Step-by-Step Maqluba Recipe That Is The Authentic Upside Down Rice

Maqluba is also known as Makloubeh, Maqlooba, and Magluba called “upside down rice”. It is a famous Arab dish known as the Palestinian maqluba recipe. There are many versions of maqluba in Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and Egypt but they all are the same with minor differences in cooking methods. The main ingredients that this dish relies on are rice, meat, and vegetables which include tomato, potato, eggplant, onion, and cauliflower layered in a pot. 

My mom, as she has her origin from the Middle East, always made this dish at family gatherings. I was a huge fan of this dish but did not know how to make it. It was so mesmerizing to see my mom flip that dish with great expertise. I learned this dish from her and now I am also great at making this dish myself. Alright, I am going to share this famous Middle Eastern maqluba with you so you can enjoy this recipe with a wonderful experience!

The Traditional Way to Make Palestinian Maqluba

The traditional method includes layering of chicken, vegetables, and rice. In the traditional method, all the vegetables are Deep fried before layering. Chicken is cooked with spices and stock is made of chicken. The traditional method uses chicken with bones and skin. Skinless and boneless chicken can be used.

Which Meat is used in making Maqluba Recipe?

This recipe is quite simple by using chicken, but you can also use any kind of meat like lamb, beef, or mutton.

Lamb Maqluba

Lamb maqluba is quite popular in Middle Eastern cuisines. The only difference is meat. Lamb maqluba is prepared the same way as chicken maqluba, but meat lamb is used instead of chicken. All you need is to simmer the lamb for 20 minutes instead of the chicken and follow the remaining recipe.

Facts about maqluba

Palestinian Maqluba was first developed in the Middle East. It is a symbol of cultural representation that is served on festive occasions and family gatherings. Maqluba is a symbol of shared love among generations, and festivity.

Why will you love this Upside down rice?

• Versatile dish. Maqluba is a versatile dish. You can replace the vegetables of your choice, the meat you choose can be chicken or lamb. This one-pot dish offers you a lot of variety and options making it a completely flexible dish.
• Great for occasions and gatherings. It is usually served at family gatherings and festive occasions in the Middle East. You can serve maqluba in a single pot for gatherings. It ensures that everyone on the table is satisfied!
• All in one meal. You will get proteins in the form of chicken, and carbs due to the aromatic basmati rice and vegetables, olive oil, and spices goodness. All these together form a dish that is so colorful with health benefits. You can serve with smoked chicken in happy family meal.  
• Cultural connections. Maqluba is a cultural symbol of the Middle East that helps people to get close together and accept each other’s similarities and differences with great smiles!
• Gluten-free goodness: All the ingredients used in the maqluba recipe are gluten-free. If you have gluten-free preferences, then this recipe is also for you to try!
• Comfort food: The blend of all these ingredients makes it a comfortable Middle Eastern food. The warmth of spices and rice makes its flavor comforting.

Healthier Version of Maqluba

If you want to make a healthy version of this maqluba recipe, you just need to BAKE the eggplants and potatoes. There is no need to deep fry these items. Arrange your potatoes and eggplant on the baking sheet and drizzle some olive oil. Bake them. Follow the remaining steps as mentioned in the recipe and there you go! The healthier version of this dish!

Vegan Maqluba

If you want to make this dish completely vegan. Skip the meat part of the recipe. Use veggie broth rather than meat broth. Follow all the instructions mentioned in the recipe. You can add more veggies if you want like carrots and cauliflower in addition to potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, and onion. You can also add chickpeas if you want to complete your protein portion.

How to Flip the Pot of maqluba?

When all the layers are fully done, the maqluba is ready to serve. Flip the pot carefully. The serving platter should be larger in diameter than the pot diameter to hold the entire maqluba. Place the serving platter on the top of the pot and make sure that it covers the pot completely. Flip it upside down with a good grip over the pot. Gently lift the pot after some time and there you have your perfect maqluba with vegetable and chicken layer on top and rice on bottom.

Equipment required

• A large pot: A deep large pot to hold the maqluba completely.
• Pan: A pan for frying vegetables.

Things you will need for Maqluba Recipe

For Vegetable Layer:

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• Potatoes: Potatoes provide a base for the sturdy base maqluba. Potatoes absorb the flavors and become unbelievably delicious in this recipe. Slice your potatoes into round slices. 
• Eggplant: Eggplant turns soft when they are cooked and then absorbs all the liquid. Slice the eggplant round. You can also cut them vertically.
• Onion: Onion adds sweetness to the overall taste and balances the flavor. Cut the round onion slices for layering.
• Tomato: Tomatoes are placed at the bottom of the vegetable layer to prevent the other layers from sticking to the bottom of the pot. Cut the round slices of tomato.
• Cooking oil: Cooking oil is used to deep-fry potato slices and eggplant slices.

For Rice Preparation:

• Long basmati rice: Long basmati rice is fragrant rice with a fluffy texture. They are used in maqluba recipes because they can absorb all the liquid and spices and become long during the cooking process.
• Seven spices:  Seven spice is the popular spice of the Middle East that includes a mixture of other spices like cinnamon, cloves, allspice, and nutmeg. You can find this at any grocery store, or you can make it on your own by blending the mentioned spices.
• Cumin, turmeric, salt, and black pepper: These are used to spice up the rice before cooking. They add more depth to the flavors.

For Chicken Preparation:

• Olive oil: Olive oil adds moistness and richness to the taste of chicken. You can also replace the olive oil with butter. But I think the olive oil for this recipe holds more authenticity. 
• Spices: The spices include cardamoms, cloves, cinnamon sticks, bay leaf, and turmeric. All these spices add more richness to the taste of chicken as chicken absorbs their flavor. And provide a deeper flavor to the chicken broth.
• Chicken: I am taking chicken with skin. If you don’t like chicken with skin, you can also take skinless chicken.

How to make Palestinian Maqluba

1. Prepare the vegetables:

First cut potatoes, tomato, eggplant, and onion into round slices. Take oil in a pan and deep fry potatoes and eggplant slices. After that separate the deep-fried vegetables and put them aside.

2. Chicken preparation:

Add olive oil to a pot and add cardamoms, cloves, cinnamon sticks, bay leaf, and chopped onion into the oil. Add the chicken to the pot and cook it until the chicken starts to change its color. After that add four cups of water and cook until the chicken starts to boil for 10 minutes. After it is cooked turn the flame off, separate the cooked chicken, sieve the broth, and set aside.

3. Rice preparation:

Take the basmati rice and wash it thoroughly. Add all the spices turmeric, cumin, salt, black pepper, and seven spice mixture.

4. Assembling and cooking the vegetables, chicken, and rice:

Take oil that has been used to fry vegetables. Add it to the pot and spread it all over the pot. First arrange the first layer of tomatoes, then fried eggplants, fried potatoes, sliced onion, and cooked chicken. Add prepared rice on top and spread it over the layers. Even the rice layer on the top surface and add the broth such that it covers the rice layers to 1 inch. Add 4 cups of broth and water combined. Cook it for 20 minutes on low heat or until all water is absorbed. and turn the flame off, cover it and leave it for 15 more minutes to spread the flavors evenly.

5. Flip it to make upside down rice:

The final and most awaited part has come in this maqluba recipe. Flip the pot on a large serving plate and wait for 5 minutes until all the rice, vegetables, and chicken get detached from the pot walls. 

Recipe Tips

• Properly follow the layering technique. The order is tomato layer followed by eggplant and potato. Onion, chicken, and then rice layer.
• Always choose long basmati rice for the maqluba recipe for perfect maqluba.
• Choose fresh vegetables like eggplants and potatoes. Find fresh vegetables at the local market or from the local farmer.
• Slow and low cooking is the main tip for this recipe. Follow this principle to become an expert in making this dish with ease! If you cook on high flame the rice and vegetables would burn.
• Firmly hold the pan while flipping, pat the pot, and gently remove the pot. Don’t get disappointed if the rice spreads apart a bit because it will still taste excellent.

Storage Options

• Refrigeration. Allow your leftover maqluba to slightly cool or reach room temperature. Place the leftovers in an airtight container and store the maqluba for up to 2-3 days.
• Freezing. If you are storing the maqluba for a long period then freezing can be the best option. Place your maqluba in a freezer-safe container and freeze it for up to 1 month.
• Reheating. Allow the maqluba to rest for 5 minutes before reheating. Add some splash of water over it and reheat it in a pot until hot and then serve it.

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