One in a Million

kamilialahrichi — Fri, 28 Aug 2015 08:06:34 GMT

My name is Kamilia and the airport is my home. I am passionate about people and cultures.
I am currently working as a freelance producer at Associated Press in Buenos Aires, Argentina and as a foreign correspondent for international news outlets.
I decided to become a multimedia journalist to be as close to the humankind's soul and the earth's heart as possible.
At 28, I have lived and worked in Morocco, France, Canada, the United States, Jerusalem, Lebanon, Jordan, Hong Kong and now Argentina.
Yet, I feel I know very little about the world. This insatiable curiosity makes me move on - and away.
I need to tell people's stories just as much as I need to breathe.
This is the reason why I chose to feature 76-year old Delmira Martinez - one of the many Argentines - who has never set a foot outside her country. And hence inspires me to travel the world.

Passport & Plate - Maqluba (meaning “upside down” in Arabic)

kamilialahrichi — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 07:18:20 GMT

Ingredients
- chicken
- long-grain rice
- yogurt
- toasted almonds
- eggplant
- white onion
- oil
- salt
- pepper
- parsley

How to prepare this recipe
- Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sauté the eggplant slices on each side to lightly brown. Remove to a plate.
- Add more oil to the skillet if needed and sauté the onions until translucent. Add the chicken, almonds, lamb, salt and pepper.
- Grease a 3-quart heavy bottomed saucepan well with olive oil or butter. Drain the rice.
- Spoon the chicken mixture over the rice. Lay the eggplant slices to cover the chicken.
- Bring to a boil over medium-high flame, then quickly reduce heat to low, cover tightly and simmer for 45-50 minutes.
- Remove from heat and let rest for 15 minutes.
- Serve hot and bon appétit !

The story behind this recipe
I tasted this recipe for the first and only time when I was an International Relations student interning in an peace organization in Jerusalem in August 2009.
I met a Palestinian taxi driver who gave me a tour of different cities of the West Bank for a few days. As we became friends, he invited me to eat Maqluba at his family's house up the hill overlooking the West Bank. I will never forget this meal because this seven-person family was so generous although they did not have much.

See the blog published here: http://www.pij.org/details.php?blog=1&id=75

Kam'sOnTheRoad

One in a Million

Passport & Plate - Maqluba (meaning “upside down” in Arabic)