The Art of Arabic Cooking - Alif Institute

See below dates and details for our Spring 2026 Arabic Cooking Series.
If you have any questions, please email us at info@alifinstitute.org

9/26: MAQLOOBA

Saturday, September 26
2 PM – 4:30 PM

Single (1 person/station):

$70 (non-Sanad members)
$65 (Sanad members)

Pair (2 people/station):

$85 (non-Sanad members)
$80 (Sanad members)

Maqlooba means “upside-down” in Arabic, and this dish definitely has a little wow factor! It’s a traditional Middle Eastern comfort food made with fragrant rice, vegetables like eggplant, potatoes, or cauliflower, and seasoned chicken. Everything cooks together, so the rice soaks up all those delicious, savory flavors. And then comes the fun part: the flip! We turn the whole pot upside down onto a platter and reveal all those beautiful layers. It’s impressive, dramatic, and always a little exciting!

Don’t worry if you’ve never made maqlooba before. Our experienced instructor will make it easy, approachable, and fun to learn, guiding you through every step. And if your flip doesn’t come out perfectly the first time—no stress! The most important part is that it’s going to taste absolutely delicious. After all, maqlooba is major comfort food, and a slightly imperfect flip just means you get to dig in sooner!

October date coming soon!

November date coming soon!

December date coming soon!

Cooking is one of the best ways to get to know a culture! Join us for a fun-filled and educational afternoon learning to cook and enjoy popular Arabic dishes with our talented guest chefs. You’ll leave with new culinary skills, a deeper connection to the cultural traditions behind the dish, a warm meal to enjoy and new friendships.

EACH CLASS INCLUDES:

Step-by-step cooking instruction
All ingredients and equipment
A finished meal to take home
Recipe to take home
New friends!

MORE DETAILS:

All classes are on Saturdays, from 2 PM – 4:30 PM.
Ages 13 years old and up!
No experience is required and all levels are welcome.
Spaces are limited, so first come, first served for registration.
You can register by yourself or share your station with a partner.

REFUND/CREDIT POLICY:

To ensure that we provide the best experience possible for all our Art of Arabic Cuisine participants, we ask that you kindly provide notice as soon as possible if you aren’t able to attend a reserved class.

Up to 48 hours prior to the session: Refunds and credits are available up to 48 hours prior to your reserved session. For refunds, an administrative fee of $5 will be applied.
No credit or refund is available after 48 hours before a reserved class.

Want to support this program? You can also SPONSOR a session with a tax-deductible donation of $250!