Egyptian Meammar: Creamy Baked Savory Rice

Indulge in a truly unique culinary experience with Baked Meammar Rice, a cherished Egyptian classic that effortlessly combines rich flavors with a comforting, creamy texture. This isn’t just a meal; it’s a testament to timeless traditions, bringing together simple ingredients like butter, milk, and cream to create a dish that is both profoundly satisfying and incredibly versatile. Whether you prefer a savory masterpiece or a sweet delight, Meammar Rice stands out as a luxurious one-pot wonder, promising an unforgettable taste sensation and a remarkably easy cleanup, reminiscent of other comforting rice dishes such as a classic chicken and yellow rice recipe.

At its heart, Meammar Rice is one of Egypt’s most authentic and deeply rooted traditional recipes, echoing the country’s ancient culinary heritage. The name “Meammar” itself translates to “loaded” or “filled,” aptly describing a dish generously endowed with rich, full-fat ingredients. Traditionally, this includes copious amounts of full cream, clarified butter (ghee), and whole milk, all slow-cooked to perfection in a clay pot. This prolonged, gentle baking process in the oven allows the rice to meticulously absorb every nuance of these sumptuous flavors, transforming into a dish that is distinctively fluffy, exquisitely aromatic, and possesses a truly heavenly taste that delights the palate.

A close up of a bowl of food, with Rice pudding and spoon

Contents

The Legacy of Egyptian Meammar Rice: A Culinary Journey Through Time

While Meammar Rice may not be an everyday staple for most, its grandeur is perfectly suited for those moments when you crave a touch of culinary luxury. It’s the quintessential dish for special occasions, family gatherings, or holiday feasts, designed to impress your guests with its rich presentation and profound taste. Beyond its impressive flavor, it offers the practical benefit of being a single-pot meal, significantly reducing your post-dinner clean-up—a welcome relief for any host.

The beauty of Meammar Rice lies in its incredible adaptability. This dish can be prepared entirely meatless, offering a hearty vegetarian option. Alternatively, it can be enriched with various proteins such as succulent red meat, flavorful minced meat, or tender chicken. My personal preference leans towards incorporating chicken, transforming it into a complete, wholesome one-dish meal. The convenience of simply assembling it, placing it in the oven, and allowing it to bake undisturbed for about an hour is truly liberating, making it a stress-free centerpiece for any special occasion.

A close up of a bowl of food, with Rice pudding

A Taste of Heritage: My Sitto’s Enduring Influence

This particular recipe holds a special place in my heart, passed down through generations. It’s my Aunt Mona’s recipe, one she undoubtedly inherited from her mother, my beloved grandmother, whom we affectionately called Sitto. Though I never had the chance to know my paternal grandmother, my Sitto, my mother’s side, was a towering figure in my life. She was the embodiment of traditional Egyptian cooking, a culinary matriarch who graced our lives with her daily creations. Sitto cooked every single day, refusing to let anyone, not even her own daughters, take over her domain in the kitchen. Her approach was deeply authentic, rooted in time-honored methods and an unparalleled passion for food.

I often reflect on the lifestyle of generations past, a stark contrast to our modern routines. Back then, daily meals didn’t always feature meat or chicken, a challenge many of us face today in balancing nutrition and consumption. Life was physically demanding; they would get on their hands and knees to scrub floors, a natural form of exercise far removed from our structured gym visits and the endless search for motivation. Their diets were simple yet wholesome, centered around fresh, seasonal produce, and many raised their own poultry like chickens, ducks, and pigeons, never knowing the concept of frozen vegetables or pre-packaged meals. This commitment to a natural, active lifestyle likely contributed to their longevity. All my grandparents lived to a ripe old age, often passing peacefully after just a brief stay in the hospital, a testament to their robust health.

My Sitto was a remarkable woman, full of life and a vibrant sense of humor. I remember her pulling a chair close to our small, perhaps 14-inch television, so she could both see and hear clearly, stubbornly refusing to wear glasses or hearing aids. She possessed an incredible sense of pride and an unwavering spirit, remaining strong until her final days. Her laughter was infectious, and her favorite pastime was watching the Egyptian comedian Ismail Yasin, whose style she likened to Abbott and Costello. She lived a calm, simple life and departed just as calmly, without fuss. May her beautiful soul rest peacefully in heaven, her culinary legacy living on through dishes like Meammar Rice.

Crafting a Lighter Meammar Rice: A Modern Adaptation

While the traditional Meammar Rice is undeniably rich, I’ve successfully adapted this recipe to reduce its fat content without compromising an iota of its exquisite taste. My modifications include using 1% milk instead of full-cream milk, opting for butter over ghee (and significantly cutting the amount by half), and employing a clever combination of Mascarpone cheese and sour cream. This blend replaces the heavy milk cream typically used in Egypt, which is essentially pure milk fat. These thoughtful substitutions allow for a lighter version of the dish, making it more accessible for regular enjoyment while still retaining its signature creamy indulgence.

This exceptional rice dish is incredibly popular throughout Egypt, especially during celebratory banquets and, notably, during the holy month of Ramadan. It’s a dish that symbolizes warmth, generosity, and tradition, making it a perfect addition to any festive table. I wholeheartedly encourage you to try this recipe. Experience the incredible texture, the nuanced flavors, and the comforting satisfaction that only a dish steeped in such rich history can offer. As always, enjoy the process and the delightful outcome!

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Savory Rice with Cream (Egyptian Meammar Rice)

A traditional, authentic Egyptian rice dish, loaded with flavors and rich.

4.75 from 43 votes

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Course:
Main Course, Side Dish

Cuisine:
Middle Eastern

Prep Time:
10 minutes

Cook Time:
50 minutes

Servings:
5 servings

Calories:
234.8kcal

Author:
Amira

Ingredients

1.5 cups of short grain rice – like Calrose.
2 Tablespoon unsalted butter divided.
5 chicken tenders. Note: See recipe notes for optional variations.
½ teaspoon salt or to taste.
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper.
2 Tablespoon sour cream.
1 Tablespoon Mascarpone cheese.
1.5 cup Chicken broth any type.
1.5 cup milk (preferably 1% for a lighter version).

Instructions

Begin by thoroughly washing the short-grain rice. Once clean, soak it in water for a minimum of 15 minutes. This step helps the rice cook more evenly and absorb flavors better.
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to ensure it’s ready for baking when the rice is prepared.
While the oven preheats, melt 1 Tablespoon of butter in a pan over medium heat. Brown the chicken tenders for 2-3 minutes on each side until lightly golden. Season the chicken with a pinch of salt and pepper for enhanced flavor, then set them aside.
Drain the soaked rice thoroughly. In a large bowl, combine the drained rice with salt, pepper, sour cream, Mascarpone cheese, and the remaining 1 Tablespoon of butter. Mix all the ingredients very well until each grain of rice is evenly coated with the creamy mixture.
In a deep oven-safe dish (traditionally, a clay pot is used for authentic results), spread approximately 5 Tablespoons of the seasoned rice mixture to form an even layer covering the bottom of the dish.
Carefully arrange the browned chicken pieces over the initial layer of rice if you are including them. Then, gently cover the chicken with the remaining rice mixture, ensuring the surface is leveled for even cooking.
In a separate pot, combine the milk and chicken broth. Bring this liquid mixture to a boil over medium heat. Once boiling, remove it from the heat and add a dash of black pepper for seasoning.
Pour the hot milk and broth mixture evenly over the rice in the oven dish. To promote gentle and moist cooking, place the rice dish into a larger oven pan or dish that has been filled halfway with water, creating a bain-marie.
Bake in the preheated oven for approximately one hour, or until the rice is perfectly cooked, tender, and the surface has developed a beautiful golden-brown crust.
Allow the Meammar Rice to cool slightly before serving. This brief resting period helps the flavors meld and the rice settle.
Serve warm and savor every spoonful of this delightful Egyptian delicacy! Enjoy!

Notes

*Note 1: The inclusion of chicken in this Meammar Rice recipe is entirely optional but highly recommended for a complete meal. You can easily prepare this dish meatless, or substitute chicken with other proteins such as red meat or minced meat, depending on your preference.

Please refer to our nutrition disclaimer policy for more information.

Nutrition

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