Syrian Maklouba – Preparation Method for Chicken or Lamb Maklouba

Syrian Maklouba – Preparation Method for Chicken or Lamb Maklouba

Maklouba is one of the most famous dishes in Syria, and it's also known as "Eggplant Maklouba with Rice." From Arabicook.com, here’s the recipe to make Syrian Maklouba with chicken or lamb.

Ingredients for Syrian Maklouba

• 5 medium-sized eggplants
• 1 whole chicken, cut into 8 pieces (or, for lamb Maklouba, use 1 kg of lamb shank)
• 3 cups of good-quality rice
• 4 cups of water
• 3 tablespoons of ghee or butter
• 3 non-spicy green chili peppers, sliced down the middle
• 2 tablespoons of salt
• ¼ teaspoon of black pepper
• 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon of mixed spices
• Nuts (almonds, walnuts, or any type of your choice for garnish)
• 2 onions, sliced (optional)
• ½ teaspoon of ground turmeric
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• ½ teaspoon of ground cloves

How to Prepare Syrian Maklouba

1. Prepare the Rice:
   In a bowl, soak the rice in warm water for 15-20 minutes. Wash it thoroughly to remove excess starch.

2. Prepare the Eggplant:
   Peel the eggplants and slice them into rounds. Sprinkle salt over the slices and let them rest for 25 minutes. This will help remove excess moisture.

3. Fry the Eggplant:
   Fry the eggplant slices in a generous amount of oil until golden. Drain the excess oil by placing the fried eggplant on paper towels.

4. Cook the Chicken or Lamb:
   In a large pot, add the chicken (or lamb) along with spices (salt, cinnamon, cloves, and black pepper). Add 5 to 7 cups of water, cover, and let it cook until the meat is fully tender, approximately 1 hour.
   Once done, remove the meat from the broth, strain the broth, and set it aside.

5. Prepare the Maklouba:
   In a large pot, heat ghee (or oil or butter) and sauté the onion slices until golden brown. Then, layer the meat (chicken or lamb) on top of the onions, followed by the fried eggplant, and then the soaked rice.

6. Add the Broth:
   Pour the meat broth over the rice and allow it to boil. Reduce the heat and let the Maklouba cook for about 30 minutes on low heat until the rice is fully cooked and fluffy.

7. Serve the Maklouba:
   Once the Maklouba is cooked, carefully flip the entire pot onto a large serving platter. Garnish with fried nuts (such as almonds or walnuts), and serve hot.

Enjoy your delicious Syrian Maklouba, a classic dish loved by many in the Middle East!