One-pot rice with beef and potatoes

Need a filling weekday lunch without spending half the afternoon in the kitchen? This is the recipe: tender rice that soaks up every flavour, seasoned ground beef, and golden potatoes that add substance to every bite. Everything cooks in one pot, with ingredients you likely have on hand, and the result is a home-cooked meal that works for the whole table.

Ingredients for 5–6 servings

500 grams ground beef

2 cups basmati rice

2 medium potatoes

1 large onion, chopped

3 cloves garlic, crushed

3 tablespoons olive oil

1 tablespoon tomato paste

1 teaspoon sweet paprika

½ teaspoon cumin

½ teaspoon turmeric

Salt and black pepper to taste

3 cups boiling water

Handful of chopped parsley

Preparation

1. Rinse the rice thoroughly and drain. Peel the potatoes and cut into small cubes.
2. Heat olive oil in a wide pot and fry the potatoes for 7–8 minutes, until they begin to turn golden. Remove to a plate.
3. In the same pot, fry the onion until golden. Add the garlic and stir.
4. Add the ground beef and break it up with a spoon until it changes colour and browns slightly.
5. Stir in the tomato paste and spices, mixing well.
6. Return the potatoes to the pot, add the rice, and stir gently so the rice absorbs the flavours.
7. Pour in the boiling water, bring to a boil, cover, and cook on low heat for 18–20 minutes, until the rice is done and the liquid is absorbed.
8. Turn off the heat and leave the pot covered for another 10 minutes. Scatter chopped parsley on top and serve.