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Selver's Recipe: Ankara Tava with Rice
The Kitchen
By Claire Beaumont, the Technique desk · 8d ago · Turkey · 4 min ·

Selver's Recipe: Ankara Tava with Rice

Ankara tava with rice is a hearty and delicious meat dish that combines lamb and rice. Although barley noodles are often used in Ankara tava recipes today, locals say the original recipe was made with rice.

Lamb meat, sautéed with tomato paste and spices, is placed on top of rice pilaf with buttered vermicelli. As it bakes in the oven, the rice becomes separate grains while the meat becomes incredibly tender. If you're looking for the most delicious answer to the question "What should I cook today?", you can add an appetizing touch to your table with this Ankara-style rice dish recipe. Enjoy!

If you're looking to prepare a satisfying and delicious main course, you should definitely try Ankara tava with rice. Enjoy your meal!

How many calories are in Ankara Tava with Rice?

520/kcal

For the rice:

  • 2 cups of rice
  • 1 onion
  • 1 coffee cup of noodles
  • 2.5 cups of hot water
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons of butter
  • 1.5 teaspoons of salt

For Ankara Tava:

  • 1/2 kilogram lamb neck
  • 1 onion
  • 1 teaspoon tomato paste
  • 1 teaspoon of chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon of salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin

The Secret to Making Ankara Tava with Rice Recipe

  • Tenderize the lamb neck thoroughly during the pre-cooking process.
  • Sautéing the rice and vermicelli while preparing the pilaf makes it more flavorful.

How to Make Ankara Tava with Rice?

  • For Ankara-style rice casserole, first, add 1/2 kg of lamb neck (after it has absorbed its own fat), 1 chopped onion, 1 teaspoon of tomato paste, 1 teaspoon of salt, 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper, 1/2 teaspoon of cumin, and 1 teaspoon of paprika powder, and continue sautéing. Then, cover and pre-cook.
  • In a separate pan, sauté 1 diced onion with 2 tablespoons of butter. Once the onion is fragrant, add 1 coffee cup of vermicelli and continue sautéing.
  • Leave half of the vermicelli in the pot and add 2 cups of rice, sautéing until softened. Then add 2.5 cups of hot water. Bake the rice in a preheated oven at 185 degrees Celsius for approximately 30 minutes.
  • Transfer the cooked rice to a serving plate and place the previously cooked lamb neck pieces on top before serving. The Ankara-style rice dish is ready! Enjoy!

Cooking Suggestions for Ankara Tava with Rice Recipe

  • After adding the hot water to the rice, bake it in a preheated oven at 185 degrees Celsius for approximately 30 minutes.
  • Allow the meat to release its juices during the pre-cooking process.

Serving Suggestion for Ankara Tava with Rice Recipe

Remove the rice from the oven, transfer it to a serving plate, and place the pre-cooked lamb neck slices on top before serving hot.

Can Ankara Tava with Rice be Prepared in Advance?

The meat can be pre-cooked and the rice prepared in advance. Just before serving, the rice is baked in the oven and served with the meat.

How to store Ankara Tava with rice?

Leftover food should be placed in an airtight container and stored in the refrigerator after it has cooled.

Why is the meat tough when cooked in Ankara Tava with rice?

The lamb neck needs to be pre-cooked before being served with rice. This pre-cooking step is essential to ensure the meat is sufficiently tender.

When to add vermicelli to Ankara-style rice dish?

After sautéing the diced onions, add the vermicelli and sauté. Then add the rice.

Why does rice become mushy in Ankara-style pan-fried rice dishes?

Using too much water while cooking rice can cause the rice to become mushy.

Key facts
  • Who: Pirinçli Ankara · Pirinçli Ankara Tava Tarifinin · Ankara
  • Figures: 2 kilo

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