Best Bazella Middle Eastern Style Beef Casserole Recipes

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LEBANESE/SYRIAN BAZELLA



Lebanese/Syrian Bazella image

After having lived in Syria for the past year for school, I learned how to make several authentic dishes. They will probably taste different outside the Middle East due to the availability of items seasonally and brands of ingredients used. This dish is a blend of carrots, peas and meat in a tomato-based broth that is served with Middle Eastern-style rice. Arabs are used to having family over--it's a family based culture--so it's meant to be shared.

Provided by Mustafas Cook

Categories     Stew

Time 2h30m

Yield 8 cups, 6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 (16 ounce) bag frozen peas, any brand. Can also use good quality dry peas as well
1 large onion
1 (16 ounce) bag carrots, whole, not baby carrots
3 tablespoons tomato paste (Durra in the Middle East, I use Contadina)
1/4 cup olive oil
1 1/2 lbs beef stew meat, cubed lamb may be used as well
salt and pepper, to taste
season salt (optional)
6 cups water, in 2-cup increments
2 beef bouillon cubes (Maggi in the Middle East, I use Wylers)

Steps:

  • Cut onion in to small pieces. Do not mince or chop too finely, but at the same time, do not cut or chop too coarsely. Set aside.
  • Wash carrots and cut them into 1/4" thick pieces. Basically, you don't want them too thin or they will disintegrate into the broth. You can peel them if you prefer, before cutting. Set aside.
  • In a large frying pan, brown the meat with some seasoning salt and pepper. Add the onion and some olive oil from the bottle. Make sure all the meat is brown. Set aside.
  • In a stew pan, fry the 3 tbsp of tomato paste in the 1/4 cup olive oil for about 5-8 minutes. If it seems dry-looking, add a small amount of extra oil at a time. It should look chunky in the oil, not runny like soup. Stir constantly, it will burn very fast!
  • Reduce the heat, add first 2 cups of water. Stand back, it may spit at you! Keep adding until all 6 cups have been added. Add the soup cubes. Let this boil for 5 minutes. Scrape the bottom of the pan, making sure all of the tomato paste mixes in the water.
  • Add the meat, carrots and peas. Allow to come to a boil (takes about 5 minutes) then reduce heat to a simmer. Add salt and pepper to your taste. Cook until meat is tender. Cooking time depends on the quality of meat.
  • Serve with Middle Eastern rice.
  • Extra water may be added to counter-act any saltiness or if too much evaporated out while cooking.
  • Cooking times may vary depending on stove type. Just keep on eye on it and never walk away from cooking food! Stainless steel or a non-stick pan may be used. I prefer non-stick. This may also be transferred to a large crock pot and set on low. Yield depends on how much water is allowed to boil out, but pretty much it makes a lot! Count on leftovers if you're not having people over.

BAZELLA (MIDDLE EASTERN-STYLE BEEF CASSEROLE)



Bazella (Middle Eastern-Style Beef Casserole) image

This Middle Eastern-style beef casserole is easy to prepare and makes an excellent weekend lunch or supper dish.

Provided by English_Rose

Categories     Stew

Time 2h20m

Yield 3 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 14

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1 lb lean braising steak, cut into small cubes
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 1/4 cups red wine
5 ounces tomato paste
1 1/4 cups water
1 fresh bay leaf
1 dash Worcestershire sauce
1 ounce shelled fava beans, fresh
2 tablespoons chopped flat leaf parsley
salt & freshly ground black pepper
crusty bread, to serve

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F
  • Heat the oil in heavy-based frying pan over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic, and gently fry until golden.
  • Add the braising steak and cinnamon, and fry for a further 3-5 minutes, stirring, until the meat is lightly browned. Transfer the contents of the frying pan to a casserole.
  • Deglaze the frying pan with half the wine, and pour this mixture into the casserole.
  • Add the tomato paste, water and remaining wine to the casserole. Stir in the bay leaf and a dash of Worcestershire sauce. Mix well and season to taste.
  • Place the casserole in the oven and cook for 1 hour 30 minutes.
  • Stir in the beans and cook for a further 10 minutes.
  • Stir in the parsley just before serving.
  • Ladle into serving dishes and garnish each dish with a parsley sprig.
  • Serve with good crusty bread.

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