Palestinian Maftoul Recipe

Maftoul, also known as Palestinian couscous, is a traditional Palestinian dish made with hand-rolled couscous pearls. Here’s a recipe for making Maftoul:

Ingredients:

For the Maftoul:

• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup water
• Salt

For the Stuffing:

• 1 cup ground beef or lamb
• 1 large onion, finely chopped
• 1 cup mixed vegetables (carrots, peas, and chickpeas)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• Salt and pepper to taste

For the Tomato Sauce:

• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 can (14 oz) crushed tomatoes
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground allspice
• Salt and pepper to taste

For Cooking the Maftoul:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 cups chicken or vegetable broth

Instructions:

Making the Maftoul:

1. In a large bowl, mix the whole wheat flour, all-purpose flour, and a pinch of salt. Gradually add water while kneading until you form a dough. It should be firm but pliable.
2. Take small pieces of the dough and roll them into tiny pearls, about the size of peas. This is a time-consuming process, so you can enlist help to make it more fun.
3. Once all the pearls are made, spread them on a tray and let them dry for a few hours or overnight.

Preparing the Stuffing:

1. In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté until translucent.
2. Add the ground meat and cook until browned.
3. Stir in the mixed vegetables, ground cumin, ground coriander, salt, and pepper. Cook until the vegetables are tender.

Making the Tomato Sauce:

1. In a separate saucepan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté until fragrant.
2. Add tomato paste, crushed tomatoes, ground cinnamon, ground allspice, salt, and pepper. Simmer the sauce for about 15-20 minutes.

Assembling and Cooking:

1. In a large pot, heat olive oil. Add the Maftoul pearls and toast them for a few minutes until they start to brown.
2. Add the chicken or vegetable broth and bring it to a boil.
3. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low and cover the pot. Let it simmer for about 20-25 minutes or until the Maftoul is tender and has absorbed the liquid.
4. Mix the cooked Maftoul with the prepared stuffing.
5. Serve the Maftoul on a large platter, topped with the tomato sauce.
6. Optionally, garnish with chopped fresh herbs like parsley or mint.

Enjoy this traditional Palestinian Maftoul dish with its deliciously spiced meat stuffing and flavorful tomato sauce!