Mediterranean Beef and Rice

I created this recipe by looking at various baked rice recipes, subtracting the onions and garlic, and changing out the spices. It only uses one pot, and is super flavorful. I call it Mediterranean because of the Zatar. But you can change the overall feel/flavor of the dish by using a different spice mix.

Kathryn Patterson @KatFrog

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Ingredients

40 minutes

2 - 4 people

1.5lbs. Lean ground beef
14.5 oz.can of Crushed Tomatoes
1 c.Jasmine rice
12 oz.Water
1 Tbsp.Zatar
Salt
1 c.Sharp Cheddar Cheese
Ingredient Tips:
Add another 14.5 oz can of crushed tomatoes if you want more bites with pieces of tomato
Add a can of great northern beans, chickpeas, or cannelloni beans for a bit more protein and more texture
Use garam masala, cumin, coriander, paprika (smoked or sweet), or your own spice mix instead of Zatar if you want a different taste
Use whipping cream or coconut cream instead of water

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Steps

40 minutes

1

Brown the ground beef in a large pot over medium high heat. Stir regularly and cook until the water is evaporated and the meat is sizzling in its own fat.
2

Add the rice and stir around so that the rice absorbs any leftover beef fat. This only works if using lean ground beef. Otherwise, remove most of the grease and then add the rice.
3

Add the water, tomatoes, and spices. Stir everything together to get a mostly homogenous mixture.
4

Heat the mixture to boiling, then turn the heat down to low. Cover and let cook for 20 - 25 minutes (until the rice is done). Stir a few times, and add more water if needed to finish the rice.
5

Mix everything one more time, then add the cheddar cheese to the top. Cover with the lid again and let the cheese melt (approximately 7 - 10 minutes).
I leave the pot on low heat for a minute or two after adding the rice, then I turn off the heat and move the pot to a cool burner. The cheese still melts, but this ensures the meal won't burn.
6

Serve and enjoy!