Palestinian Mansaf Recipe

Ingredients:

For the Lamb:

• 2 lbs lamb, cut into chunks
• 2 large onions, finely chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• 4 cups plain yogurt

For the Rice:

• 2 cups basmati rice, rinsed
• 1/4 cup ghee or clarified butter
• 1/2 cup slivered almonds, toasted
• 1/2 cup pine nuts, toasted
• Salt to taste

For Garnish:

• Chopped fresh parsley
• Chopped fresh mint
• Pomegranate seeds (optional)

For Assembling:

• Arabic flatbread or pita

Instructions:

Prepare the Lamb:

1. Sauté Onions and Garlic:
   • In a large pot, heat the vegetable oil over medium heat. Add chopped onions and minced garlic, sautéing until golden brown.
2. Cook Lamb:
   • Add the lamb chunks to the pot, and cook until browned on all sides.
3. Add Spices:
   • Season the lamb with ground cumin, ground coriander, ground cinnamon, salt, and black pepper. Stir well to coat the meat with the spices.
4. Simmer in Yogurt:
   • Pour in the plain yogurt, cover the pot, and let the lamb simmer in the yogurt over low heat for 1.5 to 2 hours, or until the meat is tender.

Prepare the Rice:

5. Cook Basmati Rice:
   • In a separate pot, cook the rinsed basmati rice according to package instructions.
6. Fluff and Add Ghee:
   • Once cooked, fluff the rice with a fork and add ghee or clarified butter. Mix well.
7. Toast Nuts:
   • In a dry skillet, toast the slivered almonds and pine nuts until golden brown. Keep an eye on them to prevent burning.

Assemble the Mansaf:

8. Serve Over Rice:
   • Place a layer of rice on a large serving platter.
9. Arrange Lamb:
   • Arrange the cooked lamb on top of the rice.
10. Drizzle with Yogurt Sauce:
    • Pour some of the yogurt sauce from the lamb pot over the meat and rice.
11. Garnish:
    • Sprinkle toasted almonds and pine nuts over the mansaf. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley and mint. Optionally, add pomegranate seeds for a burst of flavor.
12. Serve with Bread:
    • Serve the Palestinian Mansaf with Arabic flatbread or pita on the side.

Mansaf is traditionally enjoyed as a communal dish, with everyone gathered around the platter. It’s a rich and flavorful representation of Palestinian cuisine.