I think this was Ra'chel's favorite dinner growing up....
Vermicelli-Rice
In rice pot, brown together:
1 cup vermicelli (broken into little pieces)
1 cup rice
1/4 cup (half-stick) butter
Once browned, add 3 cups water, bring to boil, then reduce heat and cover to finish cooking about 15-20 minutes.
***I suppose a similar rice mixture could be made with a beef-flavored rice-a-roni, too.
The Main Event
Put in large pot and brown together:
Beef, cut in cubes (1-2 lbs.)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 chopped onion
And, enough oil to brown the beef
Once the beef is browned (and onions and garlic cooked), add:
fresh cut green beans*
2 small cans tomato paste (be careful not to get seasoned tomato paste!)
3 beef bouillon cubes
And, enough water to come just to the top of the ingredients.
Cover and simmer until beef and green beans are tender, which is kind of forever. If it's too watery at the end of cooking, take the lid off and simmer to let the extra moisture evaporate.
*If using canned green beans, add them at the END of cooking.
Serve the tomato-beef mixture over the rice.
Not sure why this is called "Arabic Dinner," but I think this dinner came from Aunt Lois back in the day.
