Maqluba or Maqlooba is an upside down rice dish that is very versatile. Maqluba recipe is basically layers of vegetables, flavored rice and meat stacked on top of each other and cooked to perfection.
Maqluba is a one dish meal made traditionally with cauliflower or eggplants. There are as many variations to this dish as there are families in the region, but the method is the same. Here is a step by step guide to make the easiest worry free maqluba recipe to grantee success each time
Maqluba
If you have been following me long enough you probably by now know that I had lots of Palestinian friends when I was growing up. My dad used to work in KSA and when we visited over the summer, we had gatherings of friends every week and sometimes even twice a week.
I was introduced to this dish in one of these gatherings. As a kid,I ate the rice, ditched the vegetables and when it was made with chicken , I ate the chicken as well. The flavors and textures in this dish is heavenly good.
My late father was a huge fan of eggplants, and I used to hate it as a kid. Now I appreciate it more and I love it, but for the kiddos.. naah, they are not there yet. He used to like maqluba a lot, I've tried so many times making maqlooba but it was very hard for me to manage flipping it over without making a mess. It used to fell apart and did not hold its shape. Still tasted delicious but the look was not what I hoped for. This time I have perfected the recipe and bringing you some tips and tricks along the way for a perfect flip each time.
Maqluba Recipe FAQS
What type of rice to use in maqluba?
Maqluba traditionally is made with Egyptian rice, but nowadays it is very common to be made with basmati or any other kind of rice.
What vegetables used in maqluba?
The main vegetable is either eggplant or cauliflower. You can add bell peppers, chili peppers, onions, potato, diced tomato or any other variety of vegetables you like.
What other types of meat to use in maqluba?
Use whatever you have. You can make maqluba with chicken, beef cubes, ground turkey, ground beef… etc.
Tips for making perfect maqluba
- I used to make maqluba with cubed beef stew. Filling a pot with water, adding a whole onion, bay leaf, some salt and pepper then drop the meat in until it is halfway done. Place them at the bottom of the oven dish and it will continue to cook with the rice. I've found that ground meat is easier but of course it is your choice.
- The hardest part of making maqluba is flipping it in the end. To ensure that it is not stuck to the bottom of the baking dish, I lined the dish with parchment paper.
- Before, I used to just put the eggplant on the bottom of the baking dish, this time I have wrapped eggplants around the rice. This also ensure that the rice will not fly everywhere when you flip the dish.
How to make maqluba: A step by step guide.
- Spice up the rice: in a bowl, add washed rice, butter and spices. Mix them well.
- Prepare your baking dish: line the bottom and the sides of your baking dish with parchment paper.
- Add tomato and meat: add tomato slices to the bottom of the pan then top that with the browned ground meat.
- Arrange eggplant: arrange eggplant slices so they are overlapping and hanging on the sides of the dish. Make sure to cover the bottom well.
- Adding rice: add the rice mixture, pour boiling cooking liquid ( water or broth), then flip the hanging eggplant slices over to close.
- Bake: bake the rice dish in a 400F preheated oven until rice is totally cooked.
- Cool and flip: let it cool down for 15 minutes then flip it over your serving dish. Garnish with toasted nuts and parsley.
You may need
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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.
More Mediterranean eggplant recipes:
I want so badly to try this eggplant recipe from recipetineats.
Maqluba Recipe
A feast in your mouth, lots of flavors from different vegetables, the unique aroma of basmati rice topped with pieces of lamb,beef or chicken. This one dish meal will feed a crowd.
Maqluba
Ingredients
- 1 cup (198g) Basmati rice. Note1
- 1 Tablespoon butter. Note2
- 1 teaspoon 7 spices. Note3
- 1/2 teaspoon salt.
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper.
- 1 1/4 cup water or broth boiled.
For the ground beef mixture:
- 1/2 pound (230g) ground beef.
- 1 small onion. Chopped.
- 1/2 teaspoon all spice.
- 1 teaspoon tomato paste.
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper.
- Salt to taste.
- 1 (450g) medium firm eggplant cut into 1/2 inch slices lengthwise and fried or grilled in the oven. Note4
- 1 medium tomato, sliced.
- Optional: Chopped parsley roasted nuts for garnishing.
Instructions
- Wash rice twice or 3 times, drain then place in a deep bowl, cover with cold rice and soak for 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile fry or oven bae the eggplants.
Brown the ground meat:
- In a skillet over medium heat, sauté onions in oil then add ground beef and spices, mix well. Add the tomato paste and mix everything well, cook until browned all around. Set aside.
- Preheat oven to 400F.
- Line an oven safe dish with parchment paper.
- Arrange tomato slice at the bottom of the dish.
- Top that with a layer of the browned ground beef.
- Arrange eggplant slices over the ground beef.
- Add rice, then pour boiled water or broth over.
- Fold the egg plants over the rice.
- Cover and cook in the oven for 40 minutes.
- Take the dish out fluff the rice on top and taste to make sure it is completely cooked.
- If you feel it needs more water or broth add a quarter cup, cover then return to oven for another 10-15 minutes.
- Let it cool down for 10 -15 minutes before flipping over the serving dish.
- Remove parchment papers and tomatoes on top, you can eat them if you want.
- Garnish top with chopped parsley and roasted nuts.
- Serve with Tzatziki or yogurt sauce.
Notes
Note2: If you deep fry your eggplants they will have enough oil so no need for the butter.
Note3: 7 spices are a combination of cumin, cardamom, black pepper, nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon and sometimes paprika and cloves as well. You can use allspice instead if you do not have it.
Note4: I used to fry the eggplants in the past, but if you want you can roast in the oven with some oil and salt.
Hello! This looks delish. Can I substitute cauliflower for the eggplant? Would I add it in at the same time?
Della, Maqluba is traditionally cooked with cauliflower as well, so sure you can use cauliflower instead. What I've seen people doing is layering rice, fried cauliflower and meat in the pot you are cooking it in. For example you start at the bottom with a thin layer of rice then top that with meat and then a layer of cauliflower then rice. I hope this makes sense. Let me know if you have other questions.
I can't wait to make this recipe. I love Middle Eastern foods. I have never had this one in all my Middle Eastern restaurants.
Jeannine, if you are a fan of Middle Easter food you'll love this one :). Do not forget to snap a photo and share it with us. Let me know if you have any questions.
Just made this yesterday and I am happy to say we loved it. Thank you so much for such wonderful recipes.
Thanks Nour for your feedback. I am happy you liked it.
Fabulous! I wish I had known about your trick of wrapping the eggplant around the rice for my other attempts at this dish. I always barely make the flip—I will try your technique next time.
I made a vegetarian (actually, it ended up being vegan) version that tasted delicious. I also like to sear the eggplant first, just because I like the more caramelized look and flavor.
Thank you for such a wonderful recipe!
Thank you LisaH, I am happy this helped. Will try searing the eggplants too I bet it is going to be tasty.
I don’t see tomato slices in the recipe
Will add it right away, thanks Lalith.