Maqlūba (Fried Pounded-Meat Patties with Sumac)

Ingredients

• red meat
• fresh sumac
• lemon juice
• dried coriander
• cumin
• pepper
• cinnamon
• dried mint
• walnuts
• eggs
• sesame oil

Instructions

1. Slice red meat, chop it with a cleaver, then pound it as fine as possible in a mortar.
2. Boil fresh sumac in water, rub it well, and strain off the sumac water.
3. Boil the pounded meat in the sumac water until cooked and it has absorbed all the liquid (enough to cover twice).
4. Lift out, sprinkle with a little lemon juice, and spread out until dry.
5. Dust with finely pounded coriander, cumin, pepper, and cinnamon; rub in dried mint; add coarsely pounded walnuts.
6. Break in eggs and mix well, then form into patties.
7. Fry in fresh sesame oil in a fine iron or copper pan, flipping to brown both sides, then serve.