Maqloubeh
Maqloubeh is a delicious and impressive upside-down rice dish from Levantine cuisine. Here's a simple recipe to get you started.
Ingredients
- 1 eggplant
- 1 cauliflower
- 1 red pepper
- 1 tomato
- 1 onion
- 3 lbs chicken, lamb or beef
- 1 clove garlic
- 2 cups basmati or jasmine rice
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp all spice or maqloubeh
- 1/2 salt and pepper
Instructions
- Marinate the meat: Marinate chicken, lamb or beef with olive oil, lemon juice (optional), spices such as allspice or Maqloubeh spice. You can marinate for 30 minutes or up to a few hours for deeper flavor.
- Cook the vegetables (optional): If using vegetables, roast them in the oven with olive oil and seasonings until tender. Approximately 20 minutes.
- Brown the meat: In a pot, heat olive oil and sear the meat on all sides. Sauté sliced onions with the meat until softened.
- Assemble the Maqloubeh and Cook rice: In a large pot or oven-safe dish, layer bottom with tomatoes, vegetables and onions. Top with the cooked meat and more roasted vegetables. Add rice on top and add 4 cups of water. Cook for approximately 40 minutes.
- Flip and serve: This is the key to making maqloubeh an upside-down dish! Place a plate on top of the pot and carefully flip the pot to invert the maqloubeh onto the plate. Decorate with fried onions, toasted almonds or parsley and serve.