Hashwe (Arabian Stuffed Vegetables)

Posted for ZWT6. If you can't get lamb subbing with more ground beef would work.

• Ready In: 50 mins
• Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 2  cups water
• 1  cup long-grain rice
• 2 -3  garlic cloves, minced
• 1⁄2 lb lamb, finely ground
• 1⁄2 lb beef, finely ground
• 1  pinch ground cinnamon
• 1⁄4 teaspoon  freshly grated nutmeg
• 1⁄4 teaspoon ground allspice
•  salt & freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 3  tablespoons butter, melted

• Vegetables for stuffing (Choose one option)

• 4  medium tomatoes, tops cut off and hollowed for stuffing
• 6  medium zucchini, cut into 3-inch lengths, hollowed out with a corer, placed on end for stuffing
• 4  medium bell peppers, tops cut off and cored and seeded for stuffing

• Sauce

• 1⁄2 cup water
• 1⁄4 cup canned tomato sauce
• 1  lemon, juice of

Directions

1. In a 2-quart covered saucepan bring 2 cups of water to boil. Add the rice, return to the boil, cover, and turn off the heat. Let stand for 5 minutes. Drain and cool before proceeding with the recipe.
2. Mix cooked rice thoroughly with the stuffing ingredients.
3. Melt butter in skillet over medium high heat and saute garlic for a few minutes.
4. Add meat with spices and cook until browned.
5. Fill the vegetables loosely with the rice and meat mixture. The rice will expand during cooking, so do not pack; leave room at the top or the sides.
6. Arrange the vegetables in a covered, deep skillet.
7. Simmer, covered, along with the water, tomato sauce, and lemon juice on low heat (30 minutes for bell peppers and zucchini; 20 minutes for tomatoes).
8. Check sauce levels occasionally to see that it is not evaporating. If it gets low, add more hot water, tomato sauce and lemon as necessary.