**Mansaf: A Jordanian Feast Fit for Royalty**
Mansaf, Jordan's national dish, is a delectable culinary experience that embodies the country's rich cultural heritage. This iconic dish features tender lamb or chicken slow-cooked in a tangy jameed sauce, a fermented dried yogurt that imparts a uniquely savory and aromatic flavor. Served over a bed of fluffy rice, mansaf is adorned with toasted pine nuts, almonds, and crispy pita bread, creating a symphony of textures and flavors that will tantalize your taste buds. Beyond the classic lamb or chicken mansaf, this article also presents innovative vegetarian and vegan variations, ensuring that everyone can relish this Jordanian delicacy. Embark on a culinary journey through the heart of Jordan as we delve into the secrets of preparing this cherished dish, exploring its historical significance, and discovering the diverse ways to enjoy mansaf.
MANSAF
Mansaf is a popular Jordanian dish typically served at weddings and large gatherings. Made of lamb cooked in a spiced yogurt sauce and served over buttery rice and thin flatbread, this meal is commonly eaten with your hands, but is tasty any way you consume it.
Provided by Food Network
Categories main-dish
Time 1h30m
Yield 6 to 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 18
Steps:
- Heat 1/4 cup ghee in a large heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the lamb, 1 tablespoon salt and a few grinds of black pepper to the pot and cook, stirring once or twice, until well browned on all sides, 6 to 7 minutes.
- Add the diced onions and stir. Add enough water to cover the lamb and onions and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer, cover and cook until the lamb is just tender, about 45 minutes.
- When the lamb is close to done, heat the yogurt, lemon juice, egg white and a pinch of salt and black pepper in a medium saucepan over medium heat, whisking until combined. Bring to a boil, then add the cumin, cardamom, coriander, cinnamon and allspice and stir to combine. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, whisking frequently, until thickened slightly, 10 to 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, bring the rice, 3 cups water and a pinch of salt to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes. Turn the heat off and let sit 10 minutes.
- Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons ghee in a small skillet. Add the almonds and cook, shaking the pan occasionally, until the almonds are toasted and golden, 4 to 5 minutes. Top with a pinch of salt and remove from the heat.
- Pour the yogurt mixture into the pot with the lamb and stir to combine. Simmer, covered, until the lamb is fully tender and can easily be shredded with a fork, 20 to 25 minutes.
- Fluff the rice with a fork. Stir in the butter and turmeric. Taste and add salt if necessary. Set aside.
- Spoon the rice onto a large platter. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the lamb on top of the rice. Ladle the broth over the top until the rice looks well saturated (you will not use all the broth). Sprinkle with the almonds and parsley. Pour the remaining broth into a serving bowl and serve alongside the platter. Sprinkle the sliced onions with the sumac and serve on the side to use for scooping.
CHICKEN MANSAF
Mansaf is a delicious, satisfying Jordanian dish traditionally made using lamb. This recipe comes from thespicehouse.com, one of the only places that I could find a feasible (for a small-town American!) recipe for Mansaf.
Provided by Frau Frau
Categories Chicken
Time 2h
Yield 4-6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Place chicken in large pot with enough salted water to barely cover it.
- Cook over medium heat until almost done, about 3/4 hour.
- In a separate pan, cook enough rice for 6 large servings.
- In a large saucepan, stir yogurt until it is quite smooth. Add beaten egg and heat over medium heat, stirring constantly.
- Add enough of the liquid from the cooked chicken to make a thin sauce, about the consistency of very heavy cream.
- Heat until it almost comes to a boil and thickens slightly.
- Add the cooked chicken pieces to the yogurt sauce and finish cooking the chicken in the sauce, at a low temperature.
- Cover a large platter with the pita bread.
- Mound the rice in the center to form a pyramid.
- Arrange the chicken pieces on the rice and pour most of the yogurt sauce over it, reserving the remaining sauce to be added, as desired, by the diners.
- Garnish with the almonds, pine nuts and parsley around the edges of the mound of rice and chicken.
- Serve warm and eat with your hands.
- Helpful Hints: May also be made with lamb instead of, or in combination with chicken. Broth from cooking the meat may be used to cook the rice.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 1393, Fat 77.9, SaturatedFat 20.4, Cholesterol 266.8, Sodium 469.7, Carbohydrate 100.7, Fiber 5.6, Sugar 19.6, Protein 73.3
MANSAF
This is a dish that originated in Jordan, and comes from Classic International Recipes. It is traditionally made with lamb, but I used boneless chicken thighs.
Provided by breezermom
Categories Long Grain Rice
Time 1h10m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- Season lamb or chicken thighs with salt and pepper. In a large skillet brown the lamb or chicken in hot olive oil; remove, reserving oil. Add onion to the reserved oil in the skillet; cook until tender but not brown, adding more oil if necessary. Drain off the fat. Return the meat to the skillet; add the 1/2 cup of water and the stick cinnamon. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and cover and simmer for 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in a saucepan combine the 1 cup water, uncooked rice, raisins, salt, turmeric, allspice, and pepper. Bring to a boil; reduce heat. Cover and simmer about 20 minutes or until the rice is tender. Let stand, covered, for 10 minutes.
- For the sauce: In a saucepan stir together the yogurt, milk, parsley, and flour. Cook and stir till thickened and bubbly. Cook and stir 1 minute more.
- To serve, drain the meat mixture; transfer to a serving platter. Remove the stick cinnamon and discard. Stir the nuts into the rice mixture and arrange the rice mixture around the meat. Pour some of the yogurt sauce over the top. Pass the remaining sauce around the table.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 237.7, Fat 11.2, SaturatedFat 1.9, Cholesterol 5, Sodium 314.9, Carbohydrate 31.2, Fiber 1.9, Sugar 7.9, Protein 5
AL MANSAF
A lavish Saudi Arabian dish named for the large tray on which it's served, al mansaf traditionally calls for layers of thin bread followed by a bed of flavorful rice that's topped with lamb. Martha's adaptation is made with chicken and baked in jumbo muffin tins for a unique presentation.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Dessert & Treats Recipes Pie & Tarts Recipes
Yield Makes 12
Number Of Ingredients 18
Steps:
- In a large, heavy-bottomed pot, heat 3 tablespoons ghee over medium. Add onion, cardamom, bay leaf, cinnamon, clove, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is soft and translucent, about 10 minutes. Add chicken and cook until lightly browned in spots, about 5 minutes. Add 3 1/2 cups water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer until chicken is cooked through, about 20 minutes.
- Transfer chicken to a cutting board and remove meat from bones; set aside. Strain cooking liquid and discard solids. Return strained cooking liquid to pot.
- Whisk together 1 1/2 cups yogurt and cornstarch. Add to pot along with chicken, stirring to combine. Bring to a simmer and cook until chicken is very tender and liquid has reduced and thickened to a sauce-like consistency, about 35 minutes. Stir in remaining 1/2 cup yogurt and lemon juice. Remove from heat and let cool. Shred chicken into bite-sized pieces.
- Meanwhile, make the rice: In a medium saucepan, heat remaining 2 tablespoons ghee over medium. Add rice, turmeric, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Cook, stirring, until rice is lightly toasted, about 3 minutes. Add stock and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, cover, and cook until liquid is absorbed, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand 10 minutes, then stir in cilantro.
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. To assemble, brush two 6-cup jumbo nonstick muffin tins with ghee. Place one spring roll wrapper on work surface and lightly brush with melted ghee. (Keep remaining wrappers covered with plastic wrap while you work.) Place a second wrapper on top, overlapping by 3 1/2 inches, to form a rectangle. Transfer to muffin tin, pressing into one of the cups. Fill with about 1/3 cup rice, followed by 1/3 cup chicken mixture, and 1 tablespoon cashews. Bring edges of wrappers up and press together in an irregular pattern to seal. Brush lightly with more melted ghee. Repeat process with remaining wrappers, rice, chicken, and cashews. Bake until golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool slightly.
- Use an offset spatula to transfer pies to a serving platter. Sprinkle with pistachios before serving.
JORDANIAN MANSAF
Mansaf is the national dish of Jordan and I can understand why. This Bedouin dish is fantastic. Mansaf is served on a large serving platter over khubz (Arabic flat bread) and rice. It is meant to be eaten communally, as part of a social event. Guests gather around the table and enjoy Mansaf, eaten with the finger tips of the right hand. Found at Buttery Books. See Chef Michael Smith's Mansaf experience here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrKOGtcWHIo&feature=player_embedded
Provided by Annacia
Categories One Dish Meal
Time 2h45m
Yield 6-8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- Wash meat cubes and place in tray with lid. Cover meat with water, cover tray and place in refrigerator for 4-8 hours.
- Melt 1/4 cup of the clarified butter in heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Drain and pat dry meat cubes. Place in skillet and cook for 20 minutes until browned on all sides. Season meat with salt and pepper, to taste, and add enough water to cover meat. Reduce heat, cover and cook for 1 hour. Add onion and simmer uncovered for 30 minutes.
- While meat and onion are cooking, place yogurt in a large saucepan and whisk over medium heat until liquid. Whisk in egg white and ½ teaspoon of salt. Slowly bring yogurt mixture to boil stirring constantly with a wooden spoon in one direction only to reach desired consistency. Reduce heat to low and allow yogurt to softly simmer uncovered for 10 minutes.
- Stir yogurt into meat and add seasonings as desired. Simmer gently for 15 minutes. Taste and adjust seasonings, as needed.
- In a small skillet, melt 2 tablespoons of the remaining 4 tablespoons of clarified butter. Add almonds and cook for 5 minutes. Stir in pine nuts and cook for 3 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Split the khubz loaves open and arrange, overlapping on a large serving tray. Melt the last remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and brush over the khubz to soften. Arrange rice over the khubz leaving a well in the center of the rice. Spoon the meat into the rice well and then spoon the butter and nuts over the meat. Sprinkle parsley or chives over top.
- NOTE ON CLARIFIED BUTTER:.
- Clarified butter is necessary for frying since it doesn't burn.
- One stick (or 1/2 cup of butter) will yield about 6 tablespoons of clarified butter. So for this recipe, you will need to clarify approximately 3/4 cup of butter.
- Following is a simple clarification method. It's not perfect, but easy and close enough. Slowly melt a stick of butter. Remove from heat and allow butter to cool undisturbed for 10 minutes to separate. You will notice a white foam on the top, the clarified butter in the center, and milk solids at the bottom. Carefully, skim the foam off the top and discard. Slowly pour the clarified butter off the milk solids into a measuring cup. Discard, the separated solids.
- NOTE ON SPICES:.
- For a more authentic Bedouin flavor add the following spices:.
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon.
- ½ teaspoon of cloves.
- 2 teaspoons of nutmeg.
Tips:
- Choose High-Quality Ingredients: Use fresh, free-range chicken, high-quality rice, and flavorful spices and herbs for the best results.
- Cook the Rice Perfectly: Make sure the rice is cooked to perfection, as it serves as the base of the dish and absorbs the delicious flavors of the sauce.
- Brown the Chicken: Browning the chicken adds depth of flavor and color, giving the dish a more appealing appearance.
- Use Yogurt and Spices Generously: Don't be afraid to use a generous amount of yogurt and spices, as they are crucial elements in creating the characteristic tangy and aromatic flavor of mansaf.
- Garnish Elegantly: Garnish the dish with toasted nuts, crispy onions, and fresh herbs for an impressive presentation.
Conclusion:
Chicken mansaf is a delectable and authentic Jordanian dish that combines succulent chicken, fluffy rice, tangy yogurt sauce, and aromatic spices. It is a true culinary delight that showcases the vibrant flavors of Middle Eastern cuisine. Whether you're cooking for a special occasion or a casual family meal, chicken mansaf is sure to impress your taste buds and leave you craving for more. So gather your ingredients, follow the recipe carefully, and embark on a journey of culinary exploration with this exceptional dish.
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