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Mahshi Kousa bel Laban

A delicious version, to be served hot with plain rice or with roz bil shaghria (rice with vermicelli, page 340).

Ingredients

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Prepare stuffed zucchini as in the preceding recipe for mahshi kousa, using the meat-and-rice filling. Arrange them in a saucepan, and only just cover with water. Bring to the boil and simmer gently, covered, for about 30 minutes, until the water is absorbed and the zucchini are nearly done, adding a little more water if necessary.

    Step 2

    Stabilize about 1 quart yogurt for cooking (page 113) so that it does not curdle.

    Step 3

    Crush 3 garlic cloves with a little salt. Add about 1 teaspoon crushed dried mint, and mix well. Fry this mixture in 1 tablespoon butter for moments only, until it begins to color, and stir into the yogurt. Pour this over the zucchini and simmer, covered, for about 20 minutes longer.

    Step 4

    Serve hot.

Cover of Claudia Roden's The New Book of Middle Easter Food, featuring a blue filigree bowl filled with Meyer lemons and sprigs of mint.
Reprinted with permission from The New Book of Middle Eastern Food, copyright © 2000 by Claudia Roden, published by Knopf. Buy the full book on Amazon or Bookshop.
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