Ouzi combines rice, peas and mince in a thin pastry wrapper browned in the oven. The filling must be cooked and free of excess liquid before wrapping. This version uses ready-made pastry for consistent individual portions instead of one large rice platter.
Ingredients
For four portions, prepare one and a half cups rice, 400 g beef or lamb mince, one cup peas, one small onion and two tablespoons oil or ghee. Add salt, pepper, a pinch of spices and optional almonds or pine nuts. Use pastry suitable for baking according to its packaging.
Wash and drain rice, using its specified liquid amount with adjustments for soaking. No single ratio suits all varieties. Thaw frozen pastry as directed and keep covered against drying.
Preparing filling
Cook onion, then crumble and cook meat to 71°C. Add spices and peas, cooking as appropriate for fresh or frozen peas. Cook rice separately and gently combine with meat and optional nuts without breaking the grains.
Let filling cool slightly while monitoring unrefrigerated time. Heavy steam quickly wets pastry. Keep any second batch under safe storage conditions while the first bakes.
Shaping and baking parcels
Lightly grease a small mould or shaping bowl and line with pastry, leaving overhanging edges. Add a rice portion without heavy pressing, fold closed and turn onto a tray. Lightly brush with oil or ghee.
Bake at about 190°C until pastry sets and browns, respecting packaging temperature limits. Chilled filling must reach 74°C at the centre. Watch base and top, as one may brown first.
Can ouzi be prepared ahead?
Prepare filling, refrigerate in a shallow container and wrap near baking time to limit sogginess. Serve yoghurt and cucumber separately and identify wheat, nuts or milk according to your ingredients.
Related products from ALRAQI MEATS
Beef Mince - 1 kg, or Beef Mince - 500 g. Check the product page for weight, ingredients and cutting options before ordering. Choose a cut suited to the cooking method; a boneless or mixed-meat label alone does not guarantee suitability for quick cooking.
Further guidance
Safe minimum cooking temperatures, Refrigerated food storage.