A Houseful of Love

Warm, complex spices. Hearty ground beef and filling lentils. Fresh tomatoes and cucumbers. Bright, fresh herbs and lemon juice. These Middle-Eastern Ground Beef & Lentil Bowls are the perfect family-friendly recipe for any season!

I won’t lie – this recipe has a long ingredient list and takes some coordination to get everything cooked. But don’t worry! The mind-blowing flavor profile makes it completely worth the effort. And I have some shortcuts to share if you’re really pressed for time when you’re trying to get dinner on the table.

What do I love so much about this recipe?

• It’s ready in an hour or less, especially if you take some shortcuts or are quick with the prep!
• There’s something to love about it year-round. It’s a great way to use garden-fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, and herbs in the summer and a delicious, warming meal in the colder months.
• It’s packed with nutrients, thanks to the hidden liver.
• It can be modified to suit both low-carb and higher-carb eaters simultaneously. This is a huge benefit of this recipe because my husband thrives on low carb, while I’ve discovered that I need more carbs for my hormonal health in this season of life. Just make the cabbage rice for those eating low-carb and some brown rice for those who are eating more carbs.
• It’s easy to modify to suit a wide variety of dietary preferences – if you’re vegetarian/vegan, paleo, or avoiding red meat, you can still make this meal work for you! See below for swaps.
• It accommodates picky eaters more easily because each person can assemble their bowl to their own preferences.

How can I make these Middle-Eastern Ground Beef & Lentil Bowls more quickly and easily?

There are several ways to make this recipe easier and/or quicker:

• Use 2 cans of lentils instead of cooking them yourself. However, I just simmer them while I cut up all the fresh ingredients.
• Make the spice paste and/or the tomato & cucumber topping up to a day in advance. This is especially good for the topping because it gives the flavors a chance to meld together better!
• If you have the time, just not right before dinner time, you can prep everything ahead of time. Chop the onions, parsley, and cabbage. Mince the garlic and grate the ginger. Cook the lentils. Puree the liver. If you have everything prepped, dinner can be ready in just 30 minutes!

Can I modify this recipe to fit my diet?

Yes, it’s very easy to modify this recipe to fit your dietary preferences/needs.

• Low carb: This recipe is pretty good as is, though you can omit the lentils if you are keto.
• Not low carb: Swap the cabbage rice for brown rice or add some more lentils to increase the amount of high quality carbs.
• Vegetarian/vegan: Swap the 2 lbs ground beef for 2 cups of dry lentils. If you’re vegan, swap the butter for olive oil or another healthy oil.
• Paleo: Swap the 1/2 lb (1 cup) dry lentils for an extra pound of ground beef.
• Avoiding red meat: Swap the ground beef for an equivalent amount of ground chicken or ground turkey. You can omit the liver or use pureed chicken livers instead of beef liver.

Does this make good leftovers?

Yes! I love these leftovers – just be sure to store the topping separately from the beef & lentils and cabbage rice (or normal rice) because it’s best served cool, not heated up with the rest of the bowl. I like to portion it out into glass tupperware, with a bed of rice topped with the beef & lentils in one container and a bit of the topping in another, so that it’s easy to throw in a lunch bag and go in the morning. Leftovers are good in an airtight container in the fridge about 4 days (but use your judgement, as it depends on your refrigerator and containers).

If you want to make this as a freezer meal, I recommend just making the ground beef & lentils to freeze, then make the rice and topping fresh.

Ingredients

Tomato & Cucumber Topping

• 10 oz cherry tomatoes, quartered
• 1 English cucumber, finely diced
• 1/4 cup parsley, chopped
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tbsp olive oil

Spice Paste

• 2 tsp ground coriander
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp ground cardamom
• 1/2 tsp dried oregano
• 2 tsp turmeric
• Water (add 1 tsp at a time – I needed 5, but you may need more or less)

Ground Beef & Lentils

• 1 tbsp butter (or tallow, or other healthy fat)
• 2 onions, finely chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tsp ginger, grated
• 2 lbs ground beef
• 8 oz pureed liver – optional, but highly recommended. If you’re new to hidden liver, start with less until you’re comfortable with it.
• 1/2 lb (about 1 cup) dry lentils, prepared – you can also use 2 cans of lentils if you’re pressed for time, though I simply allow them to simmer while I prep all the fresh ingredients that need to be chopped and diced.
• 2 14.5oz cans petite diced tomatoes
• 4 tsp curry powder
• 3 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
• Salt & pepper, to taste

Cabbage Rice

• 2 tbsp butter
• 1/2 head of cabbage, finely diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• Salt & pepper, to taste
• 1/4 cup green onions, sliced

Directions

Prep Steps (can be made a day in advance)

Tomato & Cucumber Topping: Combine the quartered tomatoes, finely diced cucumbers, chopped parsley, lemon juice, and olive oil.

Spice Paste: Combine the coriander, cumin, cardamom, oregano, and turmeric, then add water 1 tsp at a time (I needed 5 tsp, but you may need slightly more or less).

Ground Beef & Lentils

Step 1: Melt 1 tbsp butter in a wide pan over medium heat, then sauté the onion, garlic, and ginger for 2 minutes.

Step 2: Add the spice paste, mix until onions are coated, and cook 2-3 minutes.

Step 3: Add the beef (and liver puree) to pan and cook until browned, about 7-8 minutes.

Step 4: Add cooked lentils and diced tomatoes, then simmer until liquid has mostly evaporated and tomatoes are soft, about 10 minutes.

Step 5: Add curry powder and cook another 2-3 minutes.

Step 6: Top with chopped parsley, then turn off heat.

Seasoned Cabbage “Rice”

Step 1: While the beef is browning, melt 2 tbsp butter in another large pan. Add garlic and sauté 1 minute.

Step 2: Add cabbage, seasoned generously with salt and pepper, and cook over medium-high heat until softened, stirring regularly, about 10 minutes.

Step 3: Mix in green onions and serve.

Bowl Assembly

Assemble bowls by starting with a layer of cabbage rice, then add beef & lentils, and top with the tomato & cucumber.

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Nutrition Facts

Amount Per Serving
Calories: 548 kcal
Fat: 31g
Total Carbohydrates: 34g
Fiber: 7g
Protein: 35g

The nutrition data provided here is for informational only and is only an estimate based on an online nutrition calculator. It cannot be verified or guaranteed, and should not be used in the treatment of medical conditions. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice This data should be interpreted and used at your own risk.