Middle Eastern · dinner, lunch

Mugalgal (Saudi Pan-Seared Lamb with Tomato and Chilli)

مقلقل اللحم

Video by Manal Alalem on YouTube, in Arabic · Open on YouTube

45 minServes 5527 kcal a serve
  • Nut-free

Contains: Gluten, Milk. Check labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes.

42 g protein and 16 g net carbs a serve from lamb seared fast with onion, tomato and warm spices; a serve is rich in vitamin B12 and zinc.

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Ingredients 16

Method

The cook speaks Arabic; every step is written here in English. Tap a time to watch that step in the video. For subtitles, tap CC in the video, then Settings › Subtitles › Auto-translate › English.

  1. Heat a saj (domed iron griddle, used hollow side up), a wok or a heavy wide pan until very hot, then add the ghee. 2:50
  2. Dust the lamb lightly with the flour and add it in batches so it fries rather than stews. Stir constantly over high heat until browned and the juices have evaporated; lift out each batch and repeat. 3:17
  3. Return all the meat and add the onion chunks, tossing them through the meat until they start to soften. 6:24
  4. Add the sliced garlic and keep tossing for a minute until it smells sweet. 7:11
  5. Season with the mixed spice, cumin, chilli flakes, ground coriander, black pepper and, last of all, the salt. 7:50
  6. Add the tomatoes and green chillies and keep stirring until they soften and the meat is nearly cooked. 8:36
  7. If the lamb still needs time, lower the heat and cover it with foil for a few minutes. Splash in about ¼ cup water and scrape up the browned bits to make a little sauce; add the tomato paste if the colour is pale. 9:35
  8. Pile onto a platter and scatter with chopped coriander. 10:50

Tip. Serves about 5 (our estimate for 1 kg of lamb). A Gulf favourite on desert camping and hunting trips, cooked on a saj over charcoal; eat it with bread or rice, or with a big salad to keep the carbs down. Oil can replace the ghee.

The method is a summary in our words — the video shows every step.

One serve gives you 1 of 5

Energy527 kcal2,210 kJ
Protein42 g83% of a day
Fibre4.2 g15% of a day
Carbohydrate20 g16 g net · 7.9 g sugars7% of a day
Fat31 g14 g saturated40% of a day
Sodium590 mg26% of a day

Where the energy comes from one serve

  • Net carbs 13%
  • Protein 33%
  • Fat 54%

Low carb: under 26% of the energy is from carbs.

Vitamins & minerals % of a day, one serve · tap for more

Vitamin B12 High162%

3.9 µg a serve, mostly from lamb (100%). Keeps nerves and blood cells healthy. Found almost only in animal foods and fortified foods (some plant milks, nutritional yeast), so vegans need a reliable source.

Selenium High76%

42 µg a serve, mostly from lamb (93%). Part of the body's antioxidant enzymes and needed for thyroid hormones. Seafood, eggs, meat and Brazil nuts are rich sources.

Zinc High66%

7.2 mg a serve, mostly from lamb (91%). Needed for immunity, wound healing, taste and growth. Meat, seafood, legumes, seeds and whole grains supply it.

Vitamin C High37%

33 mg a serve, mostly from tomatoes (52%). An antioxidant needed for collagen, immunity and iron absorption. Long cooking destroys some, so raw herbs, citrus and capsicum help.

Vitamin B6 High30%

0.5 mg a serve, mostly from lamb (41%). Helps turn food into energy and make brain messengers. Chickpeas, fish, poultry, potatoes and bananas are good sources.

Omega-3 High30%

0.5 g a serve, mostly from lamb (94%). Omega-3 fats support the heart and brain. Oily fish give EPA and DHA; walnuts, flax, chia and canola give ALA, which the body converts only a little.

Iron High23%

4.2 mg a serve, mostly from lamb (68%). Carries oxygen in your blood. Iron from plants absorbs better with vitamin C in the same meal — lemon, tomato or capsicum.

Potassium High21%

1000 mg a serve, mostly from lamb (47%). Balances sodium to help control blood pressure and keeps muscles and nerves working. Beans, potatoes, leafy greens and fruit are rich sources.

Vitamin K Source18%

22 µg a serve, mostly from tomatoes (46%). Needed for blood clotting and bones. Leafy greens and herbs are very rich in it. If you take warfarin, keep your intake steady and talk to your doctor.

Folate Source18%

71 µg a serve, mostly from lamb (42%). Needed to make DNA and new cells — especially important before and in early pregnancy. Legumes and leafy greens are rich sources.

Magnesium Source16%

68 mg a serve, mostly from lamb (53%). Takes part in hundreds of reactions — energy, muscles, nerves, blood sugar and bones. Nuts, seeds, legumes and whole grains are good sources.

Vitamin A Source13%

120 µg a serve, mostly from tomatoes (45%). Keeps eyes, skin and the immune system healthy. Orange vegetables and dark greens give beta-carotene, which the body turns into vitamin A.

Vitamin E Source11%

1.7 mg a serve, mostly from tomatoes (41%). An antioxidant that protects cell membranes. Nuts, seeds and plant oils such as olive oil are the main sources.

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Calcium6%

80 mg a serve, mostly from lamb (32%). Builds bones and teeth and helps muscles and nerves work. Dairy, calcium-set tofu, sardines with their bones and some greens supply it.

Vitamin D1%

0.1 µg a serve, mostly from lamb (100%). Helps you absorb calcium for bones and supports muscles. Few foods have much — oily fish, eggs, UV-exposed mushrooms, fortified milks. Sunlight is the main source.

Estimated from the ingredient list with USDA FoodData Central values; % of a day uses the food-label daily values. How this works

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Recipe and video by Manal Alalem; the method summary, nutrition estimate and diet notes are Notbroken’s. General information about food, not dietary advice.