Many of the top dishes in Jordan are filled with some amazing flavors and scents – and this type of cuisine is not to be missed. Most of their culinary styles and taste reflect true Middle Eastern cuisine with their own unique additions and popular Middle Eastern street food. As a Muslim country, there is no shortage of delicious halal Jordanian food dishes you can enjoy during your stay. So here are the Top 10 local dishes you need to try when you are in Jordan!
1. Mansaf
Credit: Wikipedia
This delicious rice dish is considered to be Jordan’s national dish and is a great addition when trying Arabic halal cuisine. The lamb chunks are first marinated, cooked and then added to the rice. A gravy made out of dried fermented goat’s yogurt known as jameed is then poured over the large platter of rice, nuts and the lamb giving the dish its signature flavor. It is traditional to eat from one plate and to roll a handful of rice and meat into a ball and then consume it.
2. Kibbeh
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This dish is a big part of Arab cuisine and mezze platters, and one of the unique dishes of Jordanian food. Kibbeh consists of finely ground meat, spices, and herbs formed into patties which are then coated with bulgur wheat and then fried. However, variations include Kibbeh blabaniyyeh where the patties are boiled in jameed and kibbeh nayyeh which is served raw with olive oil, mint leaves and pita bread.
3. Tabbouleh
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Tabbouleh salads are one of the most simple and delicious halal Jordanian food dishes that are a vital part of Arab cuisine. Bulgur wheat is combined with finely chopped tomatoes, garlic, parsley and mint with a lemon juice, olive oil, and salt dressing.
4. Manakish
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Manakish is also known as an Arabic pizza that is a popular Middle Eastern street food and is usually eaten at breakfast in any Jordanian restaurant. The round flat dough is often topped with za’atar (a spice mixture) and olive oil or white cheese with ground meat or eggs and is served hot right out of the oven.
5. Falafel
The falafel is another famous Arabian food with slightly different variations in other Middle Eastern and North African countries. It is also a popular Middle Eastern street food which consists of fried patties of ground chickpeas with spices that is even used to make sandwiches. You can easily find this at any Jordanian restaurant.
6. Musakhan
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Musakhan is one of the most fragrant and delicious halal Jordanian food dishes. Musakhan is made by stewing pita bread, chicken, onions, and fragrant spices with olive oil until the meat and other ingredients are tender enough to fall apart.
7. Zarb
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Zarb is a Jordanian Bedouin dish that involves meat, spices, and vegetables that are slowly cooked in a sandpit that is filled with hot coal and the warmth is maintained by placing blankets over the oven. It is then served on a platter with the meat and vegetables served on a bed of rice. You will usually find this served at Wadi desert camps.
8. Maqluba
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Definitely one of the unique dishes of Jordanian food, maqluba mean actually means “upside down rice”. A layer of meat or chicken with spices are covered with rice are cooked slowly together where the flavors of meat are infused perfectly with the rice. The cooking pot is then flipped over onto a platter where the meat is on the top and it is then garnished with nuts.
9. Mujadara
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Mujadara is a cumin-flavored dish made with lentils and rice that is commonly made at home. The raw rice and lentils are cooked together and caramelized onions or pine nuts can be used for garnishing or to add more flavor.
10. Kanafeh
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Sweets are a big part of Arab cuisine too, and kanafeh is a popular Middle Eastern street food that you can also have at any Jordanian restaurant. Kanafeh is basically a cheese pastry made of vermicelli, semolina or phyllo pastry that is soaked in rose-scented sugar syrup and topped with pistachios.
