Meghli

Meghli, (boiled), or karawiyah, the traditional Syrian dessert based on rice pudding. It is vegan, gluten, and dairy-free dish. Meghli is made with rice flour, caraway Seeds, water, sugar, spices, a variety of nuts and spices, and is then cooked over low heat until the mixture can hold itself.

This dessert is most popularly served to celebrate the birth of a new child in a family. When family and friends come over to see the new child, this pudding is served in individual bowls topped with a variety of nuts and shredded coconut. It is also said that the brown color of the spiced pudding is symbolic for the richness of soil, while the rough texture of the nuts on top represents growing seeds.

In addition to those symbolic meanings, the caraway in the pudding is thought to assist new mothers with lactation and bloat reduction.

 

Ingredients:

1- 5 cup Rice Flour

2- 75 cup Sugar

3- 1 tb. Ground Cinnamon

4- 1 tb. Caraway pudding

5- 1tb Anise

6- 4 cups Water

 

TOPPINGS

– Pinches Grated coconut

– Crushed Pistachio

– Pine Nuts

– Sliced Almonds

– Raisins

 

Directions:

1- Begin by combining all the dry ingredients in a medium-sized deep pot.

2- Add the water (cold or room temperature) and whisk thoroughly.

3- Place the pot on the stove on medium-high heat and let come to a boil, about 5 minutes.

4- Make sure to whisk every now and then so the rice flour does not clump.

5- Once the pudding has started to boil, lower the heat to low and whisk consistently for an additional 15-20 minutes until the pudding has thickened to the perfect consistency.

6- Pour the hot pudding into 4 individual bowls.

7- Top with about 1 teaspoon each of every type of nut and topping you choose to decorate with.

It can be enjoyed either warm or cold.

 

Lara Khouli