Meghli
 | |
| Alternative names | Moghli, karawiya |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Levant |
| Region or state | Middle East |
| Main ingredients | Rice, sugar, anise, caraway, cinnamon, coconut, almonds or pistachios |
Meghli, moghli, or karawiyah [1] is a Levantine dessert based on a floured rice pudding and spiced with anise, caraway, and cinnamon. The dish is often garnished with shredded coconut and various nuts including almonds, walnuts, pine nuts and pistachios.[2] Meghli is commonly served to celebrate Christmas or the birth of a child.[3][4]
Name
The name 'meghli' means “boiled” in Arabic, referring to the long time (up to an hour) it must be continuously stirred while boiling.[5]
Celebrations
The dish was traditionally served to celebrate the birth of a male heir, but has now became a dessert to celebrate any newborn.[5] The caraway is thought to assist the new mother in lactating and reduces bloating.
Meghli is also served during the Christmas holiday in recognition of the birth of Christ. Meghli is also symbolic of fertile soil , which is brown like the Meghli.[citation needed]
In Lebanon, it is often served cold. In Syria and Jordan, it is commonly called karawiya (the Arabic name for caraway) and more commonly served warm.
See also
References
- ^ Hussien Dekmak, "Easy, Peasy, Lebanesy", Voyager, March 7, 2009
- ^ Dalal A. Holmin, From the Tables of Lebanon: Traditional Vegetarian Cuisine, Book Publishing Company (TN); 1 edition (June 1997), pg 164
- ^ Meghli, Arabicnews,com
- ^ Kamal Mouzawak, Merry Meghli!, Poetry of Food, poetryoffood.com, retrieved 3-7-2010
- ^ a b Anissa Helou, Lebanese Cuisine: More Than 250 Authentic Recipes From The Most Elegant Middle Eastern Cuisine, St. Martin's Griffin (June 15, 1998), pg 241