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Ouzi Rice

ouzi rice is layered seasoned rice with cooked ground beef, toasted nuts, mixed with peas and carrots

This Ouzi rice is a quick weeknight meal spin on a classic Arab dish known to have peas, carrots, lamb, or beef with well-seasoned rice. There are several variations to ouzi such as those in pastry parcels or the more traditional one with pieces of lamb. Growing up, I have always enjoyed the most traditional rendition, a classic with the most tender lamb. It’s the ouzi my mom made for guests, especially during Ramadan; we all just loved it. This ouzi rice is a shortcut to that meal yet just as delicious. It still has those warm flavors, the peas, and carrots, and in this case, minced meat.

ouzi rice is layered seasoned rice with cooked ground beef, toasted nuts, mixed with peas and carrots
ouzi rice

How to make Ouzi rice with ground beef:

There are three major yet simple steps into making this comforting meal in just 30 minutes, might I add.

  1. Sauteeing the peas and carrots in a bit of ghee while also serving the ground beef with warm spices.
  2. Then, toss the rinsed rice with the veggies, add stock, let this simmer, and cook for about 20 minutes.
  3. Finally, toss in some of the beef and top it off with some, followed by toasted almonds.

It is truly that simple to make, yet you will have layers of flavor and texture. I love enjoying this meal with my cucumber yogurt salad and/or Arabic salad. It makes it a complete and wholesome dish that I know I can whip up any day of the week on short notice.

If you give this a try, send me a remake on my Instagram for a chance to get featured. And as always, I love to hear your feedback below!

bowl of rice and mixed vegetables with ground beef and sliced almonds on top
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5 from 14 votes

Ouzi Rice

This recipe has all the flavors of a traditional ouzi cut down into 30 min for the most flavorful ouzi rice. It is packed with notes of cinnamon, allspice, peas, carrots, and ground beef. Give this a try!
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: dinner
Cuisine: Arab, Arabic, Middle Eastern
Keyword: 30 min dinner, 30 minute meals, oozi, ouzi, ouzi rice, peas and rice, peas, carrots, and rice, rice and ground beef, rice and minced meat, roz w bazella
Servings: 4
Author: Heifa

Ingredients

  • 1 lb Lean Ground Beef
  • 1 tbsp Ground Allspice
  • 1 tsp Garlic Powder
  • Salt & Pepper to taste
  • 1 tbsp Ghee or olive oil
  • 1 cup Frozen Peas and carrots, lightly thawed feel free to add more if you like
  • 1 cup Basmati rice, rinsed
  • 2 cups Vegetable Stock Beef stock works well too
  • 1 Bouillion cube, crushed
  • 1/4 tsp Ground Cinnamon

Garnish

  • 1/2 tbsp Ghee or Olive oil
  • 1/4 cup Slivered Almonds Pine nuts

Instructions

  • To start, add ground beef to a pan on medium heat and season with salt, pepper, allspice, and garlic powder. Break the meat apart into smaller pieces and let this cook for 5-8 minutes until cooked through and lightly browned.
  • While the meat is cooking, add ghee to a pot along with the peas and carrots. Season this with salt and pepper and saute for a few minutes until they begin to tenderize.
  • To the peas and carrots, add the rice, stock, bouillion, and cinnamon. Give it a stir and let it simmer on low to medium heat for about 20 minutes until the rice is cooked through and water has evaporated. Fluff the rice gently with a fork.
  • Add half of the cooked ground beef to the rice mixture and stir together. Plate the rice and top with the rest of the ground beef on top. Then, top with the toasted slivered almonds as garnish and an element of crunch.
  • You can serve this delicious meal with yogurt and even jazz it up with cucumbers, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and fresh garlic and mint or a salad!
ouzi rice
ouzi rice

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27 Comments

      1. Hi Yani, I only see the second part of the question if you should double the spices. If you wanted to double the recipe, you could double the seasonings.

  1. 5 stars
    Made this last night for my family and guests with a side of baked chicken and let me just say it was a crowd pleaser! Easy to make with simple ingredients. Love the added veggies in rice for the kids.

  2. 5 stars
    Ouzi is one of my favorite dishes that my Palestinian grandma makes but I haven’t been able to see her in years. I’ve been searching for a recipe that is similar to hers since she doesn’t measure anything and I have a need for measurements lol. Once I tried this recipe, the search was over! Absolutely delicious and easy to make. I like to add cinnamon to my ground beef (just 1/4 tsp) so that’s the only modification I made. Delicious and a taste of home! Thank you for this! My Palestinian fam likes to have ouzi with mlokhia and roasted chicken!

  3. Made this tonight for my boyfriend who is from Jordan and he immediately guessed what it was. He said it tastes just like what his grandma makes. So, thank you for making cooking middle eastern food accessable. Ive tried many of your recipes and everyone has been a hit with him. It’s been a real pleasure cooking through your recipes and I can’t wait for the cookbook.

  4. 5 stars
    This was the perfect meal to whip up after I finished a long workday for my two boys. Perfection! So delicious. Fufu, I’ve tried tagging you and sending you messages on Instagram with no luck 😪 not sure why, I love your content.

  5. 5 stars
    I jumped on here to find her Kabseh recipe last night and came across this one instead because I forgot the name of the other one lol. I am so glad I did as this Ouzi recipe is absolutely delicious! Will definitely be another one of her recipes added to my favorites! ❤️ Alhamdulillah, so quick & easy as well!

  6. So so good! My kids love beef mince. They love rice. These two put together was just 😋 👌 another regular meal at our table as so many others of yours have been. Thank you!!

  7. 5 stars
    This recipe is so simple but so amazing! I highly recommend! I made mine with beef, but I suggest the recipe to a close professor of mine who had ground lamb, and she loved it too! One of my top favs for sure! Thank you! ❤️

  8. 5 stars
    This was a serious hit!!! Fufu’s kitchen never disappoints. I made this recipe two weeks ago and ate the left overs for days afterwards!! I started working from home recently and I might have to add this into the mix of my lunches 🙂 I loved the warm flavors so much 🙂

  9. 5 stars
    Super easy to follow and so good! I did find the ground beef was a little overwhelming to the amount of rice made. Next time I personally would put less.

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