Bedouin women from the Desert Embroidery company.
Israeli Bedouin are a proud Israeli Arab-Muslim group, residing mostly in the south of Israel, keeping their nomadic lifestyle as much as possible in this day and age. The Bedouin culture is known for giving back to Israeli society, particularly in the security realm. See our article on some of the most prominent Bedouin Zionists that have fought and died for Israel.
It is not easy to be a woman in Bedouin culture nowadays, but they find ways to reach for their own empowerment. Some are receiving higher education, from Bachelors degrees to a PhD! Others are working within the traditional boundaries of the Bedouin culture and adding a special entrepreneurs touch. A great example is the woman of Desert Embroidery, which is run and operated by local Bedouin women who are sensitive to the needs and problems of their community and of women in particular.
Desert Embroidery is a part of the Association for the Improvement of Women’s Status, which operates in Lakia and the surrounding area, and has been a major influence in the improvement of the status of women over the years. It is a wonderful example of empowerment and the female entrepreneurial spirit! In this week of International Women’s Day, we honor all women who are creating a better life everywhere they are.
Makluba or Maqlooba is a tasty, filling, all-in-one dish that is fairly simple to make. It is a popular dish all over the Middle East and can be made with lamb or chicken. This version is made with chicken. The vegetables can be varied according to taste and season. “Makluba” means “upside down” in Arabic. You will understand the name when you read the recipe!
Ingredients:
2 tomatoes
1 sweet potatoe
1 large eggplant
2 medium size onions
3 medium size white potatoes
1 head of cauliflower
½ kilo rice
1 chicken cleaned and cut into 8 parts.
Place chicken parts in pot. Season with black pepper, turmeric and salt. Cover with water and cook 45 minutes. Remove from pot and save chicken broth.
Brown the chicken parts in a hot oven for about 15 minutes.
While the chicken is cooking, wash the vegetables well. Peel the sweet potato and white potatoes. Cut all the vegetables intro circles or chunks of approximately equal thickness.
Rinse and soak the rice in water for 15 minutes.
In a large (7 liter) pot, spread the onions in a layer. Cover with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Add the chicken in a layer. Then add layers of the remaining vegetables with each vegetable in a separate layer. Finally, add four cups of chicken broth from the cooked chicken.
Cook covered on high heat for ten minutes. Lower the heat and cook an additional 15-20 minutes or until the rice is done and all the water is absorbed.
Prepare a serving platter larger than the cooking pot. Remove the cover of the pot. Cover the pot with the serving dish. Holding the two tightly together, flip the content of the pot onto the serving dish. Remove the pot and admire your Makluba layer “cake”!
From: Grandmother Days: A Taste of Bedouin Life (A publication of the Association for the Improvement of Women’s Status, Lakia, 2013)
