Mansaf
Jordan's national dish, a rich and flavorful celebration of lamb cooked in a tangy fermented dried yogurt sauce (jameed), served traditionally over layers of rice and crisp shrak bread, and garnished with toasted nuts.
🧂 Ingredients
- 1.5 kg Lamb shoulder or leg
- 500 g Jameed (fermented dried yogurt)
- 2 liters Water
- 500 g Basmati rice
- 4 pieces Shrak bread (large, thin flatbread)
- 60 g Pine nuts
- 60 g Almonds
- 60 g Ghee or clarified butter
- 1 tsp Turmeric powder
- to taste Salt
- 1 tbsp Black peppercorns
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Prepare the Jameed: Break the jameed into smaller pieces and soak in 1 liter of warm water overnight, or for at least 8 hours. The next day, drain the soaking water (reserve if desired for extra flavor, but it can be very strong). Blend the softened jameed with fresh water until smooth and creamy. You may need to add more water to reach a thick, pourable sauce consistency. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve to ensure no lumps remain.
⏱️ 8-12 hours (soaking) + 15 minutes (blending) - 2
Cook the Lamb: Rinse the lamb pieces and place them in a large pot. Cover with fresh water (about 1.5 liters), add the black peppercorns and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil over high heat, skimming off any foam or impurities that rise to the surface. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer gently for about 1.5 to 2 hours, or until the lamb is very tender and easily pierced with a fork. Drain the lamb, reserving the cooking liquid.
⏱️ 2 hours - 3
Prepare the Yogurt Sauce: In a separate large pot, heat the blended jameed mixture over medium heat. Stir constantly to prevent scorching. Gradually whisk in about 500ml of the reserved lamb cooking liquid to thin the sauce to your desired consistency. Add the turmeric powder and salt to taste. Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer and cook for about 20-30 minutes, stirring frequently, until the sauce thickens slightly and the flavors meld. Be careful not to boil vigorously, as this can cause the yogurt to split.
⏱️ 30 minutes - 4
Add Lamb to Sauce: Gently add the cooked lamb pieces to the simmering jameed sauce. Continue to simmer for another 20-30 minutes, allowing the lamb to absorb the flavors of the sauce.
⏱️ 30 minutes - 5
Cook the Rice: While the lamb simmers in the sauce, prepare the rice. In a saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons of ghee over medium heat. Add the rinsed rice and sauté for 1-2 minutes until lightly toasted and fragrant. Add water (usually a 1:1.5 ratio of rice to water, check package instructions) and salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover tightly, and simmer for 15-20 minutes, or until all water is absorbed and the rice is fluffy. Let stand, covered, for 5 minutes.
⏱️ 25 minutes - 6
Toast the Nuts: In a small skillet, melt the remaining ghee over medium heat. Add the pine nuts and slivered almonds. Toast, stirring frequently, until golden brown and fragrant. Be careful as they can burn quickly.
⏱️ 5-7 minutes - 7
Assemble the Mansaf: Spread the warmed shrak bread in a large, shallow serving platter, overlapping slightly to form a base. Spoon the cooked rice evenly over the bread. Arrange the lamb pieces on top of the rice. Ladle a generous amount of the hot jameed sauce over the lamb and rice, ensuring it soaks into the bread below. Garnish liberally with the toasted pine nuts and almonds.
⏱️ 10 minutes
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Jameed is a unique ingredient crucial for authentic Mansaf flavor; it is not easily substituted. Look for it in Middle Eastern specialty stores.
- ✓Traditionally, Mansaf is eaten communally from a large platter using the right hand. Fold the bread into a scoop.
- ✓Serve extra jameed sauce on the side for guests to ladle over their portions as desired.
- ✓Ensure the jameed sauce is heated thoroughly before serving to achieve the correct consistency and flavor.
- ✓The lamb should be cooked until fork-tender, ensuring it melts in your mouth.
✨ Twist Ideas
Inspiration for your own version of this recipe
- Chicken Mansaf: Substitute lamb with bone-in chicken pieces, adjusting cooking time as needed.
- Goat Meat Mansaf: For a richer, more traditional flavor, especially for celebrations, goat meat can be used instead of lamb.
- Vegetarian/Vegan Option: While not traditional, a version can be made using a flavorful vegetable broth base and omitting the meat, though the characteristic jameed flavor will be different.