Spiced Sirloin Rice (Teta Rice)

King Lu's Note:

My Grandmother (Teta) made this dish as an accompaniment to Chicken, Pork, or Lamb dishes. My son will make a meal out of it on its own. The yogurt and pine nuts really enhance the flavour, but are optional. To truly enjoy this I would not recommend using ground beef. It also very easily reheats and can be frozen as well.

• Total Time: 50 mins
• Prep Time: 20 mins
• Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 8

the spices

• 2 teaspoons allspice
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

the meat

• 1 1/4 lbs sirloin, chopped into 1/4 inch pieces (discard anything too fatty)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil

the rice

• 2 1/2 cups basmati rice, Rinsed
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 4 teaspoons chicken stock powder
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup pine nuts, toasted (optional)
• 26 ounces plain yogurt, balkan style (optional)

Directions:

1. Mix all the spices together in a small bowl.
2. Using a fine mesh strainer, rinse the Basmati Rice under cold water for a minute, set aside to drain.
3. Combine the chicken stock mix in 1 cup of the chicken broth, set aside.
4. In a large pot, heat the Oil over med-high heat.
5. Add the sirloin and mix with oil. Immediately sprinkle 1/3 of spice mixture on the sirloin and stir in, repeat this 2 more times and stir until the meat is brown all over and you have added all the spice.
6. Add rice to the meat and mix it together 15 – 20 seconds.
7. Add both the chicken broth and the chicken broth and stock mixture at this time, this should cover the rice and meat by a ¼ to ½ inch.
8. Add butter and stir occasionally.
9. Once butter has melted and the liquid is just starting to boil (the rice should look a little plump) reduce heat to just above low and cover the pot.
10. Cook for 17 minutes. DO NOT lift the cover to check.
11. During this time you can toast the Pine nuts either in a nonstick pan on the stove or on a cookie sheet in the oven on broil. Either way you need to stir them continuously until they are nicely browned.
12. After 17 minutes remove the pot from heat and let stand for 10 minutes. DO NOT lift the cover. After 10 minutes you can lift the cover and fluff up the rice with an fork.
13. Scoop rice out onto a platter for presentation or directly onto a plate. If using pine nuts sprinkle them on top of the rice.
14. If you are using the yogurt, it is served in individual bowls and a little is scooped on and mixed into the rice as you eat it.
15. Enjoy.

Reviews

[Mrs. Doyle]

This was fantastic!!! I made it a while back and have been craving it ever since... you know a recipe is good when you crave it. I didn't have chicken stock powder, so I left it out and it was still a fantastic meal! It makes a lot and is great as left overs, straight from the fridge in the middle of the night :)