Description
A rich and flavorful Middle Eastern-inspired dish featuring creamy hummus topped with warmly spiced ground beef, tangy lemon-pickled onions, and garnished with fresh herbs and toasted pine nuts.
Ingredients
For the Lemon-Pickled Onions
- 1 medium red onion, halved and thinly sliced
- 1 large lemon, juiced (or more to taste)
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt (or more to taste)
For the Spiced Ground Beef
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil
- 1 pound ground beef (80/20)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon sumac (optional)
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground cardamom
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
For Assembly and Garnish
- 2 cups hummus
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh mint, chopped
- ⅓ cup pine nuts, toasted
Instructions
- Prepare the lemon-pickled onions: In a small bowl, combine the thinly sliced red onions, freshly squeezed lemon juice, and kosher salt. Using your hands, gently massage the onions for a minute or two to soften them and release their juices. Let this mixture sit at room temperature while you cook the beef to develop bright, tangy flavors.
- Cook the ground beef: Heat the avocado oil in a skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the ground beef and let it cook undisturbed for several minutes until the sizzling noise reduces, indicating it’s searing well on one side.
- Season the beef: Use the back of a wooden spoon to break up the beef. Add garlic powder, ground cumin, dried oregano, smoked paprika, sumac (if using), ground cinnamon, ground cardamom, and kosher salt. Stir thoroughly to coat the meat evenly with the spices and continue cooking.
- Finish browning the beef: Continue cooking the spiced beef until it is browned thoroughly, has a glossy appearance, and any excess liquid has evaporated. If there is a lot of grease, carefully blot it with a paper towel to prevent greasiness in the final dish.
- Toast the pine nuts: In a small dry pan over medium heat, toast the pine nuts until they turn golden brown, watching closely to avoid burning. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Assemble the dish: Spread the hummus evenly onto a large serving platter or individual plates using the back of a spoon, creating a smooth surface. Spoon the warm spiced ground beef evenly over the hummus. Top with the lemon-pickled onions for a zesty contrast.
- Garnish and serve: Sprinkle the toasted pine nuts over the beef and onions. Finish with a generous drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and sprinkle fresh chopped parsley and mint leaves for a burst of color and fresh herb flavor. Serve immediately and enjoy.
Notes
- Sumac is optional but adds a lovely lemony tang; you can omit it if unavailable.
- Adjust salt and lemon juice to taste, especially in the pickled onions, to achieve the desired brightness.
- Use fresh herbs like parsley and mint for freshness; dried herbs will not give the same flavor impact.
- Can be served as a main dish with warm pita bread or as part of a mezze platter.
- Ground beef can be substituted with ground lamb for a richer flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 17 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
