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Chicken Maqluba (Upside Down Chicken)

Saif
An authentic Jordanian Chicken Maqluba Recipe which is mix with chicken, cauliflower, eggplant, potatoes, rice and middle eastern spices.
4.28 from 108 votes
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Main
Cuisine Jordanian, Middle Eastern
Servings 4 servings
Calories 759 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 Cooking Pot For assembling the chicken, rice and vegetables together

Ingredients
  

  • 3 pieces of chicken leg quarters
  • 2 medium-sized potatoes sliced
  • 2 large eggplants sliced lengthwise into 3-4 inches pieces
  • ¾ head of cauliflower
  • 3 medium-sized tomatoes sliced
  • 2 tablespoons of Arabic 7 spice Baharat spice
  • 4 bay leaves
  • 5 cardamom pods
  • 1 ½ teaspoons of turmeric powder
  • 2 cups of Basmati rice
  • 6 cups of water for broth and boiling chicken
  • 1.5 tablespoon of salt 1 tablespoon for the broth, and ½ tablespoon for the rice
  • 1 teaspoon of black pepper adjust to taste
  • cup of cooking oil for frying

Instructions
 

Boiling & Seasoning the Chicken

  • Prepare a large pot for boiling the chicken with water. Remove any excess fat once the chicken starts boiling.
  • Add the 7 spice, cardamom pods, bay leaves, turmeric, salt, and black pepper to the pot and give it a slow stir. The chicken broth should have a slightly salty taste as it will be used to pour over the rice and vegetables. Allow the chicken to boil for 30 minutes.
  • While the chicken is simmering, wash the basmati rice thoroughly for 3-4 times and soak it in warm water for 30 minutes.
  • Once the chicken is cooked, separate it from the broth and set it aside.

Frying the Vegetables and Chicken

  • While the chicken is boiling, chop the cauliflower, slice potatoes, and eggplant into long shapes. Heat vegetable oil in a separate pan for frying.
  • Once the oil is hot, fry the potatoes first until they develop a light brown texture. Then, proceed to fry the cauliflower and eggplants.
  • Finally, fry the chicken in the pan until it browns on both sides. Transfer everything to a plate and set it aside.

Assembling the Maqluba

  • In preparation for the layers, the rice is mixed with the 7 spice, turmeric, salt, and black pepper in a large bowl, then set aside.
  • Using a new cooking pot, it is brushed with oil first to prevent sticking, and then the sliced tomatoes are distributed around it.
  • For the second layer, the fried eggplant is added, followed by the sliced potatoes.
  • For the third layer, the cauliflower is added, followed by the chicken.
  • For the final layer, the spiced rice is added, and then 4-5 cups of broth used to boil the chicken are poured over it.
  • The cooking pot is transferred to the stove over medium heat to let it boil.
  • Once there is less water, adjust the heat and let it simmer for 15 minutes before turning it off.
  • To serve Maqluba, place a large plate on a table. Bring the pot to the plate and quickly turn it upside down. Slowly lift it up to reveal the beautiful layers of Maqluba. Serve it with yogurt and Middle Eastern Salad.

Video

Notes

  • Traditionally, it is garnished with pine nuts, but I am not doing that in my recipe since I am not a fan of having nuts in my rice.
  • If you prefer a healthier version, you can grill or bake the vegetables and the chicken instead of frying them.
  • Before frying the chicken, make sure you dry it with paper towel to prevent the oil from splashing.
  • To prevent the eggplant from absorbing too much oil, soak it in salt water for 30 minutes, and then squeeze it after to release the excess the juice.
  • Season the broth and the rice to make sure it doesn't taste bland when served.

Nutrition

Serving: 5gCalories: 759kcalCarbohydrates: 79.1gProtein: 35.2gFat: 34gSaturated Fat: 7.4gCholesterol: 121mgSodium: 1200mgPotassium: 740mgFiber: 5.9gSugar: 4.2gCalcium: 53mgIron: 2mg
Keyword chicken maqluba, jordanian maqluba, maqluba
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