby spinach
- ¼ to ⅓ cup basil pesto
- ⅓ cup sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil, drained and chopped
- extra virgin olive oil (as needed)
Instructions
- Preparation: Gently warm pita bread to enhance pliability, preventing potential tears during handling.
- Sauté Spinach: Heat olive oil in a grill pan over medium-high heat, then quickly sauté baby spinach for two minutes until tender and slightly wilted, then set aside to cool.
- Pocket Assembly: Carefully open each pita pocket and layer ingredients strategically – first crumbled feta cheese, followed by a thin spread of basil pesto, then wilted spinach as a green foundation.
- Cheese and Tomato Layer: Arrange fresh mozzarella slices evenly across spinach, interspersing sun-dried tomatoes between cheese layers to enhance flavor complexity.
- Oil and Grill: Brush exterior surfaces of stuffed pitas with additional olive oil, then place onto preheated grill pan at medium-high heat.
- Cooking Technique: Apply gentle pressure with a spatula to promote even browning, flipping after 1-2 minutes to achieve golden char marks and ensure complete cheese melting.
- Final Touch: Adjust heat as necessary to prevent burning while guaranteeing thorough cheese transformation, creating a crispy exterior and molten interior.
Notes
- Bread Flexibility Tip: Gently warm pita to prevent tearing and enhance pliability for smooth handling during preparation.
- Oil Temperature Control: Watch for a glossy surface in the grill pan, indicating proper medium-high heat for optimal cooking without burning.
- Cheese Melting Technique: Apply gentle spatula pressure while grilling to ensure even browning and complete cheese melting throughout the pita.
- Flavor Layering Strategy: Distribute ingredients systematically – feta first, then pesto, spinach, mozzarella, and sun-dried tomatoes – to create a balanced flavor profile in each bite.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg