How to make Chicken Maqluba [Upside Down Rice]

chicken

🥗Healthier: turkey

💰Cheaper: chicken thighs

Turkey is leaner, while chicken thighs are more economical.

pine nuts

🥗Healthier: walnuts

💰Cheaper: sunflower seeds

Walnuts provide healthy fats, while sunflower seeds are budget-friendly.

olive oil

🥗Healthier: avocado oil

💰Cheaper: vegetable oil

Avocado oil has a high smoke point, while vegetable oil is less expensive.

eggplant

🥗Healthier: zucchini

💰Cheaper: cabbage

Zucchini is lower in calories, and cabbage is often cheaper.

Marinate 1 kilogram of chicken pieces with skin, 1 tablespoon ground coriander, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper powder, 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric, and 2 tablespoons ground ginger and garlic paste. Set aside for 1 hour.

Wash and soak 4 cups of short grain rice in water for 30 minutes.

Prepare a spice mix with 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon ground clove, 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice, 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin, 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper powder, and 1/4 teaspoon ground green cardamom.

Cut 1/2 head of cauliflower into pieces, slice 2 potatoes, chop 1 onion, and slice 8 cloves of garlic.

Pan fry the marinated chicken in oil until golden brown, about 4 minutes per side. Remove and set aside.

In the same oil, sauté the chopped onion until softened, then return the chicken to the pot and add 1 teaspoon salt. Cook for 1 minute.

Add 8 cups of water and 3 bay leaves to the pot, bring to a simmer, and skim off any scum. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes.

Fry the garlic slices until golden and remove them from the oil. Fry the cauliflower and potato slices until golden, then set aside.

Strain the broth and remove the chicken pieces. Assemble the makluba in two medium pots, layering chicken, carrot, cauliflower, and potato slices.

Divide the drained rice between the two pots, sprinkle with half a teaspoon of spice mix in each pot, and cover the rice with strained broth, about 1 centimeter above the rice.

Add 1 and 3/4 teaspoons of salt to each pot and some fried garlic. Cover with a small flat plate and cook on low flame for 10 minutes, then let sit covered for another 10 minutes.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level: