Lebanese Makloubi with Meat Recipe

Photo: Lebanese Makloubi with Meat Recipe

Ingredients:

For step # 1

21/2-lbs of veal large chunks
3-table spoons of olive oil
1-large onion ( peeled and cut in half)
1-teaspoon cinnamon
2-cinnamon sticks
1-teaspoon nutmeg
1-teaspoon all spice
1-teaspoon of black pepper
1 -teaspoon of red pepper flack
2-bay leafs
8 -cups of water


2-large tomatoes, cut into circles
1-large eggplant, cut into circle shapes and fried
½ pound of cauliflower, cut into bite size and fried
3 cups of rice ( your choice, I used Basmati)
1-2 tablespoon of Salt ( add as you desire or less)
3- tablespoons of ghee
1-cup of pine nuts ( fried in Oil until golden brown)
1 cup of blanched almonds ( fired in oil until golden brown)
½ cup of oil for brown pine nuts and almonds

Preparation:

Heat olive oil in a deep pot over medium-high heat and sauté veal meat and cook for 1-2 minutes on each side. Add water, onion, cinnamon powder, and sticks, nutmeg, all spice, black pepper, red pepper flack and bay leafs to the pot and cook again for 2 hours on medium heat or until meat is very tender. Leave in stock once done ( taste stock for your liking of seasoning).

In a large pot, melt the ghee and turn heat to low.

Remove meat from stock and shred with a fork, then evenly place as your 1st layer ( careful HOT)

Place tomato as 2nd layer into the pot then add eggplant as 3rd layer after that add the cauliflower.

Place the rice over the layers and spread evenly.

Strain the stock and carefully pour 6 CUPS over the rice

Cover the pot and place it over high heat until the water start to boil then reduce the heat to medium and keep until the Maklouba is cooked and no more water in pot. (NEVER stir rice)

Prepare flat serving plate and quickly flip the pot over the plate then hit the pot with hand from different places and gently lift it up.

Serve and enjoy Makloubi with your favorite side dish.