Jordanian culture: Mansaf

Mansaf-covered

Mansaf-closeup

Mansaf1

This is “Mansaf”; the traditional Jordanian dish. It is comprised of, as you can doubtlessly notice, large quantities of “Jameed”-drenched rice, meat, and “Shrak” bread. Shrak is the very thin bread put under the rice and over the dish as a whole to keep it warm. Jameed is a special kind of dried yoghurt, as I mentioned in my former entry, that is generally fist-sized and hard as a rock. It is later broken down and cooked, then served in generous quantities alongside the rice and meat.

I should also note that, in proper Jordanian customs, Mansaf is eaten using one’s hand, and no spoons. This is a bit of culture that is not followed that much anymore in cities, but which is closely observed in villages and such. Another thing to add about eating Mansaf is that it is not normally served in seperate plates, the attendees of the feast usually circle around the large plate and eat from it all at the same time. In any given feast there is more than one Mansaf dish served, here again the number of dishes served marks the family’s/tribe’s significance, power, or riches.