Moghrabiyeh

This is a traditional Lebanese dish from our cuisine, one which we like to make in special occasions. The Moghrabiyeh is made of semolina, water and salt. It has a special way of cooking when it is dry. In Lebanon we can find it fresh and the cooking time is less than with the dry version as well as less work. You can find it in Lebanese delicatessen shops. Today I made it for both of my daughters who are coming for lunch as it is a meal you like to share with your loved ones. It’s cooked with both meat and chicken. As for kids we say these are small pasta balls and we can serve it to them with yoghurt. They seem to enjoy it as much as we grown ups do!

Cooking Moghrabiyeh has 3 steps:

-Boiling the chicken

-Preparing the sauce

-Cooking of Moghrabiyeh itself

Ingredients for boiling the chicken:

• a whole chicken of 1.5 kilograms
• 1 tablespoon of salt
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 3 whole cardamon seeds
• 1 teaspoon 7 spices
• 3 cloves
• 2 bay leaves

Preparation of the chicken:

• Wash the chicken and place it in the pressure cooker with about 2 liters of water
• Place all the spices with it cook for about 15 minutes in the pressure cooker until it is tender
• Drain the chicken, remove the skin and the bones. Keep the chicken stock because you will need it to cook the Moghrabiyeh

• 400 grams of lamb cubes ( you can use beef as well if you prefer)
• 2 cups of chick peas, soaked over night
• 750 grams of baby onion peeled
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon cumin
• 1 tablespoon caraway
• 1 teaspoon 7 spices
• 4 tablespoons of vegetable oil
• 3 tablespoons of flour

Preparation of the sauce:

• Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil and fry the meat, add salt and the seven spices , cover with one liter of water and cook until the meat is tender.( In the pressure cooker it will take about 20 minutes)
• Remove the meat from the water when cooked and keep the meat stock
• In a pot heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of the oil and fry the baby onion until nice golden color
• Add the peas, cover with about 2 cups of the meat stock and cook until the peas are tender, this will take about 15 minutes
• Place the cooked meat back, add the cumin and caraway, cover and put on a low heat
• Dissolve the flour with a cup of water and add it to the sauce, stirring from time to time and let it simmer until the sauce thickens
• Adjust the salt as needed

Ingredients for the Moghrabiyeh:

• 1 kg of dried Moghrabiyeh
• 100 grams of butter
• 1 teaspoon of salt
• 1 tablespoon cumin
• 1 tablespoon caraway

Preparation of the Moghrabiyeh:

• Boil about 2 liters of water with a pinch of salt
• Put the fire off and place the Moghrabiyeh in the hot water for 15 minutes, drain and wash with cold water
• n a pot melt the butter and place the Moghrabiyeh, add the cumin and caraway and mix well
• Pour 2 cups of the chicken stock over the Moghrabiyeh, check if it is tender, if not add another cup of the chicken stock at a time until tender

Now you have all the ingredients ready. To serve place the Moghrabiyeh on a plate, cover with the pieces of chicken. Place the sauce in a bowl. Mix to eat, you can have yogurt on the side.

ET VOILA..C’EST.. BON APPETIT..