Quzi (قوزي) is the dish Iraqi families bring out when it matters — weddings, Eid, the arrival of guests. A whole lamb, or a large shoulder, is seasoned with baharat, cardamom, cinnamon and bay, then cooked low and slow for eight to ten hours until the meat gives way at the touch of a spoon.
It is served over rice that has been cooked in the lamb stock and finished with toasted almonds, raisins and pine nuts, so every grain carries the flavour of the meat. The result is rich but never heavy — the kind of plate that a table shares rather than a person orders.
Because a full Quzi takes most of a day, it is the dish we are asked for most often for
Iraqi catering in Dubai, where we bring a whole lamb to the table at weddings, majlis gatherings and corporate events. For a smaller portion, Quzi is on the
full Iraqi menu at both our
Iraqi restaurant in Deira, Dubai and the
best Arabic & Iraqi restaurant in Sharjah.
Planning a family dinner?
Book a table and tell us in advance so the lamb is ready for your arrival.
