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Qousi
Main Courses & Grill

Quzi – lamb, rice and raisins

Quzi simply means ‘lamb’ – and in Iraq and Syria it’s the dish that’s brought out to honour guests.

21,90 €

A lamb shank braised low and slow until the tender meat falls from the bone, served over fluffy basmati rice studded with chickpeas and sweet raisins. Alongside sits a bowl of creamy white beans in a savoury sauce and a fresh salad brightened with pomegranate seeds and mint. A traditional Arabic dish full of homestyle warmth.

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Quzi – Qousi on our menu – is one of the great feast dishes of Mesopotamia. The word means ‘lamb’, and that’s exactly what it’s about: lamb, slow-cooked for hours, on a mountain of spiced rice. We serve ours with a whole lamb shank.

A dish for guests

In Iraqi and Syrian families, quzi comes to the table when there’s something to celebrate or when the family wants to honour special guests. Originally a whole lamb was cooked for it; in the restaurant, we serve it as a portion with the shank.

What’s on the plate

The lamb shank is slow-cooked until the meat falls off the bone. The basmati rice underneath is studded with chickpeas and sweet raisins – a classic Iraqi combination. It comes with a bowl of white beans in a spiced sauce, to spoon over the rice, and a salad with pomegranate seeds and mint.

How it compares with our other lamb dishes

The beans and the pomegranate salad are what make it quzi. With peas, pistachios and yoghurt and cucumber sauce, it’s kharouf mahshi; smoky with raisins and nuts, the lamb shank mandi; richly spiced with vermicelli, the lamb shank biryani.

For the table

Cold mezze such as moutabal or a small mixed starter platter make good starters. Lamb on rice is easy to plan in for celebrations – find out more about our wedding catering.

FAQ

Good to know

What does quzi mean?

The word means ‘lamb’ and comes from the Turkish ‘kuzu’. It refers to lamb on spiced rice, as it’s cooked above all in Iraq and Syria.

What comes with quzi?

Slow-cooked lamb shank on basmati rice with chickpeas and raisins, plus a bowl of white beans in a spiced sauce and a salad with pomegranate seeds and mint.

How is quzi different from kharouf mahshi?

Quzi comes with chickpeas, raisins and white beans. Kharouf mahshi has peas, vegetables and pistachios in the rice, and a yoghurt and cucumber sauce.

Is quzi a dish for celebrations?

Traditionally, yes – lamb on rice is served at weddings, festivals and funeral gatherings. For parties in our event hall or for catering, we’ll put the menu together with you.

Is the meat halal?

Yes, all the meat at Dunya is halal.