Best 2 Upside Down Maqluba Recipes
Embark on a culinary adventure to the heart of Middle Eastern cuisine with maqluba, a captivating dish that beautifully blends rice, vegetables, and meat. Originating from the Arabic word meaning "upside down," maqluba lives up to its name by presenting a dazzling display of flavors and textures. This hearty and aromatic dish features layers of succulent meat, tender vegetables, and fluffy rice, all cooked to perfection in a single pot. The captivating contrast between the crispy, golden-brown top and the moist, flavorful interior makes maqluba a true feast for the senses. Join us as we explore three enticing variations of this beloved dish: the classic meat maqluba, a vegetarian delight, and a seafood extravaganza. Each recipe promises a unique taste journey, capturing the essence of maqluba while adding a personal touch. Let your taste buds embark on an unforgettable voyage with this iconic Middle Eastern delicacy.
Here are our top 2 tried and tested recipes!
MAHA SARSOUR'S MAQLUBA (UPSIDE-DOWN CHICKEN AND RICE)
A Palestinian tradition, maqluba means "upside down" in Arabic and is a pot of stewed meat, rice and fried vegetables, cooked and flipped onto a serving dish to form an impressive tower. In Maha Sarsour's version, the rice is richly spiced with cinnamon, allspice and more, and the chicken simmers to tenderness as it gives its flavor to the rice.
Provided by Francis Lam
Categories main course
Time 1h45m
Yield Serves 6 to 8
Number Of Ingredients 24
Steps:
- Cut the eggplant into 1/2-inch-thick half-moons. Season well with salt, and let sit 30 minutes. Place the chicken in a large pot (a 10-inch, 5-quart size is ideal), and season well with salt and 1 teaspoon black pepper, ground cumin, cloves, cardamom pods and bay leaves (ideally, do this the day before). Pour 3 cups of boiling water over the rice. Soak for 10 minutes, then drain well.
- To the chicken, add the onion wedges, 1 tablespoon salt and 4 1/2 cups of water. Bring to a boil, covered, over high heat, then turn down to a simmer, and cook for 20 minutes. Drain the chicken, keeping the broth and discarding the onion and spices.
- Heat 1/2 inch of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering hot, then fry the carrots, in batches if necessary, turning occasionally until browned, about 4 minutes. Drain on paper towels, then season lightly with salt. Repeat with the potato, about 3 minutes per side. Repeat with the cauliflower, about 7 minutes per batch. Finally, press the eggplant with paper towel until dry, then fry the eggplant in one layer until browned, about 4 minutes per batch. Drain on paper towels, but don't season. (If the eggplant is too oily, press on it with paper towels.)
- Pour out the oil, keeping 2 1/2 tablespoons in the pan. Heat it over medium-high heat and add the vermicelli, stirring until browned, about 2 minutes. Add the drained rice and cook, stirring, to dry it out, about 4 minutes. Add 1 tablespoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, the turmeric, cinnamon, allspice, ground cloves, Sazón and garlic, and cook, stirring, until very fragrant.
- Place the chicken back in the pot, skin side down. Place the vegetables on top, then rice. Pour in 4 cups of the chicken broth. Press down on the rice; add more broth or water if needed to bring the liquid barely to the level of the rice. Cover the pot and bring to a boil over high heat, then turn it down to medium low. After 10 minutes, carefully stir just the rice to evenly combine the harder rice on top. Repeat after another 10 minutes. After a total of 30 minutes, the rice should be cooked, but not soft, and the liquid should be absorbed.
- Place a very large serving dish on top of the pot, then, protecting your hands (and maybe with a partner), invert the pot onto the dish in one smooth motion. If there is liquid seeping out, spoon it out or soak it up with paper towels. Let the pot rest at least 5 minutes.
- Meanwhile, heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a small pan over medium-high heat until shimmering. Fry the pine nuts, stirring constantly, until browned, about 1 minute. Drain on paper towels.
- Lift off the pot to reveal the maqluba, and scatter the pine nuts all over. Serve with yogurt and chopped tomatoes, cucumbers and parsley on the side, seasoned with lemon, salt and olive oil.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 777, UnsaturatedFat 22 grams, Carbohydrate 69 grams, Fat 35 grams, Fiber 6 grams, Protein 45 grams, SaturatedFat 9 grams, Sodium 1010 milligrams, Sugar 5 grams, TransFat 0 grams
UPSIDE DOWN (MAQLUBA)
This perfect meal features all four food groups. It is inspired by the Arabic dish called 'Maqluba,' which translates to 'upside down.' When the meal has finished cooking, you take the pot and flip it upside down onto a large serving platter, and everybody helps themselves.
Provided by JustCallMeD
Categories World Cuisine Recipes African
Time 1h40m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Bring to a boil the water, onion, garlic, cinnamon, turmeric, garam masala, salt, and pepper in a large pot. Add the lamb; reduce the heat to low and simmer 15 to 20 minutes. Separate the lamb from the liquid and set aside. Transfer the liquid to a bowl.
- While the lamb mixture simmers, heat the oil in a large, deep skillet over medium heat. Fry the eggplant slices in the hot oil, assuring the pieces do not touch, until brown on both sides; remove to a plate lined with paper towels to drain. Use the same procedure to fry the zucchini and the cauliflower. Cook the broccoli in the oil until hot and remove to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
- Layer the lamb into the bottom of the large pot. Arrange the eggplant, zucchini, broccoli, and cauliflower on top of the lamb in layers. Pour the rice over the meat and vegetables, shaking the pot gently to allow the rice to settle into the dish. Pour the reserved cooking liquid from the lamb over the mixture until it is completely covered. Add water if needed.
- Cover the pot and simmer over low heat until the rice is soft and the liquid is absorbed, 30 to 45 minutes. Remove the lid from the pot. Place a large platter over the pot and flip the pot so the dish is "upside down" on the platter. Serve with yogurt on the side.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 1018.6 calories, Carbohydrate 58.3 g, Cholesterol 50 mg, Fat 78.1 g, Fiber 6.8 g, Protein 24.3 g, SaturatedFat 13.6 g, Sodium 152.4 mg, Sugar 10.9 g
Tips:
- Use a heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven as it will help distribute the heat evenly, preventing the bottom of the pot from burning.
- Make sure to preheat the pot before adding the oil. This will help prevent the oil from splattering and will also help the rice to brown evenly.
- Don't overcrowd the pot with rice. If you do, the rice will not cook evenly and will be mushy.
- Use a long-grain rice, such as basmati or jasmine rice. These types of rice will hold their shape better than short-grain rice.
- Rinse the rice before cooking. This will remove the starch from the rice, which will help prevent it from sticking together.
- Add the vegetables and spices to the pot along with the rice. This will help infuse the rice with flavor.
- Add enough water to the pot so that it covers the rice by about 1 inch. Bring the water to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for about 15 minutes, or until the rice is tender.
- Once the rice is cooked, turn the pot upside down onto a serving platter. The rice should come out in one piece, with the vegetables and spices on top.
- Serve the maqluba immediately, while it is still hot.
Conclusion:
Maqluba is a delicious and impressive dish that is perfect for a special occasion. It is easy to make, but it looks and tastes like it took hours to prepare. The combination of rice, vegetables, and spices is sure to please everyone at your table. So next time you are looking for a unique and flavorful dish to serve, give maqluba a try.
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