Cumin Beef with Rice and Pine Nuts (Hashweh)

In the cooking of the Levant, hashweh is a spiced meat and rice dish that's often used as a stuffing. But the richly fragrant mixture, suffused with butter and studded with toasted nuts, also makes a delicious side dish and is hearty enough to serve as a main course. In our version, we include dried currants plumped in lemon juice to add bursts of sweet-tart flavor. Toast the pine nuts in a small skillet over medium-low, shaking the pan frequently, until the nuts are light golden brown and fragrant, about 4 minutes.