Fattah is usually eaten on the first day of the Islamic celebration of Eid al-Adha but will be found on dinner tables all year round.
Egyptian Fattah
Ingredients
For the Meat
- 750 g lamb cutlets
- 1 tbsp garlic minced
- 1 onion diced or 1 tbsp dried flakes
- 3 cardamom pods
- 1 bay leaf
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1.5 litres water
For the Rice
- 2 pita breads
- 4 tbsp olive oil extra virgin
- 1 tbsp garlic minced
- 60 ml vinegar divided
- 250 g uncooked rice medium grain
- ½ tbsp butter
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a large pot add all the ingredients for the meat, cover with water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 1 hour or till meat is fork-tender. Discard the cardamoms and bay leaf. This step can be done a day ahead if you like.
- While the meat is cooking; open each pita bread into 2 circles then cut into 1-inch pieces. Place the olive oil in a large skillet (reserving 1 tsp.), add the pita bread pieces and toss or stir to coat well with the oil. Place the skillet on medium heat and toss or stir the bread pieces often till they are golden brown. Remove from skillet. (you can deep fry the bread pieces if this would be easier for you, but drain them well)
- In the same skillet add 1 tsp olive oil and the garlic over medium heat and stir for 1 minute, add the vinegar, a cup of lamb broth from the meat and bring to the boil. Remove from the heat and return the bread to the skillet, cover and set aside to let the bread soak all the liquid.
- In a pot add the butter, rice, salt and pepper over medium heat and stir, then add 1 litre of lamb broth and the remaining vinegar. Cover and lower the heat to low and cook till all the liquid is absorbed and the rice is cooked through.
- To assemble; place the rice first on a serving plate, then spread the bread on top and cover with plain yoghurt. Arrange the lamb cutlets all around. Serve with extra yoghurt on the side.
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