Shawarma-Spiced Ground Beef Bowls with Cucumber Tomato Salad and Mint Yogurt Sauce

These shawarma-spiced beef bowls are packed with bold, aromatic flavors and fresh textures. Fragrant ground beef seasoned with shawarma spice blend is served over fluffy basmati rice, accompanied by a tangy quick-pickled onion, crisp cucumber tomato salad and a creamy mint yogurt sauce. Warm toasted pitas complete the meal, perfect for scooping up every bite.

This recipe comes together in about 30 minutes, making it an ideal weeknight dinner. The combination of spiced beef, cool yogurt sauce and bright salad creates a balanced and satisfying bowl that everyone will love.

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Ingredients

0.5 cup Feta CheeseView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit Red OnionView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

0.25 ounce MintView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

2 unit PitasView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

10 ounce Ground BeefView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

5 teaspoon White Wine VinegarView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

12 tablespoon YogurtView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit Mini CucumberView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 tablespoon Shawarma Spice BlendView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit TomatoView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 teaspoon Garlic PowderView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

0.5 cup Basmati RiceView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

teaspoon (tsp) SaltView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

0.5 teaspoon (tsp) SugarView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

2 tablespoon (tbsp) Olive OilView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 teaspoon (tsp) Cooking OilView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

teaspoon (tsp) Black PepperView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

Instructions

1. In a small pot, combine rice, ¾ cup water (1½ cups for 4 servings) and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil, then cover and reduce heat to low. Cook until rice is tender, 15-18 minutes. Keep covered off heat until ready to serve.
2. While rice cooks, wash and dry produce. Halve, peel and thinly slice onion. Pick mint leaves from stems; discard stems and finely chop leaves. Trim and dice cucumber. Dice tomato.
3. In a medium microwave-safe bowl, combine vinegar, ½ tsp sugar (1 tsp for 4 servings), salt and pepper. Stir in half the onion. Cover with plastic wrap, then microwave until bright pink, about 1 minute. Refrigerate until ready to use in Step 6.
4. In a small bowl, combine mint, yogurt, garlic powder, 1 TBSP olive oil (2 TBSP for 4 servings), salt and pepper.
5. Heat a drizzle of oil in a large, preferably nonstick, pan over medium-high heat. Add beef, Shawarma Spice Blend, salt and pepper. Cook, breaking up meat into pieces, until beginning to brown, 2-4 minutes. Add remaining onion to pan. Cook, stirring occasionally, until beef is cooked through and onion is beginning to soften, 2-4 minutes.
6. Meanwhile, to bowl with pickled onion, add cucumber, tomato, 1 TBSP olive oil (2 TBSP for 4 servings), salt and pepper. Stir to combine. Toast pitas. Brush with a drizzle of olive oil; season with salt and pepper. Cut into four wedges each.
7. Fluff rice with a fork and divide between bowls. Top rice with shawarma-spiced beef and cucumber tomato salad in separate sections. Garnish with feta. Serve with pitas and mint yogurt sauce on the side. TIP: If you like, scoop up some of the rice, beef, salad and sauce with the pita and eat it all in one bite!

Recipe Tips

FAQ

Can I use a different protein instead of ground beef?

Yes, ground lamb or chicken would work well with the shawarma spice blend. Adjust cooking time as needed.

How do I store leftovers?

Store components separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat beef and rice before serving.

Can I make this recipe gluten-free?

Use gluten-free pitas or serve with gluten-free flatbread. The rest of the ingredients are naturally gluten-free.