To FitFoodie-fy this classic Syrian dish, we opted for leaner meat, whole wheat breadcrumbs, and a touch of vitamin E rich avocado oil. You, your children, or your guests won’t notice a difference—especially when you woo them away with this simple but impressive presentation.

FitFoodie-fy: [verb, slang]: the act of making something more nutritious, while keeping it absolutely delicious.

Prep & assembly time: 30 minutes
Cook time: 45 minutes
Total: 1 hour & 15 minutes
Serves: 4

Lahmeh Ingredients
1.5 pounds 90/10 grass fed ground beef
1 large onion
1/2 cup whole wheat panko bread crumbs (we used Ian’s, but you may use any brand—or make your own!)
1/4 cup 1% milk
1.5 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon arabic seven spice mix*
1 tablespoon avocado oil
Extra virgin olive oil spray (we purchase ours from Trader Joe’s)
3 roma tomatoes

Tarrator Ingredients (Tahini sauce)
1/4 cup well-stirred tahini
1/4 cup warm water
Juice of 1/2 lemon
1/4 teaspoon salt

Topping Ingredients
1 medium lemon
2 tbsp. sriracha sauce
(buy one with ingredients you can pronounce— such as Sky Valley)

Lahmeh Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Chop onion into large pieces. Place in food processor, and pulse until very fine. Add ground beef, bread crumbs, milk, salt, pepper, seven spice mix, and oil and process for approximately one minute.
3. You will see that mixture will start to stick to the bottom, so scoop up contents with a large spoon and disperse evenly. Turn food processor on for 1 minute a time, and repeat this step until mixture is well incorporated.
4. Spray a 13×9 inch Pyrex with olive oil spray. Add meat mixture from food processor to pan, and spread evenly on pyrex. Press meat down with a spatula until you have 3/4 to 1 inch thickness.
5. Slice roma tomatoes and place on top of meat mixture.
6. Bake uncovered for 45 minutes.

Tarrator Preparation

1. Combine tahini, warm water, lemon juice, and salt and whisk until incorporated.

To Assemble & Serve “Sushi Style”…

1. Cut lahmeh in 2X1 inch rectangles. Do so in a way where you are cutting each tomato placed on top of the lahmeh in half.
2. Cut lemon in half, and slice very thinly. Place one half-moon lemon slice on top of each piece of lahmeh.
3. Drizzle tarrator on top of lahmeh pieces. Finish off with a small squeeze of sriracha sauce on each piece.

And sahtein- or deux healths!

*Arabic seven spice mix is actually made up of eight spices, including ground black pepper, cumin, coriander, cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, cardamom, and paprika. Find this mix at your local Mediterranean market.