It’s rare to find a recipe that ticks all the boxes: quick, easy, less messy, and complete (so no sides needed). when I found it mariam daud’s oozi recipe from her new cookbook, i am sleeping in the kitchenI knew right away that I had found such a gem.
“Ooji is my lazy meal. It’s perfect for those nights when you don’t know what to make and it’s already 6pm,” says Mariam. “The base is rice, minced meat, frozen peas, and carrots – ingredients I always have on hand. It’s ready in 30 minutes. When you remove the lid from the pot, the spice-scented steam wafts into the kitchen, revealing colorful, fluffy rice and a dot of cute vegetables.”
Mariam says this traditional dish is often served with chicken feet, but it makes a great simple dinner on its own. “Don’t overthink it!” she urges. “The biggest thing about this recipe is not to get too smart. The main focus is on good seasoning. Simmer the spices in the fat for a few minutes to let the flavors blossom. That’s what really makes the dish. Other than that, don’t worry about it.”
Oozi (spiced beef, peas and carrots)
from i am sleeping in the kitchenwritten by Mariam Daoud
Serves 4-6 people
For beef, peas and carrots:
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 large onion (chopped)
1 1/4 pounds ground beef (80%/20%)
1 16 oz bag of frozen peas and carrots, thawed
2 teaspoons fine sea salt
2 teaspoons curry powder
2 teaspoons allspice
2 teaspoons black pepper
Seven Spice/Baharat 2 tsp*
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
*Note: Mariam says this about Seven Spice/Baharat. “I don’t have to worry about specific brands. I buy whatever is available at my local Middle Eastern store. If you don’t have a store nearby, you can easily make it at home. A quick batch is just a tablespoon of these seven spices: black pepper, cinnamon, cloves, coriander, cumin, nutmeg, and cardamom.
For spiced rice:
2 cups basmati rice
3 tablespoons ghee or olive oil
1 tablespoon allspice powder
1 tablespoon curry powder
1 tablespoon seven spice
2 teaspoons fine sea salt
2 teaspoons Vegeta seasoning or chicken bouillon powder
2 teaspoons black pepper
1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
For service:
chopped fresh parsley
roasted pine nuts
Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onions and saute until softened and translucent (3-4 minutes). Add the beef, breaking it up with a spoon, and stir-fry until evenly browned (5-7 minutes). Add peas and carrots, salt, curry powder, allspice, black pepper, seven spice, cinnamon, and turmeric. Stir-fry the beef and vegetables to coat them with aromatic spices. Cook the mixture for 5-7 minutes to let the flavors meld. Remove the pot from the heat and set aside.
Make the spiced rice: Wash the rice in cold water until it becomes transparent. This removes excess starch and gives you individual, fluffy grains rather than a gummy texture. Melt the ghee in a large pot over medium heat. Mix the rice and coat each grain with ghee and toast for 3 minutes, stirring constantly to avoid burning. Add allspice, curry powder, seven spice, salt, vegeta/bouillon, black pepper, turmeric, and cinnamon. Stir well to distribute the spices evenly. Add 4 cups of water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer gently for 15 to 20 minutes, until rice is fully cooked and tender. Remove the pot from the heat and let it sit, covered, for 10 minutes so that the rice absorbs the liquid and becomes fluffy. “everytime “Let it rest for at least 10 minutes before adding the rice. It makes a big difference in the texture,” Mariam says.
To serve: Lightly fluff the rice with a fork and transfer to a plate. Layer the spiced beef mixture over the rice. Garnish with parsley and pine nuts.
Thank you so much Mariam for sharing this dish with us and congratulations. new book.
PS Here are more easy dinners we love, including broccoli soup in 6 variations and my best friend’s mom’s mushroom paprikash.
(Photo provided by: Jim Henkens. Excerpt from i am sleeping in the kitchenavailable from Clarkson Potter/Publishers, a division of Penguin Random House, LLC. Written by Mariam Daoud. Copyright © 2026 by Mariam Daud.)
Source: Cup of Jo – cupofjo.com
