Maqluba
Maqluba, which literally means upside-down in Arabic, is one of the most theatrical dishes in Levantine cuisine, common in Syria, Palestine, Jordan and Lebanon, with each region claiming its own version as the original. The moment of flipping the pot is a true culinary spectacle — if the layers are well constructed, the rice, vegetables and meat stay intact, revealing a perfectly layered savory cake. The recipe varies significantly from family to family, some using eggplant, others cauliflower or zucchini, but the principle stays constant: fried vegetables, cooked meat and scented rice, all cooked together in a single pot. It's considered a festive dish, often cooked for Sunday meals or important occasions, when a successful flip without falling apart is seen as a good omen for the cook.
Fried eggplant
Layers of golden fried eggplant that melt into the rice.
Paprika rice
Long-grain rice scented with paprika, cinnamon and cardamom.
Chicken or lamb
Meat pieces cooked in broth, placed at the bottom of the pot.
Served upside down
The pot is flipped in one motion onto a platter, revealing the layers.
Ingredients 4 servings
- 4 bone-in chicken thighs
- 2 large eggplants
- 400g long-grain rice
- 2 tbsp sweet paprika
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground cardamom
- 2 carrots
- 1 small cauliflower
- Oil for frying the eggplant
- Salt
- 1 liter chicken broth
- Yogurt and almonds for serving
How to make it
- 1SLICE EGGPLANT: Cut the eggplants into thick slices, salt them and let sit for 20 minutes to remove bitterness, then wipe dry.
- 2FRY EGGPLANT: Fry the eggplant slices in hot oil until golden on both sides, drain on paper.
- 3BOIL CHICKEN: Boil the chicken thighs in salted water for 30 minutes, then remove and reserve the broth.
- 4LAYER: Arrange the chicken thighs at the bottom of a large pot, then a layer of carrots and cauliflower, then the fried eggplant.
- 5ADD RICE: Mix the raw rice with paprika, cinnamon and cardamom, sprinkle over the vegetables.
- 6POUR BROTH: Pour the hot broth over the rice, until it covers by 2cm, simmer covered on low heat for 35 minutes.
- 7FLIP: Let the pot rest for 10 minutes, then place a large platter over it and flip quickly in one firm motion.
Nutritional info
per serving (~400 ml)
Estimated nutritional values.
Pairs perfectly with
