Egyptian-Style One-Pot Lissan El Assfour

Preheat your oven to 350°F. Heat a generous glug of olive oil in a heavy oven-safe pot. Add the orzo and toast for about 5–8 minutes, stirring frequently, until golden and fragrant. Remove the toasted orzo from the pot and set aside. To the same pot, add the pureed onion, pureed red pepper, and sliced garlic. Sauté until most of the liquid has cooked off and the vegetables begin to caramelize. Add the tomato paste and cook for a few minutes until it darkens to a deeper red. Add the ground beef and break it up with a spatula. Cook until the beef is completely cooked through. Season with the salt, pepper, and cumin. Add the toasted orzo back into the pot and pour in your broth or water. Stir everything together. Cover tightly and bake at 350°F for about 35–40 minutes, checking toward the end to make sure the orzo has absorbed the liquid and is tender. Fluff it up and enjoy. 🤍