Lebanese Ouzi – Meat and Rice

Prepare the Ouzi Rice:
- Finely dice one onion and sauté it in a pan with some olive oil over medium heat until it becomes soft and translucent.
- Add the ground meat to the pan, season with salt, pepper, and seven spice. Cook until the meat is browned and fully cooked through.
- Stir in 1 ½ cups of washed basmati rice and green peas. Toast the rice and peas with the meat mixture for 2-3 minutes, allowing the rice to absorb some of the flavors.

Cook the Rice:
- Pour in 3 cups of water, ensuring to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan (this adds extra flavor).
- Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to the lowest setting, cover the pan, and let it simmer for 20-25 minutes, until the rice is tender and the water is fully absorbed.
- Once done, remove from heat and leave lid on to steam for 10min.

Prepare the Salad:
- While the rice is cooking, chop the vegetables for the salad.
- Season the salad with salt, dried mint, vinegar, olive oil, and fresh lemon juice. Ensure the salad has a bright, citrusy flavor to balance the richness of the rice.

Make the Dressing:
- Combine all the dressing ingredients in a sauce bottle and shake well to mix. The dressing can be stored in the fridge for up to 5 days and can be used on various dishes.