World Flavors Cookbook

Egyptian Fattah

A grand celebratory dish consisting of layers of crispy flatbread, rice, and tender meat, topped with a tangy vinegar and garlic tomato sauce.

Cuisine: Egypt

Ingredients

• 1kg beef or lamb chunks
• 2 cups basmati or short-grain rice
• 3 pita breads, cut into squares and toasted
• 1/2 cup vinegar
• 8 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 cups tomato sauce
• Clarified butter (samna)
• Whole spices: cardamom, bay leaves, black pepper

Instructions

1. Boil meat with whole spices until very tender. Reserve the broth.
2. Cook rice with a bit of samna and salt.
3. Sauté half the garlic in samna until golden. Add vinegar and a ladle of broth. Set aside (white sauce).
4. Sauté remaining garlic, add tomato sauce and a splash of vinegar. Simmer until thickened (red sauce).
5. In a large platter, layer the toasted bread, soak with a little broth and some white sauce.
6. Top with a thick layer of rice, then the meat pieces.
7. Pour the red sauce over the top in a decorative pattern.