Maqluba (Upside-Down Layered Rice) Recipe | Metropolitan Market (2024)

Maqluba (Upside-Down Layered Rice) Recipe | Metropolitan Market (1)

Maqluba (Upside-Down Layered Rice) Recipe | Metropolitan Market (2)

Serves 6 to 8

Maqluba, in Arabic, means upside-down. This layered rice and vegetable dish is a showstopper! It is traditionally served in Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, and Syria. Don't be intimidated by the number of steps—it's actually pretty easy and well worth the effort. Find fried onions for the garnish in the grocery aisle; they add bothcrunchandflavor.

Ingredients:

  • 1 large russet potato, peeled and cubed (1 1/2 cups)
  • 6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided use
  • Kosher salt, to taste
  • Pepper, to taste
  • 1/2 large eggplant, cubed (2 cups)
  • 2 cups basmati rice
  • 1 large yellow onion, diced (1 1/2 cups)
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • Seeds from 5 cardamom pods
  • 2 teaspoons ground turmeric
  • 2 teaspoons ground allspice
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1 pound ground lamb or beef (omit for a vegetarian version)
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 3 -4 large tomatoes, cut into 1/2-inch thick slices
  • 3 cups unsalted chicken or vegetable broth, room temperature (plus up to 1 cup more, if needed, as rice cooks)
  • OPTIONAL:
  • 2 tablespoons pine nuts
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves or cilantro
  • 1/4 cup crispy fried onions

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 450°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Place cubed potato on lined baking sheet. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon oil and sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Roast 10 minutes. Add eggplant, drizzle with another 1 tablespoon oil, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Return to oven 10 minutes or until vegetables are browned.
  3. While vegetables roast, rinse rice in a strainer. Place rice in a bowl, cover with warm water, and soak 20 minutes. (While rice soaks, proceed to step 4.) After 20 minutes, drain rice and season with 2 1/2 to 3 teaspoons salt.
  4. Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add 1 - 2 tablespoons oil. Sauté onion and garlic until soft. Add 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and remaining spices. Cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add ground meat and tomato paste. Stir and cook until meat is no longer pink. Adjust seasoning, to taste. Set aside.
  5. Line bottom of a 3 to 4-quart saucepan with a tight-fitting lid with a circle of parchment paper. Brush 2 tablespoons olive oil over parchment. Arrange slices of tomato over parchment in 2 layers.
  6. Top tomatoes with roasted potatoes and eggplant. Spoon meat mixture over vegetables and press down with the flat bottom of a measuring cup or the back of a large spoon.
  7. Cover with drained rice. Carefully pour 3 cups room-temperature broth over rice, so as not to disrupt the grains. Do not stir.
  8. Bring contents of pot to a gentle boil over high heat. Reduce to a simmer. Cover pot with a sheet of foil. Then place lid over the foil on the pot. Crimp extra foil around the rim where the lid meets the pan to seal in the steam. Simmer gently 15 minutes.
  9. Remove foil and lid. Carefully fluff just the top layer of rice, stirring center grains to the outside for even cooking. Re-cover with foil and lid and cook another 25 minutes. Check doneness of rice. If it's not yet cooked through, fluff again and add a little more broth. Simmer gently 5 to 10 minutes longer or until rice is tender. Remove from heat and set aside 10 to 20 minutes before inverting.
  10. Place a large, rimmed platter over the top of the pan. Protect your hands with oven mitts. In one swift motion, hold the platter in place and carefully invert the maqluba onto the platter. Carefully remove the pan. Garnish with pine nuts, parsley, and fried onions. Cut into wedges and serve warm.
  11. Cook's Tip:
  12. If your maqluba falls apart as you invert it, don't worry. Garnish and enjoy ? it will taste just as good! You can also present it in a beautiful bowl for an elegant presentation.

Nutrition:

Amount Per Serving (based on 8 servings)

Calories: 450

Fat: 21 g

Saturated Fat: 7 g

Trans Fat: 1 g

Cholesterol: 40 mg

Sodium: 440 mg

Carbohydrates: 51 g

Fiber: 3 g

Sugar: 4 g

Added Sugars: 0 g

Protein: 256 g

We provide nutritional information for our delicious recipes to help you select foods that meet your health and lifestyle goals. Care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of recipes and information. Nutritional data is intended for educational purposes, and not for the diagnosis, prevention, treatment, or cure of any medical condition. Please consult your healthcare provider for specific advice on diet and health. Click here to learn how we analyze the nutritional value of our recipes.

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Maqluba (Upside-Down Layered Rice) Recipe | Metropolitan Market (2024)

FAQs

What does maqluba mean in Arabic? ›

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.

Can you cook maqluba in the oven? ›

It's more traditional to deep fry the potatoes, eggplant and/or cauliflower when making Maqluba. But baking them in the oven or even air frying them is also a great option for making them easier and with less oil.

What is maqluba spice made of? ›

If you want to make your own premix spice, mix 1 teaspoon turmeric with ½ teaspoon ginger, 1 teaspoon all spice, ¼ teaspoon ground cloves, ½ teaspoon ground cardamom, ½ teaspoon black pepper, ½ teaspoon mild curry powder, ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon, and ½ teaspoon cumin (this is what I prefer).

What country is maqluba the national dish of? ›

Maqluba is the national dish of Palestine, but it can also be found in Iraq, Syria, and Jordan. This layered one-pot dish has many versions, but the basic principle is to turn it upside down before serving, which is what the word maqluba means.

Is maqluba the same as biryani? ›

Maqlooba is a kind of biryani popular in middle eastern countries. Maqlooba is made of rice ,chicken and vegetables. So it is a healthy version of biriyani that is made of very few spices.

Why is maqluba flipped? ›

that is flipped over before serving, revealing the. layers of veggies and chicken that are cooked.

How many calories are in maqluba? ›

Calories in Maqluba
Calories394.2
Cholesterol58.3 mg
Sodium193.7 mg
Potassium523.5 mg
Total Carbohydrate33.3 g
8 more rows

How do you reheat plov? ›

Plov freezes very well too, so you can make a large batch and freeze the extra portions. To reheat, thaw the Plov, and heat it up, either in the microwave or in a skillet.

Who invented maqluba? ›

Well, there are many stories about the origin of maqluba. One particular story says that it was invented by a Syrian cook who was trying to impress a visiting dignitary. Another suggests that it was created during the time of the Crusades by Arab cooks who were trying to come up with a new way to use leftover rice!

What is the national dish of Palestine? ›

Introduction. Musakhan the national dish of Palestine, is a traditional dish composed of roasted chicken that is baked with onions, spices and fried pines nuts, then served on Taboon bread. It is simple to make and even more delicious to eat–making it one of the most popular Arabic Palestinian dishes.

What spices do Palestinians use? ›

Palestinian Foods and Spices

The primary spices that the Palestinians uses for their dishes include turmeric, cinnamon, allspice and nutmeg. Depending on the area, people eat rice, kibbe, taboon bread, seafood, lentils, olives and chili peppers.

Why is it called maqluba? ›

The earliest mention of the dish is found in a 13th century cookbook, Kitab al-Tabikh, written by Muhammad Baghdadi during the Abbasid Caliphate. It consists of meat, rice, and fried vegetables placed in a pot which is flipped upside down when served, hence the name.

What is the national dish of India? ›

While there is no said 'national dish' for India, Khichdi is often suggested. Hence, many restaurants in Nashua create this delectable dish. Recognized by a large number of the population, this dish fits seamlessly into many cultures, religions, and social classes of the diverse country.

What is the national dish of Lebanon? ›

The national dish of Lebanon is kibbeh, an emulsified paste of fresh lamb and bulgur wheat with spices. Meat tends to be made into nuggets and charcoaled or stuffed into vegetables. Vegetables are usually the main feature of the meal.

What is the meaning of maklube? ›

Maklube literally means, "upside-down". Maklube is an old Middle Eastern family recipe, a Mediterranean dish. This recipe is an upside down rice dish with either beef or chicken or can be vegetarian.

What is makloubeh in english? ›

Makloubeh, meaning “upside down,” is a popular Palestinian dish which is flipped upside down right before serving to make for a dramatic entrée.

What is maqloobeh? ›

Palestinian Eggplant Maqloobeh meaning eggplant upside down, is a one pot concoction in Palestinian cuisine, where rice, fried eggplants, sliced tomatoes and boiled meat are cooked together until the rice is cooked through.

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