Why this fits a family on a budget
Using 1 lb of ground beef stretched across 4 servings with frozen peas and pantry spices keeps the cost around $2.20 per serving, comfortably under budget. The straightforward brown-and-simmer method requires no advanced technique, making it ideal for a novice cook on a busy weeknight.
• 1 lb lean ground beef (85/15)
• 1.5 cups white rice
• 13.5 oz canned coconut milk
• 1 cup water
• 2 medium roma tomatoes
• 1 medium yellow onion
• 3 cloves garlic cloves
• 1 cup frozen peas
• 1 tsp ground coriander
• 0.5 tsp ground turmeric
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 0.25 tsp ground cinnamon
• 0.25 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 tsp salt
• 0.5 tsp black pepper
• 1 tbsp vegetable oil
• 0.25 cup fresh cilantro
1. Start the coconut rice first: combine 1.5 cups white rice, the full can of coconut milk, and 1 cup water in a medium saucepan. Stir and bring to a boil over high heat.
2. Once boiling, reduce heat to the lowest setting, cover tightly, and cook for 18 minutes. Do not lift the lid during cooking.
3. While rice cooks, dice the onion and roma tomatoes, and mince the garlic.
4. Heat 1 tbsp vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering, about 1 minute.
5. Add diced onion to the skillet and cook for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened and edges begin to turn golden.
6. Add minced garlic, cumin, coriander, turmeric, cinnamon, and red pepper flakes. Stir constantly for 30 seconds — the mixture will smell very fragrant and the turmeric will turn the onions bright yellow.
7. Add ground beef, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon or spatula. Cook over medium-high heat for 5–6 minutes, stirring frequently, until no pink remains and the beef is fully browned.
8. Tilt the skillet and use a spoon to drain off excess fat, leaving about 1 tsp in the pan.
9. Add diced tomatoes and frozen peas. Stir to combine and cook for 3–4 minutes over medium heat until tomatoes soften and peas are heated through — the mixture should look glossy and well-coated with spices.
10. Season with salt and black pepper. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
11. Check the rice: it should be fluffy with a slightly creamy texture. Fluff with a fork.
12. Serve the spiced beef mixture over coconut rice, garnished with chopped fresh cilantro.
Cost is a national-average estimate and varies by store and region.
This recipe was generated by Plento Pasto's AI from a library of family-friendly dishes and reviewed for a real photo before publishing. Cooking times, costs, and nutrition are estimates — use your judgment in the kitchen.