A taste of Jordan

One of the big attractions of a travel destination is its food. We all love to try different flavours and dishes and savour our holidays.

If Jordan is your destination, you’ll be spoilt for choice when you sit down to eat. The first thing that you should be aware of is that as Jordan is a Muslim country, ingredients are regulated by Islam, although this won’t stop you from enjoying the country’s many delicious dishes.

Celebrated as Jordan’s national dish, Mansaf is a traditional dish of lamb cooked in a yoghurt sauce and served with rice and flatbread. This dish has great symbolic meaning and is emblematic of survival, hospitality and brotherhood. Mansaf is served on a large platter and is traditionally eaten with the right hand.

Another of the most representative dishes is Musakhan, which is composed of chicken strips mixed with onions, fragrant spices, pine nuts and olive oil served on Levantine flatbread.

The Shish Kebab is a popular meal in Jordan and all over the world, made with skewered and grilled meat, typically lamb or chicken, that’s marinated in a hot sauce and served with onion and tomato.

Another dish of particular significance is Maqluba, which is traditional eaten on the Islamic religion day of rest (Friday) and is served to guests as a sign of respect. It is made from the leftover meat from all the week. The different meats are browned in a casserole dish with sautéed vegetables and then cooked in a pan with olive oil, boiled cauliflower and rice, all covered in water. It is also known as Moorish Paella.

Meat is also the protagonist of Kefta, a strongly spiced dish made into meatballs and served on a skewer, which can be cooked with either fried tomatoes or yoghurt.

Some places also serve grilled fish, but it’s more common to find restaurants serving meat dishes in Jordan.

And once you’ve eaten your fill, there’s nothing better than a good rest. We recommend staying at Le Royal Amman in the city of Amman, where you can relax and unwind in a 7000 square metre hotel with panoramic views of one of Jordan’s most beautiful cities.