Lamb with Rice

1 hour cooking time
Try this irresistible, authentic lamb quzi. Experience its layers of texture and flavours that make it complex and satisfying, testiment to its Middle Eastern culinary roots. From the richly spiced lamb and savoury rice to the sweet and earthy meat and peas mixture and crunchy nuts, you get a flavourful and sumptuous rice dish you will want to make again and again.
Lamb with Rice Lamb with Rice

Lamb with Rice

  • 1 hour cooking time
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  3. Lamb Quzi
Try this irresistible, authentic lamb quzi. Experience its layers of texture and flavours that make it complex and satisfying, testiment to its Middle Eastern culinary roots. From the richly spiced lamb and savoury rice to the sweet and earthy meat and peas mixture and crunchy nuts, you get a flavourful and sumptuous rice dish you will want to make again and again.
Try this irresistible, authentic lamb quzi. Experience its layers of texture and flavours that make it complex and satisfying, testiment to its Middle Eastern culinary roots. From the richly spiced lamb and savoury rice to the sweet and earthy meat and peas mixture and crunchy nuts, you get a flavourful and sumptuous rice dish you will want to make again and again.

Method

Lamb
1
Place lamb shanks in a deep stock pot or a pressure cooker, cover with water, and bring to a boil.
2
Skim off any impurities that rise to the surface of the water.
3
Add onion, garlic, whole spices, ground spices, and bay leaves.
4
Cover with a lid, lower the heat, and cook for 2-2 ½ hours. If you are using a pressure cooker (recommended): after the pot reaches the high-pressure point, lower the heat, and cook for 30 minutes.
5
After the lamb is cooked, remove the shanks from the stock and place them on a baking sheet. Cover with foil until serving.
6
Strain the stock and set aside.
Rice
1
Melt butter in a pot and sauté rice for a minute.
2
Add salt, pepper, mixed Arabic spices, and cinnamon.
3
Add the lamb stock until it covers 1 cm above the rice.
4
Bring to a boil, cover the pot, and lower the heat to the minimum temperature.
5
Let it cook for 15 minutes, then fluff the rice with a fork and set aside.
Meat and peas mixture
1
Melt butter in a pan and sauté onion until it is translucent.
2
Add meat and cook until browned. Add peas and season with salt, pepper, cinnamon, and mixed Arabic spices.
3
Cook for 5 minutes and set aside.
Nuts
1
Melt butter in another pan and toast almonds.
2
When the almonds start to get some colour, add pine nuts and stir until everything is golden. Drain on a paper towel.
Serving
1
Put a slice of butter over each lamb shank and place them under the broiler in the oven for 5 minutes to reheat and give them some colour.
2
Plate the rice on a serving platter and arrange the meat and peas mixture on top. Add lamb shanks and toasted nuts.
3
Garnish with chopped parsley and pomegranate seeds.

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Cook up a delicious lamb quzi

Lamb quzi is a traditional rice dish popular all over the Middle East. Fortunately, you can easily cook this lamb recipe at home and get to enjoy a dish celebrated for its rich flavours and tender meat. The star of the show is the majestic, slow-cooked lamb that is exceptionally soft and moist, contrasting beautifully with the fragrant rice cooked in flavourful lamb stock and seasoned with aromatic spices. It is garnished with toasted nuts, adding a delightful crunch and nuttiness, as well as fresh parsley and pomegranate seeds for a contrasting burst of freshness.

The delicious flavour is owed in great deal to the mixed Arabic spices, a combination of several ground spices including cumin, coriander, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, paprika, black pepper, and allspice. This spice mix adds a distinctively warm, aromatic, and slightly spicy flavour profile that takes this lamb quzi from simply delicious to luxurious.

Exceed every expectation with flavourful and juicy lamb shanks

Cook up tender lamb shanks, slow-cooked to perfection, yielding meat that is succulent and falls off the bone. Marinated and bathed in a harmonious blend of aromatic spices, including cinnamon, cardamom, and a rich array of Arabic spices, these lamb shanks take centre stage, delivering a succulent experience that exceeds every expectation. With Lurpak in hand, the lamb gets the final touch as you add butter and place the lamb under the broiler. The butter ensures the meat stays juicy and gets a golden, crisp coating.

A foundation of seasoned basmati rice

The rich and savoury lamb is complemented by aromatic, spiced rice. The basmati rice absorbs the flavours of the lamb stock and spices, resulting in a fluffy and fragrant foundation for the tender lamb shanks. The seasoned rice balances the rich and savoury character of the lamb and contributes to the overall depth of the dish, making every forkful an indulgent harmony of flavour and texture.

For other savoury combinations with rice, try our shrimp fried rice, chicken mandi, or Mexican rice. Each of these recipes features different types of rice mixed with vegetables and/or meat, and they all bring you flavours from different parts of the world.

Elevate the dish with a rich pea and meat mixture and roasted nuts

The addition of peas and minced meat mixture introduces a delightful contrast with its slightly sweet and earthy undertones, further enhanced by the warmth of cinnamon and the complexity of the spice mix.

Roasting the almonds and pine nuts in butter not only enhances their nutty essence, but also adds a toasted, buttery depth. The final garnish of fresh parsley and pomegranate seeds adorns the dish with vibrant colour and a fresh, sweet contrast, rounding out the exquisite, classic Middle Eastern flavours.

Serve with a cold refreshing salad

A cold salad is a good side for the rich and flavourful lamb quzi. It brings freshness and crunch to balance the soft rice and tender meat. It also adds to the overall eating experience, as it is a cold serving to pair with the warm rice dish.

There is no right or wrong when it comes to choosing the salad. Opt for a classic recipe or mix up your favourite vegetables to create a new type of salad to serve with your lamb quzi. We recommend using fresh, crisp vegetables as they add a delightful crunch. A dressing with yoghurt or crème fraiche is also an ideal pairing for the rice and lamb.

For example, a cucumber yoghurt salad makes a refreshing and cooling side for lamb quzi. Its coolness and tanginess complement the rich and aromatic flavours of the lamb and rice beautifully.

You can also serve lamb quzi with a classic Middle Eastern Fattoush salad. This salad brings a perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and herbal notes, completed by the crunch of toasted pita and the depth of pomegranate molasses.

Put your mark on it

Traditional lamb quzi varies from region to region, so you, cook, can decide how your version of the recipe should be. Add sweet raisins to introduce a burst of sweetness or incorporate turmeric for its vibrant colour and earthy, peppery flavour. A pinch of garam masala can transform the dish. Its warm, aromatic blend of spices will bring an additional layer of complexity. Why not experiment with other vegetables? Additions like diced carrots or chunks of sweet potato will add variety in texture and flavour. Finally, a squeeze of fresh lime juice before serving can brighten the entire dish, adding a zesty freshness that cuts through the richness of the lamb, rice, and mixture of meat and peas.

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Unsalted Butter

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