Bosanski Šogan s Mesom (Bosnian Stuffed Onions with Meat)
A comforting and flavorful dish where tender onions are stuffed with a savory mixture of ground meat, rice, and aromatic spices, then simmered in a rich tomato-based sauce.
🧂 Ingredients
- 4 medium Large yellow onions
- 500 g Ground beef or lamb
- 100 g Rice(uncooked, medium-grain)
- 1 medium Onion(finely chopped, for the filling)
- 3 cloves Garlic(minced)
- 2 tbsp Tomato paste
- 3 tbsp Vegetable oil or butter
- 1 tsp Salt(or to taste)
- 0.5 tsp Black pepper(freshly ground)
- 1 tsp Paprika
- 500 ml Water or beef broth
- 2 tbsp Fresh parsley(chopped, for garnish)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Peel the onions. Cut off the root end and the top. Carefully hollow out the onions, leaving about 1 cm of the outer layers intact to form a cup. Reserve the scooped-out onion flesh.
💡 Tip: Boiling the onions for 5-10 minutes can make them softer and easier to hollow out. - 2
In a bowl, combine the ground meat, uncooked rice, finely chopped onion (from the hollowed-out onions), minced garlic, tomato paste, salt, pepper, and paprika. Mix well.
- 3
Stuff the hollowed-out onions with the meat and rice mixture. Pack it in firmly but don't overstuff, as the rice will expand.
💡 Tip: You can also use the scooped-out onion flesh finely chopped and mixed into the filling for extra flavor. - 4
In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the vegetable oil or butter over medium heat. Place the stuffed onions upright in the pot.
- 5
Pour in the water or beef broth. Bring to a simmer, then cover the pot, reduce the heat to low, and cook for about 60 minutes, or until the onions are tender and the rice is cooked through.
💡 Tip: Add more liquid if the sauce reduces too much during cooking. - 6
Serve the stuffed onions hot, spooning some of the cooking liquid over them. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Choose large, firm onions for best results.
- ✓Ensure the onions are well-sealed with the filling to prevent it from falling out during cooking.
- ✓This dish pairs well with a side of yogurt or sour cream.
🔄 Variations
- Add finely chopped bell peppers or mushrooms to the filling.
- For a richer sauce, use beef broth instead of water and add a tablespoon of flour to the oil before adding the liquid.