IT ALWAYS WARMS OUR HEARTS WHEN WE COME HOME TO THE SMELL OF MOM’S COOKING. THIS TIME, WE’VE GOT THE PERFECT DISH DIRECTLY FROM LEBANON TO HELP YOU LEARN THE CRAFT, SATISFY YOUR APPETITES, AND GIVE YOU A WHOLE LOTTA LEBANESE LOVE. SO, GET THOSE HANDS WORKING AND START TAKING NOTES TO MAKE YOUR OWN DELICIOUS HUSHWEE RICE WITH A PINE NUT SURPRISE.
First and foremost, Hushwee is a traditional Lebanese dish of ground beef cooked in butter served with rice and topped with nuts, spices, or even noodles. Every household tends to create their own version of the dish, some prefer it with chicken instead of beef. You can even give it any kind of nutty flavor you want since many love to use toasted almonds rather than pine nuts or even cashews. Here, we’re giving you the simplest method but don’t shy away from experimenting as much as you want. Let’s get down to business!
To start with, these are the ingredients you will need to get:
- 4 servings of Hushwee (ground beef or chicken)
- 2 tablespoons of clarified butter
- 1/4 cup vermicelli noodles
- 1 cup long grain enriched rice – parboiled rinsed
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 cup of toasted pine nuts
- Minced parsley – to serve
Step 1: Start with melting the butter in the biggest pot you have. Add the grounded beef with the spices you have (such as pepper) that can give it the zing it needs. You can give the dish a little more flavor with some chopped up onions.
Step 2: While we wait for the meat to start browning, set it aside and get another pan. Here we are going to grab a pack of those delicious pine nuts and give them the toasty flavor for our dish. Once they are nice and brown, set them aside and give them a rest.
Step 3: Let’s start here by adding the vermicelli noodles in a separate pot and toast them until they turn into a deep brown color. Stir in the rinsed rice and cook for around 1 to 2 minutes. You will know it is done once the rice becomes slightly toasted.
Step 4: Now we can bring in the grounded meet and add it to the pan of rice. Don’t forget to stir the mixture well.
Step 5: Add the 2 cups of chicken brother, salt and pepper. Stir it just once. Bring to a boil then cover the mixture with a lid and reduce the heat of the first to love. Cook it for 15 minutes.
Step 6: Can you smell that? Smells delicious! Once it’s done, pour the mixture into a plate. You can top off your dish with the roasted pine nuts to give it that Al Rifai specialty.
Bon appétit!
