Middle Eastern Lamb And Rice With Apricots Food

MAQLUBA (MAKLOUBEH) WITH LAMB (ARABIC RICE DISH)

Steps:

• Start by preheating the oven to 450F
• Wash the eggplant and peel it every other stripe as shown in the ingredients photo. Cut into into thick slices, about half an inch thick
• Wash and peel the potatoes, and cut them into roughly half inch thick circles
• Place the eggplant and the potato on a lined baking sheet. Sprinkle them with salt and combine them with the oil (the amounts under the ingredients section). Bake for 30 minutes.
• Wash the meat and sear it on medium high heat using the 2 tablespoons of oil. Add the 3 cups of water and all the whole spices and pressure cook for 10 minutes. If you are not using a pressure cooker, boil on stove top covered on medium heat for 40-60 minutes until tender.
• Cut the onion and pepper into wings or slices. Cook with the oil in a pan over medium heat for 7 minutes until softened. Set aside.
• Once the meat is cooked, remove it and set aside. Strain the stock from the whole spices.
• To the hot stock (in a bowl or a pot), add the turmeric, salt, black pepper and tomato paste. Mix well to combine and add additional water to reach the 5.5 cups required. I do this by using a measuring cup to measure the total amount of stick then top it up with water until I reach 5.5 cups
• Wash the rice several times until the water runs clear. Drain it and set aside
• Cut the tomato into slices
• To layer the maqluba, start by adding 2 tablespoons of oil to the bottom of the pot, then add the tomato slices, followed by eggplant, potato, meat, onions and peppers, then the rice
• Pat the rice down firmly, then pour the stock on top. Pat down again using a wooden spoon to ensure the stock is fully covering the rice
• Place the pot on medium high heat and allow it to start bubbling, which should take 5 minutes or so
• Once it is bubbling, cover it and decrease the heat to low. Ensure the pot is well covered by also adding a towel on top, especially if your pot has any holes. Cook for 50 minutes.
• After 50 minutes, turn heat off and allow maqluba to rest for 5-10 minutes. If you open it and realize your top layer of rice is undercooked or under seasoned, read the troubleshooting section
• When ready to serve, find a large tray with raised edges and place it on top of the pot. Use both hands and place them on each handle while holding the tray down. In a swift motion, flip the pot over (have someone nearby to help you if you need it). Leave the pot flipped over the tray for a few minutes and allow gravity to slowly drop the maqluba
• Lift the pot very slowly to help keep it intact. Serve with yogurt or Jajik and enjoy!

LAMB & APRICOT STEW

Steps:

• In a medium-sized pan, heat 1 tbsp of the oil. Season the meat and fry briefly until browned. Remove from the pan and add the remaining oil. Add the onion, garlic and ginger, and fry with a little seasoning. Cook for 5 mins until soft, then add the spice mix, tomato purée, apricots and stock, and return the lamb to the pan. Simmer gently for 25 mins. Serve with warm couscous, mint or coriander leaves, and lemon wedges.

MIDDLE EASTERN LAMB AND RICE WITH APRICOTS

Steps:

• Melt 2 Tablespoons butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
• Stir in the rice and cook for 2 minutes.
• Add the water and the teaspoon of salt.
• Bring to a boil, lower the heat, stir with a fork, cover and simmer for 15 minutes or until the rice is tender, but still somewhat al dente and most of the liquid has been absorbed.
• In a large frying pan, over medium heat, melt the remaining butter and brown the lamb evenly. Add more butter if needed.
• Add the garlic and season with salt, pepper, nutmeg, and cumin; cook for 5 minutes.
• Barely cover with water and simmer, covered for 20 minutes.
• Add the apricots and currants and cook, covered for 20 minutes, or until lamb is just tender.
• Taste for seasoning, adding salt and pepper, if needed.
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350°F.
• In a casserole, arrange alternating layers of rice, with any of the liquid it was cooked in, with layers of the lamb and the liquid it was cooked in, ending with a layer of rice.
• Cover and bake for 15 minutes.
• Serve from the casserole.

ARABIAN ROAST LAMB FIT FOR A KING AND QUEEN, WITH SPICED RICE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425F degrees. Wash and trim the lamb of any excess fat, and pat dry with a clean cloth.
• Rub the leg of lamb all over with the spices, salt, pepper, and oil. Place it in a large roasting pan and put it into the preheated oven. After 20 minutes, take the pan out of the oven, pour in 4 1/4 cups water, and add the onion and garlic. Cover the meat with a large sheet of foil and put it back in the oven. Lower the heat to 300F degrees, and cook for 3 hours.
• While the meat is cooking, prepare the rice. Wash the rice in cold water, rinse in a fine mesh strainer under cold running water, and drain. In a large pan, fry the onion in 2 tablespoons oil until it is soft and beginning to color. Add the ground beef and cook, stirring, turning it over and crushing it with a fork to break up any lumps, until it has changed color. Add salt and pepper and all the spices: cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, and cloves. Stir well and add the rice, then stir again.
• Pour in the boiling stock, mix well, and simmer, covered, for about 10 to 20 minutes until the rice is tender. Add a little stock or water if it becomes too dry. Drain (if necessary) and keep it on the side until you are ready to serve.
• Fry the almonds, pistachios, and pine nuts separately in the remaining oil until they just begin to color. When the leg of lamb is ready, place it on a serving dish with the rice. You can cut the meat off the bone into slices, if you wish. Sprinkle the fried nuts all over the rice. Serve the flavorsome meat broth produced at the bottom of the roasting pan as a sauce. Heat it through and serve it in a jug, first pouring off as much of the fat from the top as you can.

MOROCCAN LAMB WITH APRICOTS, ALMONDS & MINT

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large flameproof casserole. Add the lamb and cook over a medium-high heat for 3-4 minutes until evenly browned, stirring often. Remove the lamb to a plate, using a slotted spoon.
• Stir the onion and garlic into the casserole and cook gently for 5 minutes until softened. Return the lamb to the pot. Add the stock, zest and juice, cinnamon, honey and salt and pepper. Bring to the boil then reduce the heat, cover and cook gently for 1 hour.
• Add the apricots and two-thirds of the mint and cook for 30 minutes until the lamb is tender. Stir in the ground almonds to thicken the sauce. Serve with the remaining mint and toasted almonds scattered over the top.

TURKISH LAMB PILAU

Steps:

• Dry-fry the pine nuts or almonds in a large pan until lightly toasted, then tip onto a plate. Add the oil to the pan, then fry the onion and cinnamon together until starting to turn golden. Turn up the heat, stir in the lamb, fry until the meat changes colour, then tip in the rice and cook for 1 min, stirring all the time.
• Pour in 500ml boiling water, crumble in the stock cube, add the apricots, then season to taste. Turn the heat down, cover and simmer for 12 mins until the rice is tender and the stock has been absorbed. Toss in the pine nuts and mint and serve.

MEDITERRANEAN SPICED RICE WITH APRICOTS

Steps:

• In a saucepan, over medium heat, warm the olive oil, add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
• Stir in the chicken stock and water; bring to a boil.
• Add the rice; reduce heat, cover and cook for 15 minutes or until rice is almost tender.
• Stir in seasonings, apricots and green onion; cook an additional 5 minutes to blend flavors.

LAMB STEAKS WITH MOROCCAN SPICED RICE

Steps:

• Put the rice in a pan with water to generously cover, and add the stock cube or powder. Bring to the boil, then simmer for 10-12 mins, until the rice is tender. Drain well.
• Heat the grill and season the steaks or chops. Grill for 3-4 mins on each side until cooked to your liking.
• Meanwhile, heat the oil in a pan, add the onion and fry gently for 5 mins until lightly coloured. Add the garlic and pine nuts, then fry until the nuts are lightly toasted. Stir in the spices, then add the apricots and rice and mix well, heating everything through. Stir through the parsley or coriander and serve with the steaks or chops, adding the lemon wedges for squeezing over.