I decided recently to do some more cooking from one of my favorite Ottolenghi-adjacent cookbooks, FALASTIN, by Ottolenghi’s primo chef and collaborator, Sami Tamimi from co-authoring the original Ottolenghi the Cookbook (2008). After Jerusalem, which the two also co-authored, Sami published this cookbook explicitly presenting the cuisine of Palestine. Its a wonderful book. Here are accounts of some of the dishes presented.
A dear friend gifted us that book a while ago, but we haven’t made anything from it (like most cookbooks we own).
What are some of your favorite recipes from this one?
MUQLUBET EL FOUL EL AKDHAR - Upside down Spiced rice with lamb and fava beans
A “National Dish” of the Palestinian people and a beautiful centerpiece for a party, as written is serves 8. It starts with the soaking of basmati rice for at least two hours. Having no basmati, I uses some old Jasmine rice from my closet. Next, the lamb meat (I made it with extra lamb (used a frozen half lamb leg) is briefly browned then stewed in a large saucepan, at least 10 in in diameter and 2 inches high) in large pieces with aromatics, including dried limes, cardamon, green chiles, cinnamon and allspice, onions and tomatoes to which 6 c of water is added, until the meat is tender (don’t do what I did, allow the meat to fully cool in the large pot of broth, it may overcook somewhat. The lamb is removed from the broth and broken into large chunks, removing the bones. Retain the broth. While this is going on vegetable are sequentially sauteed in olive oil and kept in separate piles; squash (having none. I used sweet potatoes and carrots instead), green beans and green pepper pieces, and onion wedges.
Next the rice is drained and put into the stock to cook, til al dente and drained. A measured amount of the stock is used in the dish the rest can be kept for other uses (I put mine in the freezer last year and re-used it for my current execution of the dish)
The next step is assembly. The saucepan is buttered and oiled, sides and bottom, and then the ingredients go in in layers, first slices of a large lemon, seeded, then the squash (or subs) onions, chunks of meat, peppers and beans and finally thawed peas and skinned fresh fava beans.salt and press down, then top with the rice, pressing it down to compress. small holes are made in the rice and the specified amount of broth poured in through the holes, then the pan is tightly covered with aluminum foil and its lid and cooked on the stove, for 7 minutes over med high heat, turning to low and not disturbing for 40 minutes more, then uncovering, dotting with butter cooking for 10 min and then allow to cool off heat for about 20 minutes. Meanwhile, fry whole or slivered almonds and pine nuts in butter or oil for garnish.
Now comes the tricky part, finding a serving platter large enough to hold the completed dish (it needs to be at least 12 in diameter. I finally found one (Make sure your platter is oven-proof if you intend to reheat - this glass platter broke into 4 pieces when I reheated the dish for company. Fortunately, it did not shatter into shards so we could eat it!) . Remove the pan lid, invert the serving platter over the pan, and, holding it all together, invert the pan over the platter, tap the pan to help the contents detach and come out onto the platter. Garnish with the nuts, cilantro and some red chile if you like.. serve with yogurt alongside, if you like. Magnificent flavor and beautiful presentation.
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