Let’s bring the flavors of a bustling street cart to your kitchen with this Food Cart Beef Rice Bowl! This dish, inspired by the vibrant food trucks of New York City, is packed with bold spices, tender beef, and fragrant turmeric rice, all topped with a creamy yogurt sauce. It’s a delicious fusion of Middle Eastern-inspired flavors, perfect for a quick and satisfying meal.
Whether you’re reminiscing about street food adventures or trying something new at home, this dish is easy to prepare and sure to become a favorite. Let’s dive into this flavorful bowl and enjoy a taste of the cart experience!
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 20-25 minutes
Servings: 4
Rice Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup long-grain white rice, washed and soaked for 30 minutes
- 3 cups water
- 2 chicken bouillon cubes
- ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
Sauce Ingredients:
- ½ cup plain Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- Salt and pepper to taste
Beef Ingredients:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- ½ yellow onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoons shawarma spice blend
- Salt and pepper to taste
Toppings:
- Cherry tomatoes, halved or quartered
- Cucumber, diced
- Parsley, finely chopped
Instructions:
- Rice: Wash the rice in cold water until the water runs clear, then soak it in fresh water for 30 minutes. Then drain the soaked rice.
- In a small pan, combine the soaked and drained rice, 3 cups of water, chicken bouillon cubes and turmeric powder.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for about 15 minutes, or until the rice is tender and the water is absorbed.
- Fluff the rice with a fork and set it aside.
- Sauce: In a bowl, mix together the Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, minced garlic, lemon juice, salt, and pepper to taste. Refrigerate the sauce until you’re ready to assemble the bowls.
- Beef: Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add the chopped onion and sauté until they become translucent. Then add the garlic, cook for 30 more seconds.
- Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it apart with a spoon, until it’s browned and cooked through.
- Stir in the shawarma spice blend, salt, and pepper. Cook for a few more minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Assembly: To serve, place a generous scoop of turmeric-infused rice in a bowl.
- Top the rice with the seasoned shawarma-spiced ground beef.
- Add cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber.
- Drizzle the yogurt-mayo sauce over the bowl. And top with chopped parsley.
