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Mansaf

Prep Time 1 hour
Cook Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 30 minutes

Ingredients
  

Fermented Garlic Yogurt Sauce

  • 1 head cauliflower (cut into florets)
  • 4 lbs lamb shoulder (bone-in, cut into cubes)
  • 2 lbs whole milk plain yogurt (I use the Mountain High brand)
  • 1 packet jameed soup starter (smaller one, if you find multiple sizes)
  • 1 white onion (cut in half)
  • 8 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 1 tbs cornstarch
  • 1 tbs vinegar
  • 3 tbs extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tbs avocado oil
  • 3 loaves pita bread (cut up into small pieces)

Rice

  • 3 cups jasmine rice
  • 1 ½ tbsp salt
  • ¼ tsp ground turmeric
  • 1 tbs avocado oil

Topping

  • almonds (chopped and fried)
  • parsley (chopped)

Instructions
 

Prepare Lamb

  • Fill a large pot ¾ of the way with water
  • Add vinegar and lamb and set the stove on high heat
  • In the meantime, boil water in your water boiler (enough water to cover the lamb in the pot)
  • Once the water in the pot reaches a boil and there's a layer of fat floating at the top, drain the pot of water and meat into a colander
  • Rinse the pot out and place the meat back in the pot
  • Pour the boiling water from the water broiler onto the meat and add in both halves of the onion
  • Cover the pot and set it on low heat for about 45 minutes or until the lamb is cooked

Prepare Cauliflower

  • You can fry, air fry, or roast the cauliflower—I prefer to air fry or roast
  • If air frying or roasting, coat the cauliflower florets in olive oil and set your oven to 350 degrees F for 15 minutes or until the cauliflower is golden

Prepare Yogurt

  • Once the lamb is ready, pour the jameed soup starter packet and 1 ½ cup of your lamb broth to a high speed blender and blend
  • Then, add half of the container of yogurt to the blender and blend again
  • Once combined, pour yogurt mixture into a pot and turn the stove on high heat
  • Once the yogurt mixture reaches a boil, add the cornstarch and the remaining yogurt and mix using a whisk
  • In a small frying pan, sauté the minced garlic in olive oil and add to the pot of yogurt sauce
  • Continue to mix the yogurt sauce using a whisk until everything is well combined and has the consistency of a sauce
  • Add the lamb and cauliflower to the yogurt sauce and lower the stove top to low heat
  • Cover the pot and allow the sauce to simmer for 30 minutes

Rice

  • In a mixing bowl, combine 1 tbsp salt and rice
  • Cover the rice with hot water and let it soak for 30 minutes
  • Once the rice has soaked, drain and rinse using a colander
  • Boil water in a water boiler
  • Once the water has boiled, add 1 tbsp avocado oil to a pot and turn the stove on high heat
  • Once the oil is hot, add the rice to the pot and combine with the oil
  • Pour the boiling water over the rice (enough water so that the water rises about ¼ inch above the rice)
  • Mix in turmeric and 2 tsp of salt into the rice
  • Once the water reaches a boil, lower the stove to low heat and cover the pot
  • Cook for about 10 - 15 minutes or until the rice is cooked through

Assembling

  • Layer a large serving tray with the pita bread
  • Pour some yogurt sauce onto the bread
  • Place a layer of rice over the bread
  • Place lamb and cauliflower all over the rice
  • Pour more yogurt sauce all over the tray of bread, rice, lamb, and cauliflower
  • Top with fried almonds and chopped parsley
  • Place the additional yogurt sauce in separate bowls for serving