Ouzi (Spiced Lamb and Rice Bake)
🛒 Ingredients
- Lamb Shoulder (boneless, diced) 133 g · 266 kcal
- Basmati Rice (dry) 67 g · 235 kcal
- Vegetable Oil 7 g · 60 kcal
- Yellow Onion (chopped) 25 g · 10 kcal
- Frozen Peas 33 g · 26 kcal
- Pine Nuts 8 g · 56 kcal
- Slivered Almonds 8 g · 48 kcal
- Lamb Broth 133 g · 0 kcal
- Ground Cinnamon 0 g · 0 kcal
- Ground Allspice 0 g · 0 kcal
- Ground Cardamom 0 g · 0 kcal
- Black Pepper 0 g · 0 kcal
- Phyllo Dough 42 g · 125 kcal
- Unsalted Butter (melted) 8 g · 61 kcal
- Fresh Parsley (chopped) 0 g · 0 kcal
👨🍳 Instructions
- Rinse basmati rice thoroughly until water runs clear; soak in cold water for 30 minutes, then drain. Toast pine nuts and almonds in a dry pan until golden, then set aside.
- Heat vegetable oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add diced lamb and brown on all sides, then remove and set aside.
- Add chopped onion to the same pot and sauté until softened, about 5-7 minutes. Stir in ground cinnamon, allspice, cardamom, and black pepper, cooking for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Return the lamb to the pot, add drained basmati rice and lamb broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15-20 minutes until rice is cooked and liquid is absorbed.
- Once rice is cooked, gently fold in the frozen peas and half of the toasted pine nuts and almonds. Adjust seasoning with salt.
- Preheat oven to 190°C (375°F). Brush a 23cm (9-inch) round baking dish or oven-safe bowl with melted butter. Lay 2-3 sheets of phyllo dough in the dish, brushing each with butter, letting them overhang the sides.
- Spoon the lamb and rice mixture into the phyllo-lined dish. Fold the overhanging phyllo sheets over the top to enclose the filling, brushing with more melted butter as you go.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the phyllo is golden brown and crispy. Let it rest for 10 minutes before inverting onto a serving platter.
- Garnish with remaining toasted nuts and fresh chopped parsley before serving. Traditionally served with a side of yogurt or a simple salad.
