The most famous Arabic food Maqluba | Makloubeh with chicken | Maqloob

chicken

🥗Healthier: turkey

💰Cheaper: chicken thighs

Turkey is leaner and still flavorful.

eggplant

🥗Healthier: zucchini

💰Cheaper: sliced mushrooms

Zucchini offers a similar texture with fewer calories.

olive oil

🥗Healthier: avocado oil

💰Cheaper: vegetable oil

Avocado oil has a higher smoke point and is still healthy.

chickpeas

🥗Healthier: lentils

💰Cheaper: canned beans

Lentils are nutritious and quicker to cook.

Season 750 grams of minced chicken meat with 1 tablespoon of yogurt, 1 tablespoon of pepper paste, 1 teaspoon of salt, 1 teaspoon of black pepper, and 4 tablespoons of olive oil. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours or use immediately.

Prepare 1 kilo of eggplant by peeling and cutting it into thick pieces suitable for rolling.

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees C and line a tray with butter paper.

Brush the eggplant with a mixture of olive oil, pepper paste, and salt, then place it in the oven for about 20 minutes, checking for a golden color and proper flatness.

Place the seasoned chicken meat in the oven for 10 minutes until half cooked, turning on both top and bottom heat.

After soaking 1 kilo of basmati rice in boiling water for 20 minutes, wash it well and prepare the necessary spices: 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves, 1 teaspoon cobsa spices (optional), and salt to taste.

Layer the eggplant and chicken in the bottom of a pot in an orderly manner, ensuring the eggplant sticks to the edges for clear layers.

Add half of the soaked rice on top of the eggplant, then add another layer of eggplant, followed by the remaining rice without pressing it down.

Add a small amount of ghee (or olive oil or sunflower oil) to the pot, then add boiling water at a ratio of 1 cup of water for each cup of rice, ensuring the water level is just above the rice.

Bring the pot to high heat until the water boils, then reduce the heat to low, cover the pot completely, and let it cook for about 30 minutes, observing it occasionally.

After 30 minutes, turn off the heat and let the pot sit covered for half an hour to ensure the rice is perfectly cooked.

Invert the pot onto a serving platter and let it rest upside down for 10 minutes before removing the pot.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary