Quzi
Quzi (Arabic: قوزي), also spelled as qoozi or ghoozi, is a rice-based dish popular in the Arab states of the Persian Gulf. It is served with very slowly cooked lamb, roasted nuts, raisins and served over rice.[1] It is considered one of Iraq's national dishes and was introduced into Turkey by Syrian immigrants.
 Iraqi quzi | |
| Course | Meal |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Iraq |
| Region or state | Middle East, Persian Gulf and North Africa |
| Main ingredients | Lamb, rice, roasted nuts and raisins |
Etymology
The Arabic word quzi قوزي comes from Ottoman Turkish kuzu قوزو meaning 'lamb'.[2]
Variations
In Iraqi cuisine, it is usually prepared by stuffing a whole lamb with rice, vegetables, spices and nuts and slow-cooking it over a closed or submerged oven.[2] In some places in the Middle East it is buried in a pit containing burning coal or charcoal to get the smoky flavor.
There are many variations to this technique such as in Saudi Arabia and Yemen, where it is called madfoon, cooked by being wrapped in aluminium foil and kept on an open heat source. In Oman and UAE it is called shuwaa and is traditionally eaten on festive occasions, prepared by wrapping the marinated meat in date palm leaves and placing the wrapped meat in a submerged oven. In Jordan, and Syria it is known as zarb; the meat is portioned into smaller pieces and kept along with vegetables and bread dough so that the flavors are enhanced. Another variant is called haneeth where it is cooked inside a hot tabun; this variation can be found in most Middle Eastern countries as well as the Horn of Africa and North Africa.
References
- Whole Roasted Lamb (Qoozi) in Maryam's Culinary Wonders
- Quozi: an Iraqi lamb recipe from chef Philip Juma. Evening Standard, 24 December 2015