Maqluba (Upside-Down Rice)
-500 g Basmati rice, rinsed and drained
-2 Tbsp olive oil
-500 g minced lamb (or chopped lamb, beef, chicken)
-1 tsp allspice
-Salt, 1/4 tsp, and to taste
-freshly ground black pepper
-800 ml chicken stock, heated up
-1 large onion, diced
-1 large eggplant, chopped
-1 courgette (zucchini), chopped
-1 red capsicum (bell pepper), chopped
-4 tomatoes, sliced in rings
-1 small cauliflower, cut into bite-sized pieces
-30 g pine nuts
-1 handful fresh parsley, chopped
-saucepan for the maqluba measuring 20 – 22cm, about 10cm high (8-9" x 4")
1. Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F. Arrange the cauliflower pieces on a baking sheet and drizzle 1 Tbsp of olive oil all over. Sprinkle a ¼ tsp of salt and some freshly ground black pepper and roast for about 20 minutes, flipping halfway through the cooking time.
2. Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Sauté the onions for about 3-4 minutes. Add meat, allspice, salt and pepper to taste. Stir and brown the meat all over and cook for 10 minutes. You want the final result to be a little on the dry side, but not too dry.
3. Grease bottom and sides of your saucepan. Then start with layering the bottom with the sliced tomatoes. You'll get 2 layers. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add half the meat, season with a pinch of salt and some freshly ground black pepper. Then pack down with a potato masher. Add all the vegetables, season with salt and pepper and pack down.
4. Then top with half the rice, season with salt and pepper and flatten. Add remaining meat, season, and pack down. And finally, add the second half of the rice. Season with salt and pepper, and pack down.
Take a small saucer, place it face down on the rice (or use the back of a large spoon), and slowly pour all the stock in. This stops a gap/hole appearing in the rice as you're pouring the stock in.
5. Place the pot on the stovetop, turn the heat on high for 3 minutes to bring to a simmer. Once simmering, cover, reduce heat, and cook for 45 minutes or until rice is done. Remove from heat, and do not remove cover for 10 minutes.
6. Uncover saucepan, take a large plate or serving platter, place it over the pot. Holding the plate tightly against the saucepan, turn over, give it a gentle shake, then slowly ease the saucepan off the plate. Top with the pine nuts and parsley. (Hopefully it will not collapse, but if it does, no big deal, spread it on the platter, top with pine nuts and parsley and serve.)