Mansef Spice

Mansaf Spice Blend is the seasoning built for Mansaf, the Jordanian lamb and rice dish. It is warm, earthy and aromatic rather than hot, with cumin and coriander giving it a grounded, robust smell before the sweeter spices come through.

Cardamom adds a sweet, floral warmth, black pepper and cloves the sharper, spicier notes, cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice a gentle sweetness and aromatic depth, and ginger a subtle, zesty lift. The balance flatters savoury dishes without overpowering them.

How to use it

Use it on lamb and chicken, stirred through rice, and in slow-cooked dishes where the spices can fully bloom. Around two tablespoons seasons a kilo of meat. The technique tip: with Mansaf, add half the blend to the cooking liquid at the start and the rest in the last twenty minutes. The long simmer draws out the cumin and coriander, while the late addition keeps the cardamom and cinnamon aromatic instead of cooking them flat. It is a staple for anyone cooking Levantine food at home.

Details

Also known as

Mansaf Spice, بهارات منسف, Mansef Blend