AlArab24
EN|عر
Recipes

Maqluba (Upside-Down Rice Cake)

A dramatic layered dish of fried vegetables, meat, and rice, flipped upside down onto a serving platter to reveal beautiful layers.

6 servings (default)

Ingredients

Servings
6
  • 1 ½ lbs lamb or beef chunks (or chicken thighs)
  • 2 large eggplants, sliced into 1/2-inch rounds
  • 2 large potatoes, sliced into 1/4-inch rounds
  • 2 medium tomatoes, sliced
  • 1 head cauliflower head, cut into florets (optional, traditional in some regions)
  • 2 cups long-grain rice (basmati or Egyptian rice)
  • ¼ cup olive oil, plus more for frying
  • 1 tsp ground turmeric
  • 1 tsp ground allspice
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • ½ tsp ground cardamom
  • ½ tsp ground cloves
  • ½ tsp ground nutmeg
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • ¼ tsp ground ginger
  • Salt to taste
  • 4 cups chicken or vegetable broth
  • ¼ cup pine nuts or almonds, toasted (for garnish)
  • Plain yogurt for serving
  • Fresh parsley or cilantro for garnish

Method

  1. 1

    Prepare the vegetables

    30 min

    Salt the eggplant slices and let sit for 30 minutes to draw out bitterness. Pat dry. Fry eggplant in olive oil until golden on both sides. Drain on paper towels. Fry potato slices until golden. Set aside. If using cauliflower, fry florets until golden.

  2. 2

    Brown the meat

    Season meat with salt, pepper, and half the spices. Brown in a large pot with some oil. Remove and set aside.

  3. 3

    Layer the pot

    In a deep heavy-bottomed pot (the same one you'll cook in), arrange tomato slices on the bottom to prevent sticking. Layer fried eggplant, then potatoes, then meat, then any remaining vegetables. Some families layer in different orders—eggplant on bottom is traditional in Jerusalem.

  4. 4

    Prepare the rice

    Rinse rice until water runs clear. Mix with remaining spices (turmeric, allspice, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, nutmeg, ginger, salt).

  5. 5

    Cook

    35 min

    Pour spiced rice over the layered ingredients. Pour hot broth over everything. The liquid should cover the rice by about 1/2 inch. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover tightly, and simmer for 30-35 minutes until rice is tender and liquid absorbed.

  6. 6

    The flip

    10 min

    Let rest covered for 10 minutes. Place a large round platter over the pot. Using oven mitts, hold pot and platter together and flip quickly and confidently. Let sit for 2 minutes, then carefully lift the pot. The layers should be revealed beautifully.

  7. 7

    Garnish and serve

    Top with toasted nuts and fresh herbs. Serve with yogurt on the side.