Name: Harissa Spiced Minced Beef & Lentil Bowl
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 4 bowls
Ingredients: 1 cup (240 ml) French green lentils, rinsed; 3 cups (720 ml) water; 1 lb (455 g) carrots, sliced on the diagonal 1/2 inch thick; 2 tablespoons (30 ml) olive oil, divided; 1 teaspoon (5 ml) kosher salt, divided; 1 small yellow onion, finely diced; 1 1/4 lb (565 g) 90% lean ground beef; 2 tablespoons (30 ml) harissa paste; 1 teaspoon (5 ml) ground cumin; 2/3 cup (160 ml) plain Greek yogurt; 2 tablespoons (30 ml) fresh mint, chopped; 1 tablespoon (15 ml) lemon juice

Harissa Spiced Minced Beef & Lentil Bowl

Harissa-spiced ground beef over French lentils with roasted carrots and mint yogurt.

By the Bowlyra kitchen Updated November 11, 2026

Prep

15 min

Cook

30 min

Total

45 min

Makes

4 bowls

Harissa brings chili, garlic and caraway in one jar, so the beef needs little else. French lentils keep their shape and give the bowl body, and the mint yogurt cools everything down.

Why this recipe works

Frying the harissa briefly with the beef deepens its flavor. Lentils absorb the spiced juices from the beef, and the mint yogurt balances the heat.

Ingredient notes

Harissa varies in heat; taste yours. French green lentils hold their shape better than brown lentils.

Common mistakes

Overcooking the lentils into a mash.
Adding harissa to a very hot dry pan, where it burns.

What to serve with it

Warm flatbread or a cucumber salad.

Meal prep

Keep the mint yogurt separate.

More bowls like this

Cooking tips

Drain the beef fat before adding harissa so the spices stick. Chop the mint at the last minute.

Swaps and variations

Use ground lamb for a richer bowl, cooked to 160°F (71°C). Use dairy-free yogurt.

Storing and reheating

Refrigerate within 2 hours for up to 4 days. Reheat beef, lentils and carrots until hot (165°F / 74°C).

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