Lebanese Recipes: Meghli ( Rice dessert)

Meghli ( Rice dessert)

Meghli is a traditional Lebanese dessert that is a floured rice pudding, spiced with anise, caraway and cinnamon. The dish is often garnished with shredded coconut and various nuts including almonds, walnuts, pine nuts and pistachios.
The dish was traditionally served to celebrate the birth of a male heir, but became in modern Lebanese tradition a celebration dessert for any new born.

Baca Juga

Meghli is also served during the Christmas holiday in recognition of the birth of Christ.
The pudding is also symbolic for fertile rich soil which is brown like the Meghli.
Meghli in Arbaic means " boiled " and in this dish revers to the constant stering while boiling your rice to the perfect pudding dessert.

Serves: 7 people

Ingredients:

- 1 cup of white grounded rice
- 7 cups water + 1 cup cold water
- 1 1/2 cups of sugar
- 2 tablspoons of caraway seeds

- 1 tablespoon of anise seed
- 1 teaspoon of Cinnamon powder
- 1/4 teaspoon powdered ginger

For your Topping:

- Slivered almonds

- Walnuts

- Pine nuts

- Slivered Pistachios

- Dessicated coconut flakes (unsweetened)

Step 1:

Grind rice until fine and powdery. I don't use rice flour because I like the texture better when its grinded without turning it to flour.

Step 2:

Grind the spices, when nice and fine mix rice powder with a cup of cold water then add sugar and spices.
Now bring the remaining water to boil and slowly add the spice and rice mixture.
Keep stirring this mixture occasionally to make sure it doesn't stick to the borrom of your pan.
Cook for about 45 min to 1 hour, keep stering during this cooking process.

Step 3:

When ready cooking check it, it should coat the back of the spoon.

Step 4:

Pour it in bowls to serve,you could either serve it warm or cold. If serving cold, it will take the shape of the mold you poured it into. When cooled propper tip it out the mould and Garnish with coconut, walnuts, pistachio, almonds and pine nuts.