Laila El-Haddad, Maggie Schmitt

Calabash Stew

Tabeekh Ri’abi

Preparation info

  • Serves

    5–6

    • Difficulty

      Easy

Appears in

The Gaza Kitchen: A Palestinian Culinary Journey

The Gaza Kitchen

By Laila El-Haddad and Maggie Schmitt

Published 2021

  • About

This buttery, nutty squash—called “the necky one” in Arabic—was reportedly a favorite of the prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and is also mentioned in both the Quran and the Bible. Its vine is thought to have provided the prophet Jonah with shade and to have healed his wounds after the whale incident.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound (approximately 500 grams) beef or lamb, cut into 1-inch (2½ centimeter) pieces
  • 6–7 cloves

Method

Prepare the meat according to the instructions in the Maraqa recipe, browning the meat first. Reserve both broth and meat.

Crush the garlic in a mortar and pestle with ½ teaspoon salt and set aside.

Sauté the onion in