Ground Beef Shawarma Bowls (Printable)
Spiced ground beef meets fragrant rice, crisp vegetables, and tangy garlic yogurt in this vibrant Middle Eastern-inspired bowl.
# What You'll Need:
→ Ground Beef
01 - 1 pound ground beef
02 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
05 - 2 teaspoons ground cumin
06 - 2 teaspoons ground coriander
07 - 1.5 teaspoons smoked paprika
08 - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
09 - 1 teaspoon ground allspice
10 - 0.5 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
11 - 1 teaspoon salt
12 - 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
→ Rice Base
13 - 1 cup basmati rice
14 - 2 cups water
15 - 0.5 teaspoon turmeric
16 - 0.5 teaspoon salt
→ Garlic Yogurt Sauce
17 - 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
18 - 2 tablespoons lemon juice
19 - 1 clove garlic, grated
20 - 0.5 teaspoon salt
21 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
→ Fresh Bowl Additions
22 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
23 - 1 cup cucumber, diced
24 - 0.5 cup red onion, thinly sliced
25 - 0.5 cup fresh parsley, roughly chopped
26 - 0.25 cup pickled turnips or pickled red cabbage (optional)
27 - Lemon wedges, for serving
# Directions:
01 - Rinse basmati rice under cold running water until the water runs clear. In a medium saucepan, combine rice, water, turmeric, and salt. Bring to a boil, then cover and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 15 minutes or until rice is tender. Fluff with a fork and set aside.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chopped onion and sauté for about 3 minutes until translucent. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Add ground beef, breaking it up with a spatula, and cook until browned. Add cumin, coriander, smoked paprika, cinnamon, allspice, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper. Mix well and cook for 5 minutes until beef is aromatic and fully cooked.
03 - In a mixing bowl, combine Greek yogurt, lemon juice, grated garlic, salt, and olive oil. Whisk until mixture is smooth and creamy. Set aside.
04 - Divide turmeric rice evenly among four serving bowls. Top each with spiced ground beef. Arrange cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, parsley, and pickled turnips or red cabbage around the beef. Drizzle generously with garlic yogurt sauce and garnish with lemon wedges.
05 - Serve immediately while warm.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The spices mingle to create a flavor that tastes bolder than the effort required (your kitchen will smell amazing too).
- You can riff on the toppings—tomatoes, parsley, even a handful of pickled something—for a deliciously flexible dinner.
02 -
- Trying to rush the rice is tempting, but leaving it to steam covered makes every grain separate and fluffy instead of sticky.
- I used to skip toasting the spices in the beef, but once I slowed down and let them bloom in the fat, the flavor leveled up dramatically.
03 -
- Always toast your spices with the beef—they unlock more flavor if heated in oil before finishing the dish.
- If making ahead, keep toppings separate so nothing gets soggy.