Siniyeh – Ground Meat in Tahini

👨‍🍳 Method

For the Fried meat

1. 1
   Heat the olive oil in a wide pan over medium heat.

   ⚙ Pan-fryingStoveFrying pan
2. 2
   Add the onion and fry for 10–15 minutes, stirring, until the onion is soft and deep golden.

   ⚙ Adding to the hot fat and fryingStove

   💡Add by cooking time: what needs long (onion, carrot, meat) goes in first, and what burns fast (garlic, dry spices) goes in last, only until fragrant.
3. 3
   Raise the heat to medium-high and add the meat. Press it flat over the bottom and leave it for 2–3 minutes without stirring, until a brown crust forms.

   Stove

   💡Brown ground beef in the pot without pressing it: leave it as one 'cake' for a few minutes until a brown crust forms, then break it into chunks. Deep browning = deep flavor.
4. 4
   Break it up with a wooden spoon and fry for 5–7 more minutes, stirring, until no pink is left and the meat browns.

   StoveWooden spoon

To assemble

1. 5
   Add the cumin, cinnamon, salt and black pepper and fry, stirring, until the meat is evenly seasoned.

   ⚙ Adding to the hot fat and fryingStove
2. 6
   Flatten the fried meat in an even layer in a shallow baking pan.

   Baking pan
3. 7
   Mix the tahini and lemon juice.
4. 8
   Gradually add cold water while stirring, until the sauce is smooth, pale and pourable.

   💡When you add the first water, the tahini thickens and looks like dough: that's fine. Keep adding water and stirring, and it loosens into a smooth sauce.
5. 9
   Preheat the oven to 200°C (390°F).

   ⚙ Preheating the OvenOven

   💡Put things in the oven only once it's reached temperature, after the heating light has gone off: an oven that hasn't reached temperature changes baking times, and the bake burns outside or stays underbaked.
6. 10
   Pour the tahini sauce over the meat in the pan and sprinkle the pine nuts on top.

   Baking pan
7. 11
   Bake 20 minutes, until the meat is cooked and the tahini is golden.

   ⚙ BakingOvenBaking pan

   💡The tahini protects the meat from above and keeps it juicy. Take it out when the tahini is golden at the edges, before it dries out.

   💡Check by the cue (until…), not just the clock: every oven bakes a little differently.
8. 12
   Sprinkle the parsley on top.
9. 13
   Serve hot with pita.