Gursan

Gursan

قرصان (gur-SAN)

Layered Bread Stew

Prep Time 1 hour 15 min
📈 Difficulty Medium
👥 Servings
6
🔥 Calories 458 kcal

Layers of thin, round bread sheets interleaved with a rich chicken and vegetable stew, creating a unique Qatari dish where each bread layer absorbs the fragrant broth differently.

Nutrition & Info

460 kcal per serving
Protein 26.0g
Carbs 48.0g
Fat 18.0g
Protein Carbs Fat

Dietary

dairy-free nut-free

Allergen Warnings

⚠ gluten

Equipment Needed

large pot flat griddle deep serving dish

Instructions

  1. 1

    Make dough from flour, water, and a pinch of salt. Knead until smooth, divide into 6 balls, roll each paper-thin, and cook on a hot griddle for 1 minute per side.

  2. 2

    Brown chicken in oil for 5 minutes. Add onion, tomatoes, tomato paste, bezar, turmeric, and dried lime. Cook 3 minutes.

  3. 3

    Add broth and potatoes. Simmer for 30 minutes until chicken is cooked through.

  4. 4

    Add zucchini and cook 10 more minutes.

  5. 5

    Layer the cooked bread sheets in a deep dish, spooning stew and broth between each layer. Let rest 5 minutes so bread absorbs the liquid.

  6. 6

    Serve by cutting through all layers, ensuring each portion has bread, chicken, and vegetables.

💡

Did You Know?

Gursan is sometimes called the Qatari lasagna — layers of bread and stew that become more unified and flavorful the longer they sit together.

Chef's Notes

Equipment Tips

  • large pot
  • flat griddle
  • deep serving dish

The Story Behind Gursan

Gursan is a uniquely Qatari dish that combines the Gulf bread-making tradition with stew in an innovative layered format. The dish likely evolved from the simpler thareed (bread-and-stew) into a more structured, layered presentation. Each thin bread round is cooked separately and then assembled with stew, creating a dish that is simultaneously bread, pasta, and stew. Gursan is considered a test of a Qatari cook's skill, as the bread must be thin enough to absorb the broth without disintegrating, and the stew must be flavorful enough to permeate every layer.

🕐 Traditionally enjoyed lunch, ramadan 📜 Origins: Traditional Qatari home cooking

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