Palestinian Upside-Down Chicken and Rice (Maqlubeh)

Maqlubeh translates from the Arabic as “upside down,” which describes how this traditional multilayered rice dish is served. Reem Kassis, author of “The Palestinian Table,” showed us how to make the dish on a trip to Galilee. Our streamlined recipe still requires a small investment in ingredients and prep, but the work mostly is front-loaded and produces a one-pot dish impressive enough for a special occasion. For proper cooking, it’s important to use a pot 9½ to 11 inches in diameter and 4 to 6 inches deep. After searing and removing the chicken, we line the bottom of the pot with a parchment round to guarantee that the rice, which forms a crisp, browned bottom layer, does not stick when the pot is inverted for serving. If you prefer, you can serve directly from the pot, but we still recommend lining the bottom of the pot with parchment. The classic accompaniment for maqlubeh is a tomato, cucumber and yogurt salad.