Description
Tender par-boiled onions wrapped around a savory meat and rice filling, slow-simmered in tomato sauce for a perfectly balanced Mediterranean dish. Caramelized onion layers infuse each parcel with juicy, robust flavor.
Ingredients
6 large yellow onions
1 pound ground beef (halal, 90% lean)
4 sausages (halal Italian, casings removed)
1 cup jasmine rice (uncooked)
3 cups vegetable broth
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1/4 cup chopped fresh dill
2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
2 teaspoons crushed fennel seeds
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 clove garlic, minced
1 medium onion (finely diced, for sauce)
2 medium tomatoes (finely chopped, or 1 can diced tomatoes)
1/2 teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
Black pepper to taste
Instructions
Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C)
Boil a salted pot of water, then layer onions (root attached) into a colander
Add onions to boiling water and simmer for 10 minutes until tender but not falling apart
Lift onions and drain
Meanwhile, brown ground beef and Italian sausage in olive oil in a skillet
Strain meat, reserving 2 tablespoons of fat to sauté onions and garlic for the sauce
In a separate pot, par-cook jasmine rice in vegetable broth with crushed fennel seeds, cumin, and garlic for 10 minutes
Drain rice and combine with herbs (parsley, dill, mint) and reserved meat with broth
Stuff each onion with the rice-meat mixture, securing with a toothpick
Place stuffed onions in a baking dish and pour simmered tomato sauce over them
Cover and bake for 20 minutes, then uncover and bake for 10 minutes to brown
Simmer sauce separately on stovetop for 50 minutes to ensure rice fully cooks while absorbing flavors
Notes
For halal assurance, substitute Italian sausage with lamb or halal-certified beef sausages.
Use 2 tablespoons of the meat’s rendered fat for the sauce base to maintain rich flavor.
Chop herbs finely for even distribution in the filling.
Simmer sauce at medium heat to prevent scorching.
Storage: Refrigerate cooked stuffed onions for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 40
- Cook Time: 60
- Category: Healthy Quick Meals | Easy Clean Eating Recipes
- Method: Boiling and Baking
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 stuffed onion (per serving)
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 5g
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 18g