MAQLOOBA
MAQLOOBA or Maqluba is a traditional Syrian, Iraqi, Lebanese, Palestinian, and Jordanian dish served throughout the Levant. It consists of meat, rice, and fried vegetables which are delicately spiced and flipped upside down while serving, hence the name MAQLOOBA which literally means Upside-Down.
This version is a Saudi Style MAQLOOBA
INGREDIENTS
2cups basmati rice washed and soaked for at least a half-hour
½ kg of chicken
1onion, chopped
2-3 garlic cloves, chopped
1-2 tsp pepper powder
1tbsp coriander powder
½ tsp cumin powder
½ tsp fennel seeds powder
1-2 tsp Kasuri Methi
1-2 tsp red chili powder
¼ tsp turmeric powder
¼ tsp cinnamon powder
½ tsp Shilpa’s Masala Mill garam masala
Salt to taste
Spring onion
Coriander leaves
2-3 tbsp Tomato paste
½ tbsp Tomato ketchup
½ chicken cube
Vegetables:
1-2 eggplant, sliced skin side lengthwise
1potato, sliced
1tomato sliced
Some cauliflower florets
Few colored bell peppers
Onions sliced
Oil
INSTRUCTIONS:
heat oil in a pan and add chopped garlic and onions. Cook until slightly browned
Add powdered masalas and fry until oil separates on surface
Add chicken and salt, fry for few mins
Add hot water and cover and cook until chicken is done (I added one cup water)
Once the chicken is done, remove pieces and keep aside to use later
Now add rice and spring onion in the same pot, add enough water (I added 3 more cups of water to cook the rice) Add the chicken cube. Adjust seasoning
Cover and Dum cook until rice is 90 % done
In a small pan add the tomato purée
Add salt, coriander powder, fennel seed powder, ketchup, and black pepper. Add a few tbsp of water and simmer for few mins until thickened
Once the rice is ready, divide rice into 2 parts in bowls
Add tomato purée to one bowl of rice and mix it carefully to avoid breaking the rice grain
In the other bowl of rice add saffron food color. This is optional
In a pan fry all the vegetables until browned and keep aside
All your preparations are now ready
ASSEMBLE
start to layer vegetables in the bottom of the pot
Add eggplants first, followed by tomatoes, onions, bell peppers, potatoes, cauliflower, chicken, and then lastly the 2 colored rice. You can add coriander in between layers
Pack it all tightly in the pot
You can do 2 layers of veg, chicken, and rice too( my pot was small so decided to do only one layer)
Cover and Dum cook for 10-15 mins or until you see steam escaping on surface
And you are done
Before serving gently flip it on a serving platter and enjoy. I’ve garnished with fried onions, mint leaves, and coriander leaves
SPICE LEVEL: 🌶