Ground Meat and Rice Casserole

Name: Ground Meat and Rice Casserole
Ingredients: 500 g ground meat (I used ready-made ground veal); 150 g rice (1 cup); 200 g onion; 200 g carrots; 200 g green cabbage; 100 g sour cream; 3 tbsp tomato paste; 1/2 tsp turmeric; salt; pepper; vegetable oil for frying

Juicy rice soaked in meat juices on the bottom layer, slightly crisp green cabbage, savory ground meat, and a topping of sautéed carrots in a sour cream sauce. It's delicious, hearty, and wonderfully moist. All the ingredients for this casserole are available year-round.

Ingredients:

500 g ground meat (I used ready-made ground veal)
150 g rice (1 cup)
200 g onion
200 g carrots
200 g green cabbage
100 g sour cream
3 tbsp tomato paste
1/2 tsp turmeric
salt
pepper
vegetable oil for frying

How to cook ground meat and rice casserole

Pour 1 cup of rice into a saucepan and add 3 cups of water. Add 1/2 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp turmeric, and stir to combine. Cover with a lid and cook until done (about 20 minutes from the moment it comes to a boil). The rice will turn a lovely yellow color.

Peel the onion and finely chop it.

Peel the carrots and grate them on a coarse grater.

Thinly shred the green cabbage.

Sauté the onion in vegetable oil for about 5 minutes, until translucent.

Add the carrots, season with salt and pepper, stir, and cook for about 5 minutes.

Season the ground meat with salt and pepper, and mix well.

Add about 3–5 tbsp of water to the tomato paste and stir (the mixture should have a slightly pourable consistency).

Add about 3–5 tbsp of water to the sour cream and stir (the mixture should have a slightly pourable consistency).

Start assembling the casserole. Grease a baking dish with oil (I used a 25x25 cm dish). Spread the rice in an even layer across the bottom.

Layer the green cabbage on top and season lightly with salt.

Drizzle the diluted tomato paste over the cabbage.

Spread the ground meat in an even layer.

Top with the sautéed carrots and onion.

Pour the diluted sour cream over the top. Place in an oven preheated to 180°C. Bake for approximately 50–60 minutes.

The casserole is done when the ground meat is fully cooked through.

This ground meat and rice casserole works great as a complete meal for lunch or dinner, since it contains meat, a side dish, and vegetables all in one.