Lebanese Hushwee (Fragrant, Spiced Ground Beef with Toasted Pine Nuts)
This is pure comfort food, of the absolutely easiest kind. Today we’re making a Middle Eastern beef dish called hushwee that’s full of warming spices like cinnamon and allspice, savory onions, and golden toasted pine nuts.
What is Lebanese hushwee?
Hushwee (also spelled hashweh) is considered “peasant food”, and is a staple in the culture. This Lebanese beef recipe is ready in just a few minutes, and features baking spices, the aforementioned toasted pine nuts, and sometimes dried fruits like raisins.
It’s the basis for many other Lebanese dishes, making an easy stuffing for dishes like kibbeh or meat pies (sfiha)…I believe the word hashweh is actually Arabic for “stuffing”, but someone keep me honest on that. It is also frequently made with lamb instead of beef.
(Just to be clear, I am not Lebanese, so this info is from my own research vs. from my own cultural knowledge.)
You might also like: The Kitchen Tools I’m Obsessed With
This very simple hushwee recipe exactly filled the comfort food craving I was having the other night, especially when paired with a fragrant, fluffy turmeric rice. It would be great on a tahini sauce or piled on my fave homemade hummus, or on a salad as well (if you roll that way).
It also makes awesome leftovers, so you could consider making a double batch for lunches later.
I have a similar spiced beef (or lamb) kofta recipe if you’re looking for something a bit punchier…while this hushwee is full of warm baking spices, the kofta has some of those along with savory cumin, coriander, and a hint of cayenne.
Preheat oven to 350 F. Put the pine nuts on a small cookie sheet and bake for 5-7 minutes, or until they are at a light brown in color.
Keep a careful eye on them as they can burn quickly! Remove from the oven and set aside.
In a deep pan or cast iron skillet, melt the ghee over medium-high heat, then add the minced onion. You can usually find ghee or clarified butter in most grocery stores, health stores, Trader Joe’s, or online.
Sauté the onions until translucent, 3-4 minutes. Add the ground beef and cook until browned, about 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally to break the meat into small pieces.
You can add the spices at the same time you add the beef, but I tend to prefer to add them when the beef is almost cooked through.
Once cooked, taste for seasoning and add salt or pepper needed, to taste. Then stir in the toasted pine nuts.
Garnish with parsley once you serve it. How you serve it is up to you, though it’s great on some delicious turmeric rice, and with a drizzle of tahini sauce.
It takes all my willpower not to eat this straight out of the pan, and this is such an easy (and pretty healthy) comfort food staple whenever I get a craving! My favorite pairing is with this easy turmeric rice.
Other hearty, comforting, yet healthy recipes you’ll love:
- Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken
- Pineapple & Honey Beef with Coconut Rice
- Asian-Inspired Ground Chicken or Turkey…Perfect for Asian Chicken Bowls
- Amazing & Easy Chicken Shawarma
- “Deconstructed” Spiced Lamb or Beef Kofta
- Apricot Balsamic Rosemary Chicken
- Chicken Massaman Curry
- Carrot, Parsnip, & Goat Cheese Mash Shepherd’s Pie
- Viral Tiktok Hot Honey Beef Bowl
Original recipe from The Lemon Bowl
Pin for later!
Lebanese Hushwee (Fragrant, Spiced Ground Beef with Toasted Pine Nuts)
This delicious spiced beef, a version of Lebanese hushwee, is super easy to make and an easy weeknight dinner! It's a fragrant spiced ground beef with toasted pine nuts and fresh parsley, perfect when piled on turmeric rice or homemade hummus!
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon of clarified butter (also known as ghee)
- 1 medium onion, minced
- 1 to 1.5 lbs of ground beef (lamb or bison work well too)
- 1 tablespoon of cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon of kosher sea salt
- 1 teaspoon of nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon of ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon of allspice
- 1/4 cup of pine nuts, toasted
- Fresh minced parsley for garnish
Instructions
- I love to serve this with my easy turmeric rice.
- Preheat oven to 350 F. Put the pine nuts on a small cookie sheet and bake for 5-7 minutes, or until they are at a light brown in color. Keep a careful eye on them as they can burn quickly! Remove from the oven and set aside.
- In a deep pan or cast iron skillet, melt the butter over medium-high heat, then add the minced onion. Sauté until translucent, 3-4 minutes.
- Add the ground beef and cook until browned, about 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally to break the meat into small pieces. You can add the spices at the same time, but I tend to prefer to add them when the beef is almost cooked through.
- Once cooked, taste for seasoning and add salt or pepper needed, to taste. Stir in the toasted pine nuts and garnish with parsley.
Notes
You can usually find ghee or clarified butter in most grocery stores, health stores, Trader Joe's, or online.
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
How did you prep the rice?
Hi Michelle! I link to my turmeric rice recipe in the post as well, but you can find it here directly: https://findingtimeforcooking.com/main-dishes/lebanese-hushwee-spiced-beef-toasted-pine-nuts/ They go great together!
This was delicious! My whole family ate it and liked it- the WHOLE family! I’m talking my three year old, my picky 8 year old, my husband who is suspicious of anything “ethnic “ proceeded to wolf his down and immediately went up for more!
We served it with your tumeric rice which both kids loved, some hummus and pita. So so so tasty. Thanks for sharing this!
That’s great to hear! It’s definitely an all-ages crowdpleaser in our family as well 🙂