Middle Eastern Ground Beef Bowls

This Middle Eastern Ground Beef Bowl boasts a delicious blend of warming spices that harmonize beautifully with the savory ground beef, providing a deep, rich flavor profile. The sweet undertones of the sautéed onion and carrot complement the spice-infused beef, while the cool mint-yogurt sauce adds a refreshing and cooling contrast. These restaurant-quality bowls can be made in around 30 minutes or less!

Middle Eastern Ground Beef Bowls

The inspiration for this Middle Eastern Ground Beef Bowl recipe came from a desire to capture the vibrant flavors of traditional Middle Eastern cuisine in a simplified, approachable form. 

This recipe takes the concept of a “bowl meal” and elevates it, showing that healthy, flavorful cooking doesn’t need to be complicated! Each element of this dish – the warmly spiced ground beef, the fluffy couscous, and the tangy mint yogurt sauce – is simple to prepare, but when combined, they create a totally delicious and comforting meal.

Despite the depth of flavor, this dish is incredibly easy to make. Most of the ingredients are pantry staples, and the preparation is straightforward. It’s perfect for weeknight dinners when you’re pressed for time but still crave a satisfying, home-cooked, comforting meal.

This dish is also very versatile! It can be easily modified to suit different dietary preferences, and the elements can be prepared in advance, making it a great choice for meal prep. You can serve the beef over couscous or load it in warmed pitas — whatever you prefer!

Middle Eastern Ground Beef Bowl Ingredients

Seasonings

• Coriander, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, allspice, ground ginger, turmeric, cinnamon, red pepper flakes: This spice blend makes for some seriously delicious and robustly-flavored meat. But, if you happen to be missing a spice or two, it will still be plenty flavorful. If you’re concerned about heat, leave out the red pepper flakes and conversely, if you love heat, add a touch more!

Beef and Couscous

• Olive oil: Use extra virgin olive oil if possible, as it has a fuller flavor than regular olive oil.
• Onion and carrots: Fresh is best here. Choose firm, brightly-colored carrots and onions with a strong aroma. When dicing, make sure the pieces are uniform in size to ensure even cooking. The smaller the pieces, the better! You don’t want hard, raw pieces of veggies in the beef.
• Ground beef: We use lean ground beef to keep this dish on the lighter side. That said, you can use beef with a higher fat percentage or consider ground lamb–it’s delicious here!
• Tomato paste: Choose a tomato paste that only contains tomatoes for the best flavor. Some brands add salt, sugar, or other ingredients, so read the label carefully.
• Couscous: Use fine-grain couscous for this recipe. Couscous cooks very quickly (it’s just steaming!), making it a great choice for weeknight meals. More on this ingredient below!

Couscous: The Perfect Quick Base!

Couscous, tiny balls of semolina pasta that are steamed to perfection, is a staple food in various global regions. You’ll find different varieties available, with small grain and pearl couscous being the most common.

Small-grain couscous, also called Moroccan couscous, has a fine texture and a size that’s ideal for steaming; it cooks both evenly and quickly. This is the particular type of couscous that we use in this recipe!

Couscous is the perfect base for our Middle Eastern Ground Beef Bowls. Just beneath the couscous layer, I love to include a spread of full-fat Greek yogurt. Not only does this aid in keeping the couscous well-settled, but it also introduces a delightful contrast of texture and flavor to the bowls.

Mint-Yogurt Sauce Ingredients

The mint yogurt sauce serves as the harmonizing element in these Middle Eastern Ground Beef Bowls. Here’s the breakdown of what goes into this refreshing, creamy sauce:

• Full-fat plain Greek yogurt: Premium, full-fat Greek yogurt provides a rich, creamy texture. For unparalleled creaminess and rich flavor, we recommend Greek Gods plain traditional Greek yogurt.
• Fresh mint: Hunt for mint leaves that are brightly colored without of any wilting or discoloration. Make sure to gently chop the mint leaves; this releases their aromatic oils and elevates the flavor of the sauce.
• Minced garlic: To achieve a robust flavor, use freshly minced garlic. Whether you’re using a garlic press or finely mincing by hand, make sure the garlic is finely minced so it will integrate seamlessly into the sauce.
• Lemon juice and zest: We highly recommend using a microplane to zest the lemons and then juice them with a citrus juicer for the quickest prep time!
• Olive oil: Select a high-quality extra virgin olive oil for optimum richness and flavor.
• Ground cumin: This spice contributes an earthy warmth to the sauce.

How To Make Middle Eastern Ground Beef Bowls (Tips)

• Dicing the vegetables: To ensure even cooking, aim for uniform dice when cutting your onions and carrots. A food processor can help achieve fine, consistent dice quickly, saving you time.
• Proper browning: Make sure your pan is sufficiently heated before adding the ground beef. This is key to getting a good sear and caramelization, which contributes significantly to the flavor. Avoid stirring the beef immediately after adding it to the pan to allow it to develop a good sear.
• Tomato paste: After adding the tomato paste and seasonings, let them cook for a bit before incorporating the rest of the ingredients. This process, called “blooming,” helps to deepen the flavor of the paste and seasonings to enhance the overall taste of the dish.
• Spice customization: Don’t be afraid to adjust the spices to your liking. If you prefer more heat, add more red pepper flakes. If you love the flavor of cumin or coriander, feel free to increase the amounts. Remember, recipes are guides and your personal preferences matter!
• Make ahead/meal prep: If you’re planning to meal prep, you can cook the beef and couscous ahead of time and store them separately in the fridge. The mint-yogurt sauce can also be prepared in advance and will actually taste better after the flavors have had a chance to meld. Store everything separately and when you’re ready to eat, simply assemble your bowl and enjoy.

More Ground Beef Recipes:

• Ground Beef Quesadillas with gooey melted cheese
• Ground Beef Ramen with the BEST stir-fry sauce!
• Beef Kofta Meatballs on charred pitas
• Ground Beef Naan Tacos with a cucumber yogurt sauce
• Beef Lentil Soup with carrots

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Middle Eastern Ground Beef Bowls

5 from 2 votes

- Review this recipe

This Middle Eastern Ground Beef Bowl boasts a delicious blend of warming spices that harmonize beautifully with the savory ground beef, providing a deep, rich flavor profile. The sweet undertones of the sautéed onion and carrot complement the spice-infused beef, while the cool mint yogurt sauce adds a refreshing and cooling contrast. These restaurant-quality bowls can be made in around 30 minutes or less!

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Middle Eastern Ground Beef Bowls

5 from 2 votes

- Review this recipe

SAVE TO RECIPE BOX

Print Recipe

This Middle Eastern Ground Beef Bowl boasts a delicious blend of warming spices that harmonize beautifully with the savory ground beef, providing a deep, rich flavor profile. The sweet undertones of the sautéed onion and carrot complement the spice-infused beef, while the cool mint yogurt sauce adds a refreshing and cooling contrast. These restaurant-quality bowls can be made in around 30 minutes or less!

Course Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine Healthy, middle eastern

Keyword Middle Eastern Ground Beef Bowls

Prep Time 30 minutes minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 40 minutes minutes

Servings 4 bowls

Chelsea Lords

Calories 469kcal

Author Chelsea Lords

Ingredients

Seasonings

• ▢ 1½ teaspoons each: coriander, cumin, paprika
• ▢ ¾ teaspoon garlic powder
• ▢ ½ teaspoon each: allspice, ground ginger, turmeric
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
• ▢ pinch red pepper flakes, optional
• ▢ Fine sea salt & pepper

Beef & Couscous

• ▢ 2 tablespoons olive oil
• ▢ 1½ cups each: finely diced onion and finely diced carrots (Note 1)
• ▢ 1 lb lean (93/7) ground beef
• ▢ 1½ tablespoons tomato paste
• ▢ ½ cup water
• ▢ 1 cup couscous (plus 1 cup water and 1 tsp oil)
• ▢ Optional, but recommended: full-fat Greek yogurt and mint-yogurt sauce, 1 large lemon (Note 2)

Instructions

• OPTIONAL: MINT YOGURT SAUCE: If making this sauce, prepare it first (See Note 2) and refrigerate to develop the flavors.
• SEASONINGS: In a small bowl, combine all the seasonings. Season to taste (I add 1 tsp salt and ¼ tsp pepper). Mix.
  
• BEEF: In a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat, heat the oil. Once the oil is hot, add the diced carrot and onion. Sauté, stirring occasionally for 5-7 minutes or until beginning to soften. Press to the edges and add the ground beef into the center of the pan. Sear (leave untouched) for about 45 seconds before crumbling with a wooden spoon.
  
• FINISH BEEF: Once beef is mostly browned, add the seasoning blend and tomato paste. Continue to cook and crumble beef until fully browned through. Add in water and simmer until it's juicy (not watery).
  
• COUSCOUS: Meanwhile, prepare the couscous. Add 1 cup water to a small pot. Add in 1 tsp olive oil and ¼ tsp salt, and bring to a boil. Once boiling, remove the pot from heat. Stir in the uncooked couscous and cover the pot with a lid. After about 2-4 minutes the liquid should be absorbed; fluff couscous with a fork.
• ASSEMBLE: Set out 4 plates. Scoop a big spoonful of Greek yogurt on the base of each plate. Smooth with the back of a spoon and season yogurt with a pinch of salt. Divide couscous evenly among plates, followed by the beef mixture. Top with mint yogurt sauce. Add 1 or 2 wedges of lemon to each plate. Enjoy immediately!
  

Video

Recipe Notes

Note 1: Veggies: This recipe uses about 1 large onion and about 3 large (peeled) carrots. Be sure to very finely dice these ingredients so they cook in this time. You can use a food processor to get a small dice quickly!

Note 2: Sauce: Combine the following in a bowl and whisk together:

• ½ cup full-fat plain Greek yogurt
• ¼ cup finely chopped fresh mint(optional--sauce is still tasty without!)
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice, plus ½ tsp zest
• 1½ tablespoons olive oil
• ¼ teaspoon ground cumin, fine sea salt

Nutrition information does not include the yogurt mint sauce.

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 469kcal | Carbohydrates: 54g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 70mg | Sodium: 137mg | Potassium: 837mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 99IU | Vitamin C: 15mg | Calcium: 92mg | Iron: 4mg

We do our best to provide accurate nutritional analysis for our recipes. Our nutritional data is calculated using a third-party algorithm and may vary, based on individual cooking styles, measurements, and ingredient sizes. Please use this information for comparison purposes and consult a health professional for nutrition guidance as needed.

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