Maqlouba

(Oops! I burnt it a bit, not all the black is burnt onion, most of it is the aubergine skins)

A layered veg & rice dish all cooked in one pot.

You will need: 

1 aubergine sliced in 0.5 cm slices

1 small cauliflower cut into large florets

2 medium carrots cut lengthways into 0.5 cm thick slices

2 large tomatoes cut into 1 cm thick slices (or a handful of cherry tomatoes)

4 garlic cloves

2 onions sliced

2 potatoes peeled and sliced thinly

200 g risotto or paella rice washed and drained

For the liquid:

500 ml veg stock (cube is fine!) heat it to boiling before using

1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric

1 teaspoon paprika

1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 teaspoon ground cardamom

1 teaspoon black pepper

salt to taste

The preparation:  

Prepare the veg and then fry in small quantities in deep pan with 1 cm of hot oil 

This is best done in a wide pan with a heavy base, oil the pan and line grease proof paper ( like you would for a cake) layer the veg in this order:

Onions, Aubergine, carrot's, potatoes, tomatoes & cauliflower

sprinkle the garlic

Cover with rice

Mix the stock with the spices and gently pour the liquid so as not to disturb the layers

Try and make sure the rice is covered, but if it's not wait before adding more water, as the veg cooks you can squash it down!

Bring the pan to the boil but not too vigorously (so you don't disturb the layers), then turn down, cover and simmer for 45-60 min, then turn off and leave with a clean tea towel over the top and put the lid back on for 15 min.

Place a large serving plate over the top of the pan and carefully turn the pan and plate over, with any luck the whole thing is now upside down with the layers of veg intact!

Goes well with homous and/or sweet chili sauce! 

Preparation time 30 min

Cooking time 60 min

Serves 4