Ma’loubet el Betingan

Name: Ma’loubet el Betingan
Yield: serves 6-8
Ingredients: 2 onions, chopped; Vegetable oil; 1 pound lamb or beef, cut into 3/4-inch cubes; Salt and pepper; 1 teaspoon cinnamon; 1/2 teaspoon allspice; 2 pounds eggplants, cut into 1/3-inch-thick slices; 2 cups long-grain or basmati rice, washed; 1/2 cup toasted pine nuts, to garnish (optional)

December 9, 2011

Ma’louba means “upside down” in Arabic. This is a layered meat, vegetable, and rice dish which is turned out upside down like a cake without disturbing the layers. A special wide pan with short straight sides is used to cook it. The eggplant is normally fried first, but broiling in this case does not impair the flavor. It is famously a Palestinian dish. The rice absorbs the meat sauce and the flavor of the eggplants and becomes soft and brown. Serve it with yogurt.

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