Frugal Quick Mediterranean Ground Beef with Vegetables [Healthy and Hearty]
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion finely diced
- 4 garlic cloves minced
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 cup bell peppers (I like to blend red, orange & green)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 1/4 cup pine nuts toasted
Method
- Start by heating a good drizzle of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Add your finely diced onion and bell peppers and cook it slowly, stirring often, until it becomes translucent and soft. Take your time here; the sweeter the onion gets, the better the base for the beef. (I do like the bell peppers to stay firm, so I remove before wilted.)
- Toss in the minced garlic and give it just about 30 seconds.
- Now, add the ground beef and break it up then let it brown nicely. You want little bits of crispy edges because that’s where the flavor lives.
- Once the beef is mostly browned, stir in the cumin, paprika, cinnamon, allspice, oregano, salt, and pepper. These spices are the soul of the dish — they’ll coat the beef and create this beautiful, fragrant mixture that feels like a warm hug.
- Keep cooking until the beef is fully cooked and everything is combined.
- Right at the end, stir in the fresh parsley. These herbs bring a burst of brightness that really lifts the whole dish.
- Finally, sprinkle the toasted pine nuts over the top for a buttery crunch that adds a little extra magic with every bite.
Notes
You can easily swap ground beef for ground lamb if you want a richer, more traditional Mediterranean flavor. If you’re meal-prepping, this dish holds up beautifully in the fridge and tastes even better the next day as the spices deepen.