Quzi
In its own language: قوزي
Lamb cooked with rice, nuts and raisins, often for special gatherings
Quzi is a dish from Iraq made with lamb that is cooked slowly and served over rice with roasted nuts and raisins. It is recognized as a national dish in Iraq and is also enjoyed in other Middle Eastern countries. Quzi is often prepared for celebrations and gatherings, with many local versions across the region.
- Regarded as a national dish of Iraq
- Lamb is slow-cooked and served with rice, nuts, and raisins
- Prepared in various ways across the Middle East
- Often made for weddings and festivals
- Some versions use chicken or ground lamb
What is Quzi?
Quzi is a festive main dish centered around lamb and rice, with the meat cooked until tender and served with a layer of rice, roasted nuts, and raisins. The lamb may be cooked whole or in pieces, and the rice is often seasoned and mixed with vegetables and spices. The finished dish is colorful, with golden rice, dark raisins, and browned nuts, and is known for its rich aroma and hearty flavors.
Where does Quzi come from?
Quzi has its roots in Iraq, where it is considered a national specialty. The name comes from the Turkish word for lamb, reflecting the dish’s main ingredient. Historical references describe it as a whole lamb cooked with a filling, and over time, the name has come to cover a range of lamb and rice dishes across the Middle East. The dish is now found in many countries, each with its own way of preparing and serving it.
How is Quzi made?
The traditional way to make quzi involves slow-cooking lamb, often whole, with a mixture of rice, vegetables, spices, and nuts. In Iraq, the lamb is sometimes cooked in a closed or underground oven. Other regions use different methods, such as wrapping the meat and cooking it over coals or in a pit for a smoky flavor. The rice is prepared separately or as a stuffing, and the dish is finished with roasted nuts and raisins.
How and when is Quzi eaten?
Quzi is usually served at large gatherings, weddings, and festivals, but it can also be part of a family meal. It is brought to the table as a centerpiece, with the lamb arranged over a bed of rice and garnished with nuts and raisins. People often share from a communal platter, especially during celebrations, and it is eaten with side dishes or bread, depending on local custom.
Kinds of Quzi
Across the Middle East, quzi takes many forms. In Saudi Arabia and Yemen, a similar dish called madfoon is cooked wrapped and heated over open flames. In Oman and the UAE, shuwaa is made for holidays, with the meat wrapped in palm leaves and baked underground. In Jordan and Syria, zarb uses smaller cuts of meat with vegetables and sometimes bread dough. Some Levantine versions use ground lamb or even chicken, and ouzi pouches are parcels of dough filled with the seasoned rice and meat.
What Quzi means
Quzi holds a special place at celebrations and important events, especially in Iraq and neighboring countries. It is a dish that marks hospitality and is often prepared for guests or on festive days. In Syria, ouzi is a popular choice for weddings and gatherings. The many regional names and methods show how the dish has spread and adapted, becoming a symbol of shared culture in the Middle East.
Questions people ask about Quzi
What is quzi made of?
Quzi is made with lamb, rice, roasted nuts, raisins, vegetables, and spices. The lamb can be cooked whole or in pieces, and the rice is often seasoned and mixed with the other ingredients.
Where does quzi come from?
Quzi comes from Iraq, where it is considered a national dish. It is also found in other Middle Eastern countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Syria, and Jordan.
How is quzi usually cooked?
Quzi is traditionally slow-cooked, sometimes with the lamb whole and stuffed, using an oven or underground pit. The rice and other ingredients are cooked separately or as a filling, and the dish is finished with roasted nuts and raisins.
Is quzi only made with lamb?
While lamb is the main ingredient, some regional versions use chicken or ground lamb instead. The dish’s name has come to include different meats in some places.
When is quzi typically served?
Quzi is often served at weddings, festivals, and large gatherings, but it can also be enjoyed as a special meal for family and guests.
Good reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Quzi", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Thali rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes, and it is not dietary or allergy advice: recipes differ from cook to cook. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
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