My All-Time Favorite Weeknight Meal

Before I start off letting you in on my secret weeknight weapon, I have to say that this recipe gets a 5-star review from my husband, who has a little more selective taste. This recipe has been served on a regular weekly basis in my home for several months. It has been served to not just my family but also to friends and guests. I’m telling you, its a great meal to make for a quick and easy dinner.

I call it, “Naf Naf Copy-Cat”. Why? Because it is inspired from none other than Naf Naf Grill. Gosh I love that place. They make such a mean Mediterranean bowl. Tell you what though, this is a really close copy of that.

The only thing this recipe requires is a bit of cutting, which could be done the night before if you want. Here is the list of things created.

Rice

I use Jasmine Rice made with chicken broth, turmeric, garlic powder, and salt. Eye-ball these amounts (except for the broth) and let the flavors infuse. I use a rice-cooker, but this could easily be done over the stove top if you don’t have one.

If you are looking for a good rice cooker, here is an option!

Cucumber Salad

This is a key ingredient. I take one whole cucumber, a few Roma tomatoes, a red onion (or partial, depending on how much raw onion you like), and cilantro and mix them all up. Please note the cucumber, tomatoes, and onion are all diced finely.

Ground Meat

My favorite currently is ground pork. You could easily do chopped chicken, ground chicken, or even ground turkey. I usually season with only salt and pepper while cooking and serve. SO EASY. Don’t over-think this. Feeding 4 adults and two kids, I usually do AT LEAST 2 pounds of meat.

Hummus

I use store-bought hummus. Up to you. If you have time to make your own, awesome!

Tzatziki Sauce

I make my own tzatziki sauce using: 1-1.5 cup of plain Greek Yogurt, one whole shredded cucumber (peeled first), some lemon juice, a couple cloves of garlic, dried dill (about 2-3 tbsp), and salt to taste. It is so fresh and delicious.

Red cabbage is totally optional but we love the crunch and healthy addition of the red cabbage. I sprinkle a little salt and pepper over it along with some lemon juice. Serve cold!

That’s it! Once you have all the ingredients created, you serve as is and let people make their own bowls. It helps people add how ever much of something they want in particular. If you are crunched for time, you can make the sauce and salad the night before. Then all you have to do is start the rice and cook the meat. How easy is that?

If you give this a try, let me know either on Instagram or here on the blog because I want to see how it turned out for you! Happy cooking, loves!