Maqluba

Name: Maqluba
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 60 min
Total time: 90 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Jordan
Ingredients: 3 cups basmati rice, soaked; 2 lbs chicken or lamb pieces; 2 eggplants, sliced and fried; 2 potatoes, sliced and fried; 2 cauliflower florets, fried; 1 onion, chopped; 2 tsp baharat; 1/2 tsp turmeric; 3 tbsp oil; Toasted almonds and pine nuts, for garnish; Salt, to taste

6 servings30 min prep60 min cookMedium Jordan

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The Story Behind It

The Tale of Maqluba

Story updated September 17, 2026

Maqluba, meaning "upside down" in Arabic, is a layered rice, meat, and vegetable dish flipped onto a serving platter, a dramatic presentation shared across the Levant including Jordan, Palestine, and Syria. Its exact origin isn't tied to one country, but it's a beloved centerpiece of Jordanian family meals.

Ingredients

Scale:· 6 servings

3 cups basmati rice, soaked
2 lbs chicken or lamb pieces
2 eggplants, sliced and fried
2 potatoes, sliced and fried
2 cauliflower florets, fried
1 onion, chopped
2 tsp baharat
1/2 tsp turmeric
3 tbsp oil
Toasted almonds and pine nuts, for garnish
Salt, to taste

Instructions

1Simmer the chicken or lamb with onion, baharat, turmeric, and salt in water until cooked through; reserve the broth.
2Fry the eggplant, potato, and cauliflower slices until golden; set aside.
3In a large pot, layer the fried vegetables on the bottom, then the meat, then the soaked rice on top.
4Pour in enough of the reserved broth to just cover the rice.
5Cover and simmer on low heat for 35-40 minutes until the rice is tender and the liquid is absorbed.
6Let rest 10 minutes, then invert the entire pot onto a large serving platter to reveal the layers.
7Garnish with toasted nuts before serving.

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