Quick and Easy Ouzi Rice

This recipe is a delicious weeknight take on the classic Arabic dish Ouzi rice. Traditionally made with lamb, this version uses ground beef for a quicker and easier meal. Packed with warm spices, peas, carrots, and fluffy rice, it’s a comforting dish ready in just 30 minutes.

Ingredients:

1 pound lean ground beef

1 tablespoon ground allspice

1 teaspoon garlic powder

Salt and pepper to taste

1 tablespoon ghee or olive oil

1 cup frozen peas and carrots, lightly thawed (more can be added)

1 cup basmati rice, rinsed

2 cups vegetable stock (beef stock works too)

1 bouillon cube, crushed

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Garnish:

1/2 tablespoon olive oil

1/4 cup slivered almonds or pine nuts or dry raisin

Instructions:

Sauté the Beef: Heat a pan over medium heat. Add ground beef, salt, pepper, allspice, and garlic powder. Break the meat into smaller pieces and cook for 5-8 minutes, until browned and cooked through.

Sauté the Vegetables: While the meat cooks, heat oil in a pot. Add peas, carrots, and salt and pepper. Sauté for a few minutes, until slightly softened.

Cook the Rice: Add rinsed rice, vegetable stock, crushed bouillon cube, and ground cinnamon to the pot with the peas and carrots. Stir and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low-medium and cook for 20 minutes, or until rice is tender and liquid has evaporated. Fluff the rice gently with a fork.

Assemble and Serve: Stir half of the cooked ground beef into the rice mixture. Plate the rice and top with the remaining ground beef. Heat ghee in a pan and toast the slivered almonds or pine nuts. Garnish the Ouzi rice with toasted nuts.