Bosanski Šogan sa Rižom
Bosnian Stuffed Onions with Rice
A comforting and flavorful dish where sweet onions are stuffed with a savory mixture of ground meat and rice, then simmered in a rich tomato-based sauce.
🧂 Ingredients
- 4 medium Large yellow onions
- 300 g Ground beef
- 100 g Rice(uncooked, medium-grain)
- 1 small Onion(finely chopped)
- 2 cloves Garlic(minced)
- 2 tbsp Tomato paste
- 3 tbsp Vegetable oil
- 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 make a cross cut about two-thirds of the way down into each onion. Boil in water for 5-10 minutes until slightly softened, then carefully separate the layers to create hollowed-out shells. Reserve the inner onion layers.
- 2
Finely chop the reserved inner onion layers. In a bowl, combine the ground beef, chopped inner onion, uncooked rice, minced garlic, tomato paste, 1 tbsp of vegetable oil, salt, pepper, and paprika. Mix well.
- 3
Stuff the hollowed-out onion shells with the meat and rice mixture. If there's leftover filling, you can form small meatballs.
- 4
In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the remaining 2 tbsp of vegetable oil over medium heat. Add the stuffed onions (and meatballs, if made) and brown them lightly on all sides.
- 5
Pour in the water or beef broth, ensuring it comes about halfway up the sides of the onions. Bring to a simmer, then cover the pot, reduce heat to low, and cook for 60 minutes, or until the onions are tender and the rice is fully cooked. Stir occasionally and add more liquid if needed.
- 6
Serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley. The cooking liquid can be thickened slightly with a little flour or cornstarch mixed with water, if desired.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓For sweeter onions, choose larger, sweeter varieties.
- ✓Don't overcook the onions in the initial boiling step, or they will fall apart.
- ✓Ensure the rice is uncooked when mixing with the meat; it will cook and expand inside the onion.
- ✓The sauce can be seasoned further with a pinch of sugar to balance the acidity of the tomato paste.
✨ Twist Ideas
Inspiration for your own version of this recipe
- Add finely chopped bell peppers or mushrooms to the filling.
- Use a mix of ground beef and lamb for a richer flavor.
- For a vegetarian version, omit the meat and use a filling of rice, finely chopped mushrooms, and vegetables.