Description
Juicy smoked beef and bleu cheese pita wrap delivers Mediterranean-inspired flavor with a perfect balance of smoky meat and tangy cheese. Crisp vegetables and creamy sauce complete this satisfying handheld meal that will leave you craving more.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs (680 g) beef tri-tip, flank steak, or chuck roast
- 2 tbsps olive oil
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- 4 pita breads or flatbreads, warmed
- ½ cup crumbled bleu cheese
- 1 cup mixed greens or arugula
- ½ cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- ¼ cup red onion, thinly sliced
- ½ cup Greek yogurt or sour cream
- 1 tablespoon mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Smoker Preparation: Ignite the smoker and stabilize the temperature at 225°F, selecting hickory or mesquite wood chips to impart a deep, aromatic smokiness into the beef.
- Beef Seasoning: Massage olive oil across the beef’s surface, then generously coat with a robust blend of salt, pepper, garlic powder, smoked paprika, onion powder, and crushed red pepper flakes for a complex flavor profile.
- Smoking Process: Carefully place the seasoned beef directly on smoker grates, allowing it to slowly absorb the wood’s smoky essence for 2-3 hours until reaching a perfect medium-rare or medium internal temperature.
- Resting and Slicing: Remove beef from smoker and let it rest on a cutting board for 10-15 minutes, allowing juices to redistribute before slicing against the grain to ensure maximum tenderness.
- Sauce Creation: Whisk together Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper until achieving a smooth, creamy consistency with balanced flavor.
- Wrap Assembly: Spread the zesty sauce on soft pitas, layer with mixed greens, thinly sliced smoked beef, cherry tomatoes, red onion, and crumble bleu cheese for a perfect balance of textures and flavors.
- Final Presentation: Gently fold the pitas and serve warm, optionally giving them a quick grill to create a crisp exterior that complements the tender, smoky beef interior.
Notes
- Choose Optimal Wood Chips: Select hickory or mesquite for deeper, more complex smoky flavors that complement beef’s rich profile without overpowering the meat’s natural taste.
- Control Meat Temperature Precisely: Use a digital meat thermometer to monitor internal temperature, aiming for 130-135°F for perfect medium-rare without drying out the beef.
- Slice Strategically for Tenderness: Always cut beef against the grain to break muscle fibers, ensuring each bite remains incredibly tender and easy to chew in your wrap.
- Customize for Dietary Needs: Swap traditional pitas with gluten-free alternatives or lettuce wraps for low-carb preferences, and use Greek yogurt to reduce overall calorie content while maintaining creamy sauce texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Smoking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 900 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg