If you like authentic Middle Eastern food, you’re probably familiar with delicious kinds of rice and aromatic meats. There’s a special dish called mansaf to add to your must-try list. Here is an introduction to this meal that will make you want to head straight to a restaurant and have a taste. 

What Is Mansaf? 

Mansaf means large tray and features a platter covered in rice topped with lamb and almonds. Jameed – a fermented yogurt – adds a tangy hint to in the sauce, while spices like saffron, cardamom, and cumin flavor the grains and meat. People build community while eating this dish together with their hands.

What Is Its History?

Bedouins were nomadic people who lived in the Arabian desert. They created mansaf with lamb or camel meat plus meat broth or ghee. The served the meat over shrak bread, a mix of sugar, yeast, and flour that formed flat circles. This version evolved as some people used bulgur, a type of dried wheat kernels, in place of bread.

If tribes were feuding, they would often make this authentic Middle Eastern food and talk over the issue while enjoying a filling, flavorful meal. The host would sacrifice a lamb to respect the visiting people in hopes they could agree to end the conflict.

In around 1945, increased trade routes provided access to rice, which was included in the dish instead of bread or bulger. Some families added almonds in their recipes beginning in the 1960s, and people swapped clarified butter or ghee for jameed to create the dish as it is known today.

When Is It Popular?

Mansaf is Jordan’s national dish, and locals eat it to celebrate events like birthdays, christenings, and weddings. Families also prepare this meal on April 11th to mark the country's independence day and to honor Eid ul-Adha and Eid ul-Fitr. However, individuals who like authentic Middle Eastern food may dig into this dish any time they’re looking for a complex, flavorful meal.

If you want to try mansaf, visit Shahrazad Mediterranean Restaurant in St. Louis County, MO. The Arabic restaurant specializes in Jordanian and Lebanese food. Call the Manchester-area authentic Middle Eastern food restaurant at (636) 527-4000 or visit the website for information on their menu featuring fresh, high-quality ingredients and daily specials.