Maqluba (Upside-Down Beef, Eggplant and Rice)

Maqluba (also Maqlooba, Makloubeh or Maqlouba) is an upside down rice dish that is very common throughout the middle east. Layers of vegetables, spiced rice and meat cooked altogether then flipped for a stunning comfort food dinner.

Next time try the Jordanian Mansaf, a delicious lamb and rice recipe.

Don't want to scroll through the page to get to the recipe? Use the table of contents below to click on the section you want to go to.

This is a one dish meal made traditionally with cauliflower, eggplants and potatoes. There are many variations to this dish in the region, but the method is the same. In this recipe I've used eggplants and ground beef but will show you variations of this dish and how to make them.

So here is a step by step guide to make the easiest foolproof Makloubeh to guarantee success each time

Jump to:

• ❓Why This Recipe Works
• 📝 Ingredients
• 🥄 Instructions
• 💡 Tips
• ⌛ Make Ahead
• 🍽️ Serve With
• 🧺 Storage
• 🤔 Troubleshooting
• 👩‍🍳 Variations
• 💬 Frequently Asked Questions
• 🥣 Equipment
• 📣 Related Recipes
• More Rice Recipes
• Maqluba
• 👩‍🏫 My Experience

❓Why This Recipe Works

• Made way healthier by not deep frying the vegetables.
• Helpful tips so it will turn out beautifully without ending up with rice allover your countertop.
• Perfectly spiced rice without going overboard.

Traditional maqluba calls for frying the vegetables, I like to oven roast the eggplants to make them lighter with far less oil than frying.

The way I am wrapping and preparing this dish is a foolproof way for the best maqluba that will not make a mess and spread all over your counter when you flip the dish.

📝 Ingredients

Note: This is an overview of the ingredients. You'll find the full measurements and instructions in the recipe card (printable) at the bottom of the page.

📋 Ingredient Notes

• Ground beef mixture above is made by browning the beef and adding all the spices. details about that are in the recipe card below.
• My eggplants are oven baked but you are welcome to fry them if you want to.

🥄 Instructions

Note: This is an overview of the instructions. The detailed instructions are in the recipe card below.

1. In a bowl, add rice, butter and spices. Mix them well.
2. line the bottom and sides of a large pot or Dutch oven with parchment paper.
3. Place tomato slices in the bottom of the dish then top that with the browned ground meat.

1. Arrange eggplant slices so they are overlapping and hanging on the sides of the dish. Make sure to cover the bottom of the pot well.
2. Add the rice mixture, pour boiling cooking liquid ( water or broth), then flip the hanging eggplant slices over the top of the pot to close. Bake the rice dish in a 400F preheated oven until rice is totally cooked. Let it cool down for 15 minutes then flip over your serving dish.

💡 Tips

• Use a non stick pot with wide mouth, it is better not to use tall pots for even cooking. If tall pots is all you have then do not fill it to the top so the top layer of rice can get enough steam to cook.
• Brush the bottom and sides of the dish/pot with oil before adding parchment paper, this helps keep them in place while you are filling your pot.
• The hardest part of making maqluba is flipping it in the end. To ensure that it is not stuck at the bottom of the baking dish, I lined the dish with parchment paper to be extra sure that it will not stick.
• Many people put the eggplant on the bottom of the baking dish, here I have wrapped eggplants around the rice. This ensures that the rice will not fly everywhere when you flip the dish plus it makes for a beautiful presentation.
• You can cook maqluba on stove top too. Just layer everything in your pot as directed including the parchment paper, do not worry it will not burn, then bring to a boil over medium high heat then reduce heat to low, cover and continue to cook until done.

⌛ Make Ahead

• You can prepare the vegetables and the meat you are using and store them in an airtight container in your fridge for 2 days before cooking the dish.

🍽️ Serve With

Serve maqluba with yogurt sauce or green salad like tabbouleh or fattoush.

🧺 Storage

Store any leftovers in a container in the refrigerator for up 2-3 days or a week if it vegan.

🤔 Troubleshooting

• If the top layer of your rice does not seem to be fully cooked, splash the top with some water (¼ cup), cover and continue to cook for another 10 minutes then check again.
• If when checking the rice it tasted a bit bland, dissolve some salt, black pepper and a dash more of the 7 spice mix in a ¼ cup of hot water then add to the pot, cover and continue to cook.

👩‍🍳 Variations

• Maqluba can be made with any sort of meat you have, lamb, beef or chicken. Here I've used ground beef for simplicity as well but you can also use any of the above. Boil your meat of choice in flavored water until done, I usually use my instant pot as it is quicker but I am including stove top directions as well:
  • Beef Stew: Brown the meat in a a couple of tablespoons of oil then add then add a small quartered onion, a couple of green cardamom pods, cinnamon stick, ground black pepper, two bay leaves and cover with water. Bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer until done, this probably will take about an hour and a half stove top or almost 40 minutes in your instant pot.
  • Lamb Pieces: shoulder or leg is the best, but you can use whatever you like. Use the same cooking method as I have in the okra stew.
  • Chicken: commonly used are bone in skin on chicken pieces but as always you can use whatever you like to or already have in your freezer. Boil the chicken as we did in the Musakhan recipe.
• You can use short grain rice but I like using basmati rice as it withstands the prolonged cooking time better without getting mushy.
• Sometimes I add some onion rings and bell pepper after I arrange the tomato slices for more flavor and the bell pepper smells heavenly and makes the dish even more flavorful.
• Traditionally the most common vegetables to use are eggplants, cauliflower and potato. You can use one, two or the three of them. You can also use any vegetables you have or like to add in this dish.
• If using potatoes or cauliflower mix them with oil, salt and pepper then roast in the oven until done.
• If you are using the three vegetables here is my suggestion for layering the dish. After the tomatoes and the ground beef, layer the sliced potatoes then eggplant then cauliflower then rice and proceed with the recipe as is. The reason for that is cauliflower florets are small and can fall off if we placed them at the bottom without something to hold them in.
• For a vegan maqluba : Use olive oil instead of butter and omit the ground beef. You can use any vegan protein you like as well.

💬 Frequently Asked Questions

🥣 Equipment

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For this recipe I've used Aahu Barah basmati rice. It was recommended by a friend and I could easily find it here in the Middle Eastern store.

📣 Related Recipes

• Check out this Saudi chicken kabsa, a one pot chicken and rice dish that is perfectly spiced.
• Another traditional chicken and rice dish is Mandi from Yemen.
• Mansaf is Jordan's national dish of meat, yogurt and rice pilaf.
• Make your dinner table more interesting with this elegant Mediterranean rice pilaf. This rice is bursting with flavors with a touch of sweetness that sure to impress.
• This moussaka recipe is the ultimate comfort food for a cozy night in. Meaty, saucy with creamy and custardy bechamel layer. Nothing can beat that!
• Fattah is a traditional dish throughout the Middle East and this Egyptian fattah is one I grew up with to celebrate almost all occasions.

More Rice Recipes

• Hashweh is a Middle Eastern ground beef stuffing with aromatic spices. Here is an easy 20-minute Hashweh with rice for an easy weeknight meal or a side dish.
• Try my easy take on the Lebanese vermicelli rice, fuss free with half the usual time.
• Nothing's better than a dish you can make in one pot, this creamy baked chicken and rice falls into that categoy. Rich, lightly seasoned with super tender chicken you'll want to lick the pot and the spoon!
• This chicken and yellow rice recipe is easy to prepare and tastes great. It’s perfect for dinner parties or family gatherings.

I hope you'll like this recipe and please if you make this recipe, snap a pic and hashtag it #amiraspantry — I love to see your creations on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter!
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First published August 5, 2015 . Last updated December 20, 2021 with important tips, clear step by step instructions and readability.

👩‍🏫 My Experience

I had so many friends from Palestine, Jordan and Lebanon when I was growing up. My late dad worked in KSA for a long time and we used to spend summer breaks there. We had gatherings at least once a week with loads of delicious food.

I was introduced to maqluba at an early age and I loved it especially when it was made with chicken or ground beef. My late father was a huge fan and I've finally perfected the recipe so it is easier to flip and looks fancy.