Egyptian "Fatta"

"Fatta" is a traditional dish in Egypt, it's so popular and lovely dish in all occasions and Feasts, some people eat it on the first day of Feast (AL-Adha or Al-Fitr), some even eat it for breakfast on the first day of Feast, and some eat it on different occasions like baby shower, Ramadan Iftar, or weddings. Traditional Egyptian Fatta consists of layers of toasted Arabian bread with some beef broth added to it, and a layer of steamed rice with garlic & vinegar and garlic tomato sauce, and then added a layer of boiled meat after adding color to it in the oven. The meat used for this dish can be beef or lamb with or without fat, most people make it with beef shin or feet which makes it really fatty then. This dish is considered one of the easiest main dishes because it doesn't take much time or effort to make.

Serves: 2 to 3 people

Prep. Time: 14 minutes

Cooking Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:

2 cups steamed (cooked) rice

400 gm beef

5 tomatoes (juced or pureed)

3 Arabian bread (about 8 inch each), cut into squares

5 cloves garlic, minced

1 Medium onion

4 tbsp venigar

1 cube chicken bouillon

2 dry bay leaves

2 cardamom

salt, black pepper, cumin to taste

40 gm butter

3 tbsp vegetable oil

Parsley for garnish

Directions:

1- Start with cooking meat over medium heat in water, black pepper, cardamom, bay leaves, whole onion, and remove any foam that comes to the surface and add salt after the meat is almost cooked.

2- Prepare the other ingredients for the dish, start with cooking rice if it's not, and then start making the tomato sauce, place the oil in a pan over medium heat and add the garlic, sautee and once the color starts to change add the vinegar and stir quickly then add the tomato juice (not all leave some for the meat to give color in the oven),  add the chicken bouillon, salt (take care the bouillon has salt), black pepper and cumin, and let the tomato sauce simmer for a while over low heat till it's cooked or the oil comes to the surface.

3- Toast the bread in butter by placing butter in a pan till it melts over medium heat then add the bread and stir very well so the butter is well spreaded over it all, and stir till it gains the color and crispness we need.

4- After the meat is cooked put in the oven to give it a nice crisp and color, first rub it with tomato puree and sprinkle some salt & pepper on it, then into the oven till it gains the color we need.

5- Now that everything is ready for the "Fatta" dish to be done, first place a layer of bread in the service plate and add a little of tomato sauce and beef broth and stir so the bread absorb it.

6- Add a layer of cooked rice over the bread like so.

7- Add some of the beef broth over the rice (about 1/4 to 1/3 cup), then add the tomato sauce over it, you can leave some to serve in a separate dish, you can squeeze half a lemon on top if you like.

8- Now Add the meat on top, garnish with some parsley and serve hot, and... Bon Apetit :)