Description
A Palestinian celebration dish of spiced chicken, roasted vegetables, and fragrant rice, flipped onto a platter to reveal its beautiful layers.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lbs (900g) bone-in chicken pieces (thighs and drumsticks)
- 1 teaspoon 7 spice
- ½ teaspoon turmeric
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 medium yellow onion, halved
- 3 cardamom pods, cracked
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 2 bay leaves
- 6 cups (1.4 liters) water
- 1 large eggplant, sliced into ½-inch rounds
- 2 medium potatoes, sliced into ¼-inch rounds
- ½ small cauliflower, cut into florets
- 2 medium tomatoes, sliced into rounds
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 cups (400g) basmati rice, rinsed and soaked
- 1½ teaspoons Lebanese 7 spice (baharat)
- ½ teaspoon ground turmeric
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 4 cups (960ml) reserved chicken broth
- ¼ cup toasted pine nuts or slivered almonds
- Fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Simmer the chicken: Place seasoned chicken, halved onion, cardamom, cinnamon stick, bay leaves, and salt in a pot. Cover with water and bring to a boil, then simmer for 30–35 minutes. Remove chicken and reserve broth.
- Roast the vegetables: Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C). Arrange eggplant, potatoes, and cauliflower on baking sheets, brush with olive oil, and season. Roast for 20–25 minutes until golden.
- Season the rice: Combine soaked rice with 7 spice, turmeric, cumin, and salt. Toss well.
- Layer the pot: Drizzle olive oil into a pot. Layer tomatoes, then roasted vegetables, followed by chicken. Pour rice over chicken and press down gently.
- Cook: Pour hot chicken broth over rice. Bring to boil, then reduce to low heat, cover, and cook for 25–30 minutes. Let rest for 10–15 minutes.
- The flip: Loosen edges of pot, then flip onto a serving platter. Top with nuts and parsley, and serve immediately.
Notes
Maqluba should be made fresh, but vegetables and broth can be prepared in advance to save time.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 80 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Palestinian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 600
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 350mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 66g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 90mg