Maqluba (Upside-Down Rice) - Middle Eastern Recipe

Maqluba (Upside-Down Rice)

🌍 Middle Eastern, Palestine, Jordan, Syria Difficulty: ●●●○○

Maqluba (Arabic for "upside-down") is a celebration dish throughout the Levant; the dramatic unveiling of the inverted rice tower is a festive moment at Palestinian family gatherings.

Ingredients

• 400 g basmati rice, washed and soaked
• 600 g lamb or chicken pieces, bone-in
• 1 medium cauliflower, cut into florets
• 2 eggplants, sliced
• 2 tomatoes, sliced
• 1 large onion, diced
• 1 tsp allspice, 1 tsp cinnamon, ½ tsp turmeric, ½ tsp cumin
• 800 ml meat stock
• 4 tbsp vegetable oil
• Pine nuts and parsley for serving
• Yoghurt for serving

Method

1. Frying — Fry cauliflower and eggplant in oil until golden; drain on paper towels.
2. Browning — Brown seasoned meat in same oil; add onion and cook until soft.
3. Arranging — Arrange heavy pot in layers: start with tomatoes on the bottom, then meat, then fried vegetables.
4. Draining — Drain soaked rice; layer over vegetables; add spices.
5. Pouring — Pour hot stock over rice; it should just cover the rice layer.
6. Step 6 — Bring to boil; reduce to lowest heat. Cover tightly; cook 35–40 minutes.
7. Step 7 — Allow to rest off heat, covered, for 10 minutes.
8. Placing — Place serving platter on top of pot; invert dramatically.
9. Step 9 — Lift pot slowly; maqluba should hold its layered shape.
10. Step 10 — Scatter pine nuts; serve with fresh parsley and cold yoghurt.

Tags: basmati rice, lamb or chicken pieces, cauliflower, eggplants, tomatoes · Source: Brittani's Almanac