Beef over Za’atar-Spiced Rice with Lemon Labneh
Fast & Easy

Beef over Za’atar-Spiced Rice

with Lemon Labneh

25 MIN
2 Servings
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From the Test Kitchen

In this Lebanese-inspired dish, vibrant spices in our za’atar like sumac and aleppo pepper bring bright flavor and gentle heat to a bed of rice. It’s all topped with tender beef and a dollop of bright lemon labneh—a thick, creamy cheese made from strained yogurt—for cooling contrast.
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  • Nutrition
    PER SERVING
  • Calories
    720 Cals (est.)
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fresh
ingredients
Beef over Za’atar-Spiced Rice with Lemon Labneh
Title
  • 10 oz Ground Beef
  • ½ cup Long Grain White Rice
  • 1 Tbsp Za'atar Seasoning (Sumac, Aleppo Pepper, Sesame Seeds, Salt, Thyme & Whole Oregano)
  • 6 oz Carrots
  • 1 Lemon
  • 2 cloves Garlic
  • 1 bunch Parsley
  • ¼ cup Labneh Cheese
  • 2 Tbsps Dried Currants
  • 1 Red Onion
time-saving
tips & techniques
Prepare the ingredients
1 Prepare the ingredients

Wash and dry the fresh produce. Halve, peel, and thinly slice the onion. Peel the carrots; halve lengthwise, then thinly slice crosswise. Peel and roughly chop 2 cloves of garlic. In a bowl, combine the sliced onion, sliced carrots, and chopped garlic. Quarter and deseed the lemon. Roughly chop the parsley leaves and stems.

Cook & finish the rice
2 Cook & finish the rice

Carefully rinse the rice (sifting through for any impurities). Drain thoroughly. In a small pot, combine the rice, currants, a pinch of salt, and 1 cup of water. Heat to boiling on high. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low. Cover and cook, without stirring, 13 to 15 minutes, or until the water has been absorbed and the rice is tender. Turn off the heat and fluff with a fork. Stir in the za’atar and the juice of 2 lemon wedges. Taste, then season with salt and pepper if desired. Cover to keep warm.

Cook the vegetables
3 Cook the vegetables

Meanwhile, in a large pan (nonstick, if you have one), heat a drizzle of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the prepared vegetables; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, 2 to 3 minutes, or until slightly softened. Using a spoon, move the vegetables to one side of the pan.

Cook the beef
4 Cook the beef

Add the beef to the other side of the pan. Season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently and breaking the meat apart with a spoon, 3 to 4 minutes, or until lightly browned. Stir the beef and vegetables to combine. Cook, stirring frequently, 2 to 3 minutes, or until the vegetables are softened and the beef is cooked through. Turn off the heat. Taste, then season with salt and pepper if desired.

Make the lemon labneh & serve your dish
5 Make the lemon labneh & serve your dish

Meanwhile, in a bowl, combine the labneh and the juice of the remaining lemon wedges. Season with salt and pepper. Serve the cooked beef and vegetables over the finished rice. Top with the lemon labneh and chopped parsley. Enjoy!  

Tips from Home Chefs

Prepare the ingredients
1 Prepare the ingredients

Wash and dry the fresh produce. Halve, peel, and thinly slice the onion. Peel the carrots; halve lengthwise, then thinly slice crosswise. Peel and roughly chop 2 cloves of garlic. In a bowl, combine the sliced onion, sliced carrots, and chopped garlic. Quarter and deseed the lemon. Roughly chop the parsley leaves and stems.

2 Cook & finish the rice

Carefully rinse the rice (sifting through for any impurities). Drain thoroughly. In a small pot, combine the rice, currants, a pinch of salt, and 1 cup of water. Heat to boiling on high. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low. Cover and cook, without stirring, 13 to 15 minutes, or until the water has been absorbed and the rice is tender. Turn off the heat and fluff with a fork. Stir in the za’atar and the juice of 2 lemon wedges. Taste, then season with salt and pepper if desired. Cover to keep warm.

Cook & finish the rice
Cook the vegetables
3 Cook the vegetables

Meanwhile, in a large pan (nonstick, if you have one), heat a drizzle of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the prepared vegetables; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, 2 to 3 minutes, or until slightly softened. Using a spoon, move the vegetables to one side of the pan.

4 Cook the beef

Add the beef to the other side of the pan. Season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently and breaking the meat apart with a spoon, 3 to 4 minutes, or until lightly browned. Stir the beef and vegetables to combine. Cook, stirring frequently, 2 to 3 minutes, or until the vegetables are softened and the beef is cooked through. Turn off the heat. Taste, then season with salt and pepper if desired.

Cook the beef
Make the lemon labneh & serve your dish
5 Make the lemon labneh & serve your dish

Meanwhile, in a bowl, combine the labneh and the juice of the remaining lemon wedges. Season with salt and pepper. Serve the cooked beef and vegetables over the finished rice. Top with the lemon labneh and chopped parsley. Enjoy!  

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