Lebanese Mansaf

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Lebanese Mansaf is a traditional dish made with lamb or chicken, cooked in a rich and tangy yogurt sauce, served over a bed of rice and topped with toasted nuts and fresh herbs. The meat is first slow-cooked in a mixture of yogurt, spices, and sometimes onions, until it’s tender and falling apart.

The dish is then assembled by placing a mound of cooked rice on a platter, followed by the meat and sauce, and finally sprinkled with toasted almonds or pine nuts and fresh parsley or mint. Mansaf is a staple at special occasions and celebrations in Lebanon, and is often served with Arabic flatbread and a side of pickled vegetables.

Ingredients

For the broth you need :1 bag of @mimosspicebagsOr you can use cinnamon stickDry lemon2 bay leaves1 onionLemon slicesChicken breast filletsFor the rice you need:1brown onion, finely chopped1/2 kilo mince meat(11⁄2 -2 cups) basmati rice, washed and drainedPaprikaSalt1⁄2 tsp black pepper1⁄2 tsp Lebanese mixed spices (seven spices)1/2 tsp Corianda seeds1/2 tsp Ground cinnamon1/2 tsp All spices1 tbsp Mansaf spices2 tbsp vegetable oil1 tbsp Butter1⁄2 cup flaked/slivered almondsLebanese salad, to serve

Instructions

Sprinkle the chicken with salt, pepper and paprika.In a pot add vegetable oil and sear the chicken on both sides till golden.Once done add cinnamon stick, dry lemon, onion, lemon wedges and bay leaves.Pour 4 to 5 cups of water on top of the chicken and let it boil for 15-20 mintues.Scrape any fat from the top. Drain, reserving the stock.When cool enough to handle, coarsely shred the chicken.Add the butter and onion and cook for 5 minutes until the onion softens.Add the mince meat and cook, stirring regularly, for 10 minutes until the meat cooks and the water evaporates.Add rice and salt, black pepper, coriander, cinnamon, mansaf spices, lebanese mix spices and all spices. Stir and cook for 2 minutes than add the reserved chicken stock and bring to the boil, stirring occasionally. Reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer for 10–12 minutes, until the rice is cooked. To serve, top the rice with shredded chicken and almonds. Serve with yogurt.