1866. Fava Mince Meat Rice

This is a comforting way in Arabian cuisine to present "fast food": a rice dish featuring some kind of vegetable (fava in this case, but peas, carrot, and pulses are also  common), a protein (minced meat in this case, but shredded chicken or shrimp also work), and a chockful of fried nuts (cashews here, but think: almonds, pinenuts, etc). 

The two most common sides to complete the meal are either cucumber yogurt or a simple salad (or both).

Ingredients:

1 kg fava beans

700g minced meat

1 large onion, chopped

1 Tbsp 7-spice mix

1 Tbsp salt

2 cups rice

fried cashews

Method:

Rinse the rice until the water runs clear then soak in a bowl and set aside.

Parboil the fava beans then cool in cold water. Proceed to peel each bean, discarding the skin, and reserving the rest aside.

In a pot, saute the minced meat and the onion until browned and the onion is soft. Add the spice and salt, and saute until fragrant. Add the reserved peeled beans, reserving a handful, and gently stir in the drained rice. Add 2.5 cups of boiling water, give it a last stir and bring to a boil. Immediately upon boiling, cover the pot and reduce the heat to the minimum. Let steam for 20 minutes, until all the water is absorbed and the rice is fluffy. Serve crowned with the fried cashew and the reserved beans and a side of garlicy cucumber yogurt.

صحة و عافية