Gursan with Lamb and Vegetables
Gursan is a traditional Saudi Arabian dish featuring layers of dried, paper-thin bread (gursan) soaked in a rich broth with tender lamb and a medley of vegetables. It's a hearty and nourishing meal, often enjoyed communally.
🧂 Ingredients
- 750 g Boneless lamb meat(cut into medium-sized pieces)
- 3 tbsp Vegetable oil
- 2 large Onions(chopped)
- 3 cloves Garlic(minced)
- 4 medium Ground tomatoes(pureed or finely chopped)
- 1 tbsp Tomato paste
- 3 cups Water
- 2 cubes MAGGI Chicken Stock cubes
- 1 medium Carrots(cubed)
- 1 medium Potato(cubed)
- 2 medium Zucchini(cubed)
- 1 medium Green bell pepper(cubed)
- 2 pieces Dried lemon
- 1 tsp Ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp Ground cumin
- 1 tsp Ground coriander
- 1 tsp Ground black pepper
- 1 tsp Ground cardamom
- 1 tsp Ground turmeric
- 1 tbsp Salt(or to taste)
- Dried Gursan bread(or thin Arabic flatbread, torn into pieces)
- Fried onions(for garnish)
- Fresh coriander(chopped, for garnish)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Heat vegetable oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add chopped onions and sauté until golden brown, about 3-4 minutes.
💡 Tip: Ensure onions are evenly browned for better flavor. - 2
Add minced garlic, lamb pieces, ground cinnamon, cumin, coriander, black pepper, cardamom, and turmeric. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 4-5 minutes until the lamb is lightly browned and fragrant.
⏱️ 5 minutes - 3
Stir in the ground tomatoes and tomato paste. Cook for another 10 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld.
⏱️ 10 minutes - 4
Add water, MAGGI Chicken Stock cubes, dried lemons, and salt. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 1 hour, or until the lamb is almost tender.
⏱️ 1 hour - 5
Add the cubed carrots, potato, zucchini, and green bell pepper to the pot. Cover and continue to simmer for another 10-15 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender but not mushy.
⏱️ 15 minutes - 6
While the stew is simmering, prepare the gursan bread by tearing it into bite-sized pieces. If using dried bread, you may need to slightly rehydrate it with a little warm water.
💡 Tip: Ensure the bread pieces are not too small, as they will absorb a lot of liquid. - 7
To assemble, place a layer of gursan bread pieces in a deep serving bowl. Ladle some of the lamb and vegetable stew, including plenty of broth, over the bread. Repeat the layering process until the bowl is full, ensuring the bread is well-soaked.
💡 Tip: The bread should be completely submerged in the broth. - 8
Top the final layer of bread with the remaining lamb and vegetables. Garnish with fried onions and fresh coriander.
💡 Tip: Serve immediately while hot.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Adjust the amount of spices to your preference.
- ✓If you cannot find dried gursan bread, use thin Arabic flatbread (like saj or markook) and tear it into pieces.
- ✓For a richer flavor, you can brown the lamb pieces more intensely before adding the onions.
🔄 Variations
- Use beef instead of lamb.
- Add other vegetables like pumpkin or eggplant.
- For a spicier dish, add a chopped chili pepper with the onions.