I love cooking with Greek yogurt. It just adds extra protein to a dish and makes it a bit healthier, as it’s a perfect alternative to cream. Moreover, it takes on flavors well, think tzatziki, and complements many dishes.

Here in the US, there is a growing trend of cooking with Greek yogurt, that is sweeping the nation. You can find it in baked goods to make cakes and cookies moist, cereals, and now even ice cream! It’s finding its way into every facet of the supermarket, and I’m okay with that.

What about combining it with meat?

Well, that’s exactly what we decided to do with this recipe, inspired from the famous Vefa’s cookbook.

We baked a traditional lamb and rice dish, and added Greek yogurt over the top to firm it up and create a healthy gratin.

As when you are cooking with rice like this in the oven, you’ll want to check your water levels half way through the baking. If it’s too low, add some more. Forgetting to do this could result in some of the rice being hard. Sometimes I add some water and sometimes I don’t it’s just up to the rice.

The result of this recipe gives you a delicious lamb and rice dish with a greek yogurt finish that complements the other ingredients and like whenever Greek yogurt is used in cooking, just seems to work.

Ingredients

•  
• 1lb lamb, cut into pieces
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 cup long grain rice
• 2 cups boiling water
• 1 egg
• 2 cups (500g) Greek yogurt
• 1-2 teaspoon Oregano
• 1 Garlic clove, pressed (if you like garlic, add 2)
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• ½ cup crumbled feta (more if desired)
• Salt
• Pepper
• Olive oil

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 90 minutes

• Total Time: 105 minutes
• Yield: 3-4

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 350F
   
2. In a pan, add oil, onions, and garlic, cook until onions are translucent and soft, about 5 minutes.
   
3. Once onions are done, remove from pan and empty into bowl, set aside.
   
4. Season lamb pieces with oregano, salt, and pepper.
   
5. Add some more oil to the pan used for onions.
   
6. Over medium high heat, add seasoned lamb and brown on all sides, should take about 5 minutes.
   
7. When lamb is done, empty into oven safe bowl.
   

1. Top with the cooked onions, spreading evenly.
   
2. Add rice, spreading evenly.
   
3. Top with melted butter.
   
4. Add the boiling water, stir to make sure rice is covered.
   
5. Place in oven and cook for 1 hour**
   
6. A few minutes before lamb is done, empty yogurt into bowl, add egg, and mix well.
   
7. Remove lamb dish from oven, top with yogurt, spreading evenly.
   
8. Sprinkle with feta and place back in oven
   
9. Cook for another 20 minutes, or until slight color forms on top
   
10. Remove, cut, and serve!
    

NOTES

**During cooking time, you may need to add more water. Check to see if rice is still hard about 30 minutes in.

Adapted from: Vefa’s Kitchen Cookbook