This is a combo of two favorite sandwiches: tahini sauce, generally used in Middle Eastern falafel sandwiches, is drizzled over a filing of spicy Mexican steak fajitas stuffed in a pita pocket. But you can aso roll this zingy filling into leaves of Bibb or Boston lettuce. Tahini, or sesame seed paste, looks like peanut butter and can be found in most supermarkets. Serves 4.

Ingredients:

1/4 c. tahini
1/4 c plus 2T freshly squeezed lime juice
4 small garlic cloves
1 lb. skirt steak
1 1/2 tsp. ground cumin
3 T olive oil
3 bell peppers: 1 red, 1 orange, 1 yellow
1 medium red onion, peeled
4 pita breads with pockets
4 romaine lettuce leaves, shredded
1 tomato, finely chopped

Directions:

1. In a small bowl, whisk together the tahini, 2 T of the lime juice, and 1 garlic clove pushed through a press. Whisk in 1/4 c. water and stir until very smooth. Set aside.
2. Put the steak in a large bowl. In a small bowl, whisk together the remainimg 1/4 c. lime juice, 3 garlic cloves pushed through a press, cumin, and 2 T of the olive oil. Pour over the steak and let it marinate, covered and chilled, for 1 hour.
3. Wash and dry the peppers. Cut then in half and remove the seeds. Cut them into thin strips. Cut the onion in half through the root end, then cut it into thin half circles.
4. Heat the remaining tablespoon of oil in a large skillet. Add the bell peppers and onion and cook for 5 minutes over high heat. Add th steak and cook until seared, about 2 minutes on each side. Remove the steak and cut into thin strips across the width. Combine meat in a bowl with the peppers and onions.
5. Warm each pita directly on the stove, turning over an open flame quickly with tongs. Cut each pita pocket in half and put in lettuce, tomato, then steak and peppers. Drizzle tahini sauce over the filling.
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Recipe courtesy of Eat Fresh Food: Awesome Recipes for Teen Chefs by Rozanne Gold and her All-Star Team. Photographs by Phil Mansfield. Says one of her teen chefs, Ian, “I never thought of myself as a great cook, but following these recipes turned me into one.”