• 1 lb lean ground beef (85/15)
• 15 oz canned green lentils
• 14.5 oz canned crushed tomatoes
• 1 cup frozen peas
• 1 medium yellow onion
• 3 cloves garlic cloves
• 1.5 tsp ground cumin
• 0.5 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp ground coriander
• 0.5 tsp turmeric
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp salt
• 0.5 tsp black pepper
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 0.5 cup beef broth
• 0.25 cup fresh parsley
• 2 cup white rice
• 1 whole lemon
1. Start rice first: combine 2 cups rice with 4 cups water in a saucepan, bring to a boil over high heat, reduce to low, cover, and cook 18 minutes until all water is absorbed.
2. Dice the onion and mince the garlic. Set aside.
3. Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering, about 1 minute.
4. Add diced onion and cook for 3–4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until edges begin to turn golden.
5. Add garlic and stir for 30 seconds until fragrant.
6. Add ground beef to the skillet. Break it apart with a spatula and cook for 5–6 minutes, stirring frequently, until no pink remains and the meat is browned all over.
7. Tilt the skillet slightly and spoon out any excess grease if needed.
8. Add cumin, cinnamon, coriander, turmeric, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Stir into the meat for 30 seconds — the spices will turn the mixture a deep reddish-orange.
9. Drain and rinse the canned lentils, then add them along with the crushed tomatoes and beef broth. Stir everything together.
10. Reduce heat to medium and simmer uncovered for 7–8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens slightly and coats the back of a spoon.
11. Stir in frozen peas and cook for 2 more minutes until heated through and bright green.
12. Squeeze the juice of half the lemon over the skillet, taste, and adjust salt if needed.
13. Spoon over rice and garnish with chopped fresh parsley and remaining lemon wedges on the side.
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.