Meghli
A dark spiced rice pudding made to celebrate a birth, soaked in caraway, anise and cinnamon and buried under soaked nuts. Served cold, and not sweet in the way you expect.
Photograph credit: meghli by celinecelines · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Flickr · this resized copy is shared under the same licence
Method
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Soak the walnuts, almonds and pine nuts in cold water in separate bowls for at least 480 minutes, or overnight.
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Whisk the ground rice, sugar and all the spices with 500 ml of the water until completely smooth and lump-free.
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Stir in the remaining litre of water and bring to the boil over medium heat, whisking continuously.
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Once it boils, lower the heat and cook 45 minutes, stirring every few minutes, until it is thick, glossy and very dark brown.
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Pour into small glasses or bowls and leave to cool to room temperature, then chill until cold and set.
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Drain the soaked nuts and pat them dry.
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Cover the surface of each glass thickly with coconut, then pile the soaked nuts on top and serve cold.
Chef’s Tips
- A full 45 minutes of simmering. Undercooked spices taste raw.
- Soak the nuts, do not toast them. Soft and milky is the point.
- Whisk continuously as it comes to the boil or it catches.
Pairing Suggestions
- Arabic coffee
- Sweet tea
- Fresh dates
Storage & Reheating
Refrigerated for 4 days; add the nuts and coconut only when serving. Do not freeze.
Common questions
How long does Meghli take to make?
About 1 hour of hands-on work — 15 minutes of preparation and 45 minutes of cooking — plus 8 hours of soaking the nuts, so allow 9 hours from start to finish. The recipe serves 8.
What are the key tips for making Meghli?
A full 45 minutes of simmering. Undercooked spices taste raw. Soak the nuts, do not toast them. Soft and milky is the point. Whisk continuously as it comes to the boil or it catches.
What should I serve with Meghli?
Arabic coffee; Sweet tea; Fresh dates.
Can Meghli be made ahead or frozen?
Refrigerated for 4 days; add the nuts and coconut only when serving. Do not freeze.
Is Meghli suitable for a special diet?
This recipe is vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and dairy-free. Those labels are checked against the ingredient list, so a dish is only marked when nothing in it contradicts the claim.
How many calories are in Meghli?
About 245 kcal per serving, with 4 g protein, 44 g carbohydrate and 6 g fat. The figures are calculated from the ingredient list and are an estimate.
Nutritional Highlights
Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.
Reader Reviews
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Written and tested by Turab
One person, one kitchen — no test kitchen, no team. How every recipe on this site is checked before it goes up.