Inspired by classic street food, this Halal cart beef rice bowl dish packs rich, aromatic spices, a tangy yogurt sauce, and vibrant toppings that transport you straight to a bustling Halal cart.
Make a big batch to enjoy throughout the week! The components store and reheat well, making it amazing for meal prep. We cannot get enough of the incredible flavors in this beef cart rice bowl – it’s just SO good!
And if you love this recipe, be sure to check out our other beef favorites like stoner meatloaf, meal prep slow cooker pot roast and quesabirria tacos!
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Why You’ll Love this Recipe
There is never a rice grain left when we make this. Here’s why it’s such a great dish:
- Easy to customize: Whether you prefer beef, chicken, or a vegetarian version, this recipe is endlessly adaptable.
- Perfectly balanced: The savory beef, fragrant turmeric rice, refreshing cucumber, and juicy tomatoes combine beautifully, all tied together by the creamy, garlicky yogurt sauce.
- Quick and easy to make: With simple ingredients and straightforward steps, you’ll have a restaurant-quality meal ready in no time—even on a busy weeknight.
Ingredient and Substitution Notes
Get all your ingredients ready and get cooking:
- Long-grain white rice: This rice works best for its light, fluffy texture. Washing and soaking the rice before cooking removes excess starch, so it’s not too tacky.
- Chicken bouillon cubes: Infuses the rice with a rich, savory depth of flavor.
- Turmeric powder: Adds a beautiful golden color and subtle earthy taste.
- Plain Greek yogurt: The base for the creamy, tangy white sauce that balances the spices in the dish. Full-fat yogurt works best for a rich texture.
- Mayonnaise: Use your favorite brand.
- Garlic: Freshly minced garlic adds a bite to the sauce.
- Lemon juice: Provides a bright, zesty flavor that cuts through the richness of the yogurt and mayonnaise.
- Ground beef: Go for lean ground beef to keep the dish hearty but not too greasy.
- Vegetable oil: Choose a neutral oil that doesn’t overpower the flavors. Avocado and sunflower work great.
- Yellow onion: Don’t skip it – it adds savory flavor.
- Garlic: Fresh is best.
- Shawarma spice blend: Look for blends with warm spices like cumin, coriander, paprika, and cinnamon.
Toppings
You can play around with different toppings, but here are the ones we love to add:
- Cherry tomatoes: Diced, halved, or quartered all work.
- Cucumber: Adds a refreshing crunch.
- Parsley: You could also use cilantro.
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
- Step 1 - Boil the rice
- Step 2 - Combine sauce ingredients
- Step 3 - Sauté the onions and garlic
- Step 4 - Add ground beef and cook
- Step 5 - Add the shawarma and other spices
- Step 6 - Assemble the bowls
Variations of this Halal Cart Beef Rice Bowl
This Halal beef cart rice bowl recipe is incredibly versatile. Try these ideas:
- Protein swaps: Replace ground beef with diced or shredded chicken, seasoned with the same shawarma spice blend. Use ground lamb or a plant-based alternative to ground meat.
- Rice alternatives: Try this recipe with brown rice, cauliflower rice, or quinoa.
- Spicy white sauce: Add sriracha, cayenne pepper, or harissa paste to the yogurt sauce.
- Tahini sauce: Replace the yogurt-based sauce with a creamy tahini dressing for a nutty flavor.
- Avocado sauce: Blend avocado with yogurt, garlic, and lemon juice for a rich, creamy topping.
Other Topping Ideas
- Pickled vegetables: Add pickled red onions, radishes, or turnips for crunch and color.
- Olives: Sliced black or green olives.
- Feta cheese: Crumble feta on top.
Flavor Boosters
- Lemon herb rice: Add fresh lemon zest and finely chopped dill or cilantro to the cooked rice.
- Extra spices: Sprinkle smoked paprika or sumac over the finished bowl.
- Hot sauce drizzle: Top with your favorite hot sauce, like chili garlic sauce or peri-peri.
Make it a Wrap
Skip the rice and serve the beef, toppings, and sauce in a warm pita or flatbread. Use gluten-free tortillas or lettuce wraps for a lighter, handheld version.
Top Tips
If this is your first time making a dish like these, these tips might help:
- Pre-soak your rice: Soaking the rice for 30 minutes before cooking helps remove excess starch – this way, you get fluffier, non-sticky grains.
- Don’t overcook the beef: Ground beef cooks quickly, so avoid overcooking to keep it tender and juicy. Stir often to break up the meat evenly for consistent cooking.
- Perfect the rice texture: When cooking the rice, use the right water-to-rice ratio. Add more water during cooking if the rice is too dry or sticky.
- Adjust the sauce: Tailor the sauce to your liking—add more garlic or extra lemon juice for extra flavor. Make it as creamy or tangy as you like.
- Keep toppings fresh: Add the cucumber, tomatoes, and parsley just before serving them.
- For extra flavor: Before adding water, lightly toast the rice in the pan with a little oil. This step brings out a nutty taste.
- Make extra sauce: The white sauce is addictive! Make extra to drizzle on other dishes like roasted vegetables or grilled chicken.
- Serve immediately: Serve the rice and beef immediately after cooking. This way, everything stays warm, and the toppings stay crisp.
Storage Notes
To store leftovers of your Halal cart beef rice bowl, keep each part (rice, beef, and sauce) in separate airtight containers.
Cool everything down before storing it in the refrigerator or freezer.
Freezing
The beef and rice components can be frozen for up to 3 months. Let them to cool completely before transferring to freezer-safe bags or containers.
It’s best to store the sauce separately and have it within 1-2 weeks in the fridge, as the yogurt and mayonnaise-based sauce may not freeze well and could change in texture.
Thaw the beef and rice overnight in the refrigerator when ready to eat.
Reheating
Reheat the beef and rice in a skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally to ensure even heating. You can add some water or broth if the rice appears too dry.
For the sauce, simply stir it and, if needed, add a tiny bit of lemon juice or water to bring it back to its creamy consistency.
FAQ
Yes! You can substitute brown rice for white rice, but keep in mind that brown rice has a firmer texture and takes longer to cook. Adjust the cooking time and water amount.
Yes! Ensure your shawarma spice blend is gluten-free, and serve the beef over gluten-free options like cauliflower rice or quinoa.
Yes! The beef and rice can be cooked ahead of time and stored in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat them on the stove or in the microwave before serving.
You can substitute Greek yogurt with regular yogurt, plant-based yogurt, or even sour cream for a different flavor. Make sure it has a thick, creamy consistency for the best results.
Shawarma spices are generally mild but aromatic.
Yes, the yogurt sauce can be prepared and stored in the fridge for up to 2-3 days. Just give it a good stir before serving it.
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Halal cart beef rice bowls:
Halal Cart Beef Rice Bowl
Ingredients
Rice Ingredients:
- ½ cup long-grain white rice washed and soaked for 30 minutes
- 3 cups water
- 2 chicken bouillon cubes
- ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
Sauce Ingredients:
- ½ cup plain Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- Salt and pepper to taste
Beef Ingredients:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- ½ yellow onion finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 teaspoons shawarma spice blend
- Salt and pepper to taste
Toppings:
- Cherry tomatoes halved or quartered
- Cucumber diced
- Parsley finely chopped
Instructions
For the Rice
- Wash the rice in cold water until the water runs clear, then soak it in fresh water for 30 minutes. Then drain the soaked rice.
- In a small pan, combine the soaked and drained rice, 3 cups of water, chicken bouillon cubes and turmeric powder.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for about 15 minutes, or until the rice is tender and the water is absorbed.
- Fluff the rice with a fork and set it aside.
For the Sauce
- In a bowl, mix together the Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, minced garlic, lemon juice, salt, and pepper to taste. Refrigerate the sauce until you're ready to assemble the bowls.
For the Beef
- Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add the chopped onion and sauté until they become translucent. Then add the garlic, cook for 30 more seconds.
- Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it apart with a spoon, until it's browned and cooked through.
- Stir in the shawarma spice blend, salt, and pepper. Cook for a few more minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
Assembling the Bowls
- To serve, place a generous scoop of turmeric-infused rice in a bowl.
- Top the rice with the seasoned shawarma-spiced ground beef.
- Add cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber.
- Drizzle the yogurt-mayo sauce over the bowl. And top with chopped parsley.
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