Ouzi - A Middle Eastern Delicacy

Ouzi (أوزي) is a Middle Eastern dish, popular in countries like Lebanon, Jordan, and Syria. It consists of spiced rice topped with ground meat (often lamb or beef), peas, carrots, and nuts, wrapped in phyllo dough or served over rice with roasted lamb or chicken. The dish is typically seasoned with warm spices like cinnamon and cardamom, giving it a rich and aromatic flavor.

Ingredients:

For the Chicken:

• 1 heaping tbsp ghee

• Neutral oil (such as Mazola) to cover the bottom of the pot

• 1 large purple onion, thinly sliced

• 10 pieces of precut chicken (preferably from a halal Middle Eastern market)

• 2 heaping tsp curry powder

• 2 tsp 7-spice blend

• 2 tsp cardamom powder

• 2 bay leaves

• 1 ½ tbsp salt

• Powdered black pepper, to taste

• ⅓ cup hot water

For the Ground Beef Mixture:

• Neutral oil, as needed

• 1 small pack ground beef

• 1 small bag frozen peas and carrots

• 1 cup mixed nuts (such as almonds and cashews), fried until golden

• Salt and pepper, to taste

• The same spice mix as the chicken (curry, 7-spice, cardamom, bay leaves)

For the Rice:

• 3 cups basmati rice, washed until water runs clear

• 3 cups boiling water

• Reserved chicken juices from the pot

Instructions:

Step 1: Cook the Chicken

1. Heat a large, deep pot over medium heat. Add the ghee and enough neutral oil to coat the bottom.

2. Add the thinly sliced purple onions and sauté until soft and translucent.

3. Add the precut chicken pieces, then sprinkle with curry powder, 7-spice, cardamom, bay leaves, salt, and black pepper.

4. Pour in ⅓ cup hot water, mix everything together, cover, and let the chicken cook for about 15-20 minutes, until tender and infused with the spices.

Step 2: Prepare the Ground Beef Mixture

1. In a separate pan, heat a little oil and fry the nuts until golden. Remove and set aside.

2. In the same pan, cook the ground beef, seasoning with salt, pepper, and the same spices used for the chicken. Once browned, remove from the pan.

3. Using the same oil, lightly sauté the frozen peas and carrots for about 3-4 minutes until just softened.

4. In a bowl, mix together the cooked ground beef, vegetables, and fried nuts. Set aside.

Step 3: Cook the Rice

1. Remove the cooked chicken from the pot, leaving behind all the flavorful juices.

2. Add 3 cups of boiling water to the pot, then stir in the washed basmati rice.

3. Mix well, cover, and cook over medium heat until the rice absorbs most of the liquid (about 10-12 minutes).

4. Once the water is absorbed, give the rice a gentle stir, cover again, and reduce heat to low. For best results, place a metal heat diffuser under the pot to prevent direct heat and allow for even cooking. Let the rice steam for another 10-15 minutes until fully cooked.

Step 4: Assemble the Ouzi

1. In a serving dish, layer the cooked rice at the bottom.

2. Spread the ground beef, vegetable, and nut mixture evenly over the rice.

3. Arrange the cooked chicken pieces on top.

Serve warm and enjoy this comforting, aromatic Middle Eastern classic!