Beef & Spinach Stew

Beef & Spinach Stew

Stephen Connell, United States.
This is an Arabic dish and I really don't have the proper name for it, so let's just go with Beef & Spinach Stew for now. This was provided by a good friend and he is asked to prepare this often by friends and family.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine Arabic
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 500 grams ground beef, (1 lb)
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, smashed and minced
  • 1 kilo frozen spinach, thawed, drained, and chopped, (2 lbs)
  • 1 bunch fresh cilantro, chopped
  • ½ teaspoon ground allspice
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • salt and pepper, as desired
  • lime or lemon juice, as desired
  • cooked rice, as needed for serving
  • olive oil, as needed

Instructions
 

  • In a large pot, heat a splash of olive oil then add the onion and garlic, cook until the onion is translucent. Add the beef and brown that until just cooked through, breaking it up and stirring with the spatula.
  • Add spinach and stir in, season with salt and pepper as desired, add the cumin and allspice. The spinach will wilt down. When wilted and tender, remove from heat.
  • Serve over rice with a squeeze or splash of lemon or lime juice over the top.

Notes

Figure 150 Baht for the beef. For 4 servings this is about $1.10 per serving.
Beef, Potato & Tomato Casserole

Beef, Potato & Tomato Casserole

Stephen Connell, United States.
This is an Arabic dish in origin, can be found in many cultures there including Lebanon and Syria. Sounds like a great dish for sure! On my to cook list. I am going to base this on a 8x8 baking dish for 4 servings. If you are looking to make a larger batch, think 7x11 or 9x13 dish.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine Arabic
Servings 4 servings

Equipment

  • Oven
  • Baking Pan (8x8 inch)

Ingredients
  

  • 500 grams ground beef, (1 lb)
  • salt and pepper, as desired
  • 1 potato, sliced thin
  • 1 onion, sliced thin
  • fresh tomatoes, sliced thin
  • 1 cup beef broth, fresh or from powder

Beef Seasonings, optional and up to you

  • fresh cilantro, finely chopped
  • garlic, finely minced
  • fresh herbs, of your choice

For Additional Layers, optional

  • fresh mushrooms, sliced thin
  • bell peppers, sliced into strips

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 180° C (350° F). Get out a 8x8 inch baking pan.
  • Season the ground beef with salt and pepper as desired, as an option, mix in cilantro, garlic, or herbs of your choice. Make 4 patties with the beef and fry them in a hot skillet, flipping once, until nearly cooked through.
  • Place the patties in a single layer in the baking pan. On top of the beef, place the sliced potato, then the sliced onion.
  • If you want to add options, such as mushrooms or bell peppers, or vegetables of your choice (sliced thin), in layers on top of the onion layer. Lastly, place a layer of tomato, always the top layer, as the juices run run down through the casserole.
  • Pour in a cup of beef stock, or just water, season with salt and pepper to your liking, cover with foil and bake for 1 hour.
  • Serve.

Notes

Figure about 150 Baht for the ground beef. For 4 servings, this is about $1.10 per serving.