Description
A refined Levantine dish of spiced rice with ground meat and toasted nuts, balancing warm spices and savory flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups long-grain basmati rice, rinsed until water runs clear
- 3 cups hot chicken or beef stock
- 1 lb ground beef or lamb (80/20)
- 1 medium onion, finely diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp ground allspice
- 1/2 tsp ground cumin
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
- 1 tsp fine sea salt (to taste)
- 1/2 cup toasted pine nuts or slivered almonds
- 2 tbsp room temperature butter
- Fresh parsley, finely chopped (for garnish)
- Optional lemon wedges (for serving)
Instructions
- Prepare the rice: Rinse rice under cold water until clear, soak for 20 minutes if possible, then drain.
- Toast the nuts: In a dry skillet, toast pine nuts or almonds over medium heat until fragrant and golden (about 3–4 minutes).
- Brown the meat: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and cook until translucent (5–7 minutes), then add garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Add meat and brown (8–10 minutes), seasoning with spices and salt.
- Deglaze the pan: Use a splash of hot stock to deglaze the pan, scraping any stuck bits.
- Add the drained rice, coating it in the spiced fat.
- Simmer: Pour hot stock over the rice mixture, stir, bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer (15–18 minutes) until liquid is absorbed and rice is tender.
- Finish: Remove from heat, add butter, fluff with a fork, cover, and let rest for 5–10 minutes. Fold in half of the toasted nuts.
- Plate and garnish: Transfer to a platter, sprinkle remaining nuts and parsley, and serve with lemon wedges.
Notes
For best results, use hot stock, and let the meat rest between stirs to achieve a good browning.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop Cooking
- Cuisine: Lebanese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 70mg