Upside Down Maqloobeh Recipes

MAQLUBA (OR MAKLOUBEH, PALESTINIAN UPSIDE DOWN RICE)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F, for the cauliflower.
• Rinse and drain the rice and set aside.
• Dice the onion (chop up fairly finely).
• Chop up the eggplant, courgette and capsicum into rough cube shapes. Basically, quarter the eggplant and courgette lengthwise, then slice.
• Slice the tomatoes into rounds and set aside.
• Cut the cauliflower into bite-sized pieces.
• Arrange the cauliflower pieces on a baking sheet and drizzle 1 Tbsp of EV olive oil all over. Sprinkle a ¼ tsp of salt and some freshly ground black pepper and roast for about 20 at 180˚C/350˚F. Flip halfway through the cooking time.
• Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan over medium heat.
• Sauté the onions for about 3-4 minutes.
• Add meat, allspice, salt and some pepper, stir and brown the meat all over and cook for 10 minutes on medium heat. You want the final result to be a little on the dry side, but not too dry. A little moisture is good.
• Grease your saucepan all over. Then start with layering the bottom with the sliced tomatoes. You'll get 2 layers. Season with salt and pepper, a small sprinkle will do.
• Add half the meat, season with a pinch of salt and some freshly ground black pepper. Then pack down with a potato masher.In my original recipe and video, I place all the meat first. But in these new pictures, you can see that I'm layering the meat along with the rice.So half the meat now, and half later.
• Add all the vegetables, season with salt and pepper and pack down.
• Then top with half the rice, season with salt and pepper and flatten.
• Now we add the second half of the meat, season, and pack down.
• And finally, the second half of the rice. Season with salt and pepper, and pack down.
• Take a small saucer, place it face down on the rice (or use the back of a large spoon), and slowly pour all the stock in. This stops a gap/hole appearing in the rice as you're pouring the stock in. You also don't want to mess with the packed rice and stuff.
• Place the pot on the stovetop, turn the heat on high for 3 minutes to bring everything up to simmering point although you'll probably only see the edges bubbling. When you see the bubbles at the edges, move on to the next step.
• Put the lid on, turn the heat right down and cook for 45 minutes. After that time, if you think the rice isn't done, another 5-10 minutes should suffice.Take the saucepan off the hot hob and leave the rice to rest for 10 minutes before unveiling.
• Take a large plate or serving platter, place it over the pot. Holding the plate tightly against the saucepan, give it a gentle shake. Then slowly, ease the saucepan off the plate. In the video, this happens at around 12:15 minutes.Top with the nuts and parsley.
• If you packed the saucepan as mentioned, it shouldn't collapse. But if it does, no big deal, scatter with pine nuts and parsley and serve.
• Click here for my new recipe - Vegetable Maqluba.

UPSIDE DOWN (MAQLOOBEH)

Steps:

• Place rice in a bowl and leave until grains are white, about 1/2 hr (this step is not necessary).
• Rinse rice until water is clear and then leave to drain in colander.
• Dice onion and fry until golden with first amount of oil in a medium-large size saucepan.
• Add chicken and brown.
• Add 8 cups water and mix.
• Add 1 teaspoon of mixed savoury spices and 1 teaspoon salt.
• Cook for one hour.
• While the chicken is cooking, fry pieces of cauliflower with second measurement of oil.
• Fry until golden (well-cooked) but not burnt.
• Put aside.
• When chicken is ready, sieve stock into bowl and remove the chicken pieces.
• Coat with pinches of salt and mixed spices.
• Brown under grill.
• Get a medium sized pot.
• (I recommend a non-stick one. I've tried this in my stainless steel pot however the bottom and sides get too hot so the outsides turn out burnt - so if your pot has a tendency to do the same then don't use that one!) Sprinkle a fine layer of rice on the bottom to prevent the other ingredients from sticking.
• Place chicken pieces face down in saucepan (be careful that the rice remains below the chicken).
• Place cauliflower pieces into saucepan, pressing it into the holes left by the chicken.
• Add chickpeas in the same way.
• Sprinkle 3/4 teaspoon of spices and 3/4 teaspoon of salt.
• Add rice and spread evenly.
• Carefully and slowly pour the chicken stock on top to cover rice.
• Cook on stove-top until rice is cooked.
• Quickly flip the saucepan upside down onto a large serving tray (preferably round).
• Rub and cool down top of pot with a wet cloth.
• Carefully remove the pot, trying not to let the Upside Down collapse! (Don't worry if it does, it happens even to the experts!).
• Traditionally all people eat from the one big tray, each person eating from strictly in front of him, but it can also be served onto plates at the table.
• Eat with small bowls of yoghurt.