Mansaf
Lamb cooked in fermented yoghurt, spread over rice and flatbread with toasted nuts. Jordan's national dish, and a whole afternoon.
Image note: Illustration, generated by AI · not a photograph of this dish
Method
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Put the lamb in a large pot, cover with cold water and bring to a boil, skimming the grey foam off carefully.
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Add the onions, bay, cinnamon, cardamom, allspice and salt.
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Simmer, part-covered, for 90 minutes, until the meat pulls from the bone.
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Lift the lamb out and strain the broth; keep 600 ml of it.
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Whisk the jameed and the cornflour together in a wide pan until smooth, then whisk in the reserved broth.
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Bring it to a boil over a medium heat, stirring continuously in one direction and never stopping.
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Once it boils and thickens, lower the heat, return the lamb and simmer 20 minutes.
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Meanwhile rinse the rice, then cook it with the turmeric and half the ghee.
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Toast the almonds and pine nuts in the rest of the ghee until golden.
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Spread the rice on a wide platter, arrange the lamb on top, ladle over the sauce and scatter with nuts and parsley.
Chef’s Tips
- One direction, without pause, until it boils.
- Skim properly at the start or the sauce goes cloudy.
- Serve the extra sauce hot in a jug; it is meant to be poured on at the table.
Pairing Suggestions
- Shrak flatbread
- Arabic salad
- Pickled turnips
Storage & Reheating
Refrigerate up to 3 days. Reheat the sauce gently, stirring, and never let it boil hard again.
Common questions
How long does Mansaf take to make?
About 2 hours 30 minutes in total — 30 minutes of preparation and 2 hours of cooking. The recipe serves 6.
What are the key tips for making Mansaf?
One direction, without pause, until it boils. Skim properly at the start or the sauce goes cloudy. Serve the extra sauce hot in a jug; it is meant to be poured on at the table.
What should I serve with Mansaf?
Shrak flatbread; Arabic salad; Pickled turnips.
How should Mansaf be stored?
Refrigerate up to 3 days. Reheat the sauce gently, stirring, and never let it boil hard again.
Is Mansaf suitable for a special diet?
This recipe is gluten-free, high-protein and no added sugar. Those labels are checked against the ingredient list, so a dish is only marked when nothing in it contradicts the claim.
How many calories are in Mansaf?
About 890 kcal per serving, with 45 g protein, 61 g carbohydrate and 51 g fat. The figures are calculated from the ingredient list and are an estimate.
Nutritional Highlights
Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.
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Written and tested by Turab
One person, one kitchen — no test kitchen, no team. How every recipe on this site is checked before it goes up.