This dish is lightly spiced in a subtle and family-friendly manner. It's the perfect dish to batch-cook and freeze, ready to be defrosted and served with cracked wheat, quinoa, or rice when time simply isn't on your side. Add yoghurt, fresh coriander, flaked almonds, or pomegranate seeds to liven up this mid-week staple.
Based on 4 servings, adjust as needed.
Dissolve 1 chicken stock pot in 200ml of water (if cooking for 4).
Place the cracked wheat into a pan of cold water. Add the remaining stock cube and bring to the boil. Allow to cook, with a lid on for 10 minutes until most of the stock has been absorbed. Drain off any excess and allow to stand, with a lid on while you prepare the mince.
Place a large saute pan onto a medium heat and add the oil. Once hot, add the diced onion and fry for 2-3 minutes. Add the beef mince and break it up with a wooden spoon as you hard fry it on a high heat until well browned. This will take about 5-7 minutes. Add the tomato puree, ginger and garlic puree, Baharat spice mix, ground cinnamon, ground cumin and the ground coriander. Season with salt and pepper and mix well, coating the beef in the spices. Allow to cook for 2-3 minutes before adding the chopped apricots and the tinned chickpeas, including their water. Add the premixed stock, and simmer for 10 minutes or so.
Fold the pomegranate seeds through the cooked cracked wheat and fluff it up a little with a fork. Season if needed (you may not need any due to the stock being salty).
If serving with green beans cook these in boiling salted water for 3 minutes while the beef mince simmers. You could also toast you flaked almonds in a frying an to bring out the flavour a little (if using).
Serve the cracked wheat in shallow bowls and top with the beef mince. Serve the cooked green beans, sprinkle with flaked almonds and Greek-style yoghurt, if you like.