Saucepans and Spices

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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: 🌶