Upside-Down Maqluba with Spiced Lamb and Roasted Vegetables

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-14 · Updated 2026-06-14

A traditional Syrian layered dish featuring spiced lamb, roasted eggplant, zucchini, and cauliflower topped with fragrant basmati rice, inverted to reveal a beautiful, hearty meal. This middle eastern-inspired lamb ready in about 95 minutes pairs lamb shoulder, cubed, cauliflower florets, basmati rice, rinsed for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 550 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 1 lb lamb shoulder, cubed
• 1 medium eggplant, sliced into 1/2-inch rounds
• 1 medium zucchini, sliced into 1/2-inch rounds
• 2 cups cauliflower florets
• 2 cups basmati rice, rinsed
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 3 cloves garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp ground allspice
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 4 tbsp vegetable oil
• 3 cups water or broth
• 1/4 cup pine nuts, toasted
• 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 425°F. Toss 1 sliced medium eggplant, 1 sliced medium zucchini, and 2 cups cauliflower florets with 2 tbsp vegetable oil and 1/2 tsp salt on a baking sheet; roast for 25 minutes until tender and edges are golden.
2. Step 2: In a large pot over medium heat, add 2 tbsp vegetable oil and 1 diced medium onion; sauté for 5 minutes until translucent, then add 3 minced garlic cloves, 1 lb cubed lamb shoulder, 1 tsp ground cinnamon, 1 tsp ground allspice, 1 tsp ground cumin, 1/2 tsp ground black pepper, and 1 tsp salt; cook for 8-10 minutes until lamb browns and spices are fragrant.
3. Step 3: Rinse 2 cups basmati rice under cold water until water runs clear; drain well.
4. Step 4: In a large deep pot, layer the bottom with the cooked lamb and onion mixture, then arrange the roasted eggplant, zucchini, and cauliflower evenly over the lamb; sprinkle the drained rice over the vegetables.
5. Step 5: Carefully pour 3 cups water or broth over the rice layer to cover it, bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce heat to low and cover tightly; simmer gently for 30-35 minutes until rice is fluffy and liquid is absorbed.
6. Step 6: Remove from heat and let rest covered for 10 minutes; then carefully invert the pot onto a large serving platter to reveal the layered maqluba.
7. Step 7: Garnish with 1/4 cup toasted pine nuts and 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley before serving.