Jordanian Mansaf

Mansaf.org

Mansaf: (Arabic, ) is a Jordanian dish originating in Arabia. Today it has been adopted as the national dish of Jordan, made of lamb cooked in a sauce of fermented dried yogurt and served ith rice. Preparation: The lamb is cooked in a broth made ith a fermented then dried yogurt!like product called "ameed, and served on a large platter ith a layer of flatbread (markookor shrak) topped ith rice and then meat, garnished ith almonds and pine nuts, parsley and then sauce poured over all. Cultural role: Mansaf is served on special occasions such as eddings and births, or to honor a guest, and of course on main holidays . #t is traditionally eaten collectively from a large platter in the $edouin style, standing around the platter ith the left hand behind the back and using the right hand instead of utensils.

Biblical background of Mansaf

Rice was not used in Jordan before the twentieth century, as rice is not a notional product of Jordan, it's actually imported. The Mansaf, years ago, was cooked with grounded wheat (Jarish in Arabic and flatbread (!hrak in Arabic . "istorical Jordanian Mansaf is based on three main local product# wheat, milk and meat. Read the following $erses of %enesis &', the food mentioned in these $erses is similar to the Jordanian contemporary Mansaf.
1- The LO ! appeared to "#raha$ #% the tere#inth of Ma$re& as he sat in the entran'e of his tent& (hile the da% (as gro(ing hot. )- Loo*ing up& he sa( three $en standing near#%. +hen he sa( the$& he ran fro$ the entran'e of the tent to greet the$, and #o(ing to the ground& -- he said: ./ir& if 0 $a% as* %ou this fa1or& please do not go on past %our ser1ant. 2- Let so$e (ater #e #rought& that %ou $a% #athe %our feet& and then rest %oursel1es under the tree. 3- 4o( that %ou ha1e 'o$e this 'lose to %our ser1ant& let $e #ring %ou a little food& that %ou $a% refresh %oursel1es, and after(ard %ou $a% go on %our (a%.. .5er% (ell&. the% replied& .do as %ou ha1e said.. 6- "#raha$ hastened into the tent and told /arah& .7ui'*& three seahs of fine flour8 9nead it and $a*e rolls.. :- ;e ran to the herd& pi'*ed out a tender& 'hoi'e steer& and ga1e it to a ser1ant& (ho <ui'*l% prepared it. =- Then he got so$e 'urds and $il*& as (ell as the steer that had #een prepared& and set these #efore the$, and he (aited on the$ under the tree (hile the% ate.

Jordanian Mansaf

Mansaf.org

>a'h 'ountr% has its national dish& (hi'h it is fa$ous for. Jordan has a 'ertain dish that is fantasti' and e?tre$el% %u$$%& the Mansaf. +hat $a*es this dish spe'ial is the (hite sau'e it is $ainl% $ade of& salted dried goat $il* @Ja$eedA. Jordanians are (ell *no(n for their hospitalit%& and the Mansaf pla%s a #ig part

in the hosting of guests. 0t is ser1ed in a #ig round tra%& and people eat it using their #are hands& this $ight sound un'i1iliBed& #ut it is not& it is a'tuall% part of the Jordanian tradition (hi'h has #een a 'hara'teristi' of Jordanian histor% for %ears on end. Mansaf has three #asi' ingredients, ri'e& la$# $eat and goat $il*. 0ngredients: 1 *ilo 'oo*ed ri'e .(ashed& #oiled in (ater and (ith #utter added at the endA 1 *ilo la$# $eat @'ut in #ig 'hun*sA 1 #ig (hole onion C *ilo li<uid salted goat $il* @%ou 'an #u% it fro$ the super store or a @Jordanian houseA store& the produ't is 'alled Ja$eed >l-9asihA Pine nuts @friedA +ash the $eat and drain it until it has gotten rid of all its e?'ess (ater& put it in a #ig pot and pour the Ja$eed or goatDs $il* o1er it& add 2 as $u'h (ater @) litersA to the $il*& 'oo* it on a high fire and drop the onion in the pot. Let it #oil for one hour& then lo(er the heat and lea1e the pot un'o1ered& stirring o''asionall%. To 'oo* properl%& it needs three hours on the fire. +hen done and the $eat is soft and properl% 'oo*ed& put the ri'e in a #ig round tra%& and put the $eat o1er it& pour so$e Ja$eed o1er the$ all and sprin*le the pine nuts all o1er the tra%. Pour the rest of the Ja$eed in a #o(l and *eep it on the ta#le in 'ase %ou (ould li*e to pour so$e $ore o1er the ri'e to $a*e it soggier. Sahtain wa 3afieh !

This page was suggested by the Mansaf gourmet Rev. Bashir Bader
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