What is "quzi"

Quzi also called Qoozi or Ghozi is a rice based dish popular in Levant countries. It is served with very slow cooked lamb, roasted nuts, raisins and served over rice.

It is usually prepared by stuffing the whole lamb with rice, vegetables, spices and nuts and slow cooking it over a closed or submerged oven. In some places in the Middle East it is buried in a pit containing burning coal or charcoal to get the smoky flavor.

There are many variations to this technique such as in Saudi Arabia and Yemen its called 'Madfoon' where its wrapped in aluminium foil and kept on open heat source or in Oman and UAE its called 'Shuwaa' where its kept wrapped in date palm tree leaves before keeping in a submerged oven. In Jordan, Palestine and Syria it is known as 'Zarb' where the meat is portioned into smaller pieces and kept along with vegetables and bread dough so that the flavors are enhanced. Another variant is called ' Haneeth' where it is cooked inside a hot Tabun and found in almost all Arab countries.