Jordan is in a unique position when it comes to food, and if you are a food enthusiast, Food in Jordan will be your compass to the goodness of tastes.
Jordan has always been a gateway to different cultures and the beating heart of travelers from all over the Middle East. Let us say that this has added more spices and colors to the country’s food culture!
Every Friday, families celebrate the warm family gatherings with either Mansaf, a superb Jordanian dish made primarily of (Laban Jameed, Meat, and Rice), or Maqlooba, a pure Palestinian dish made primarily of (Rice, various kinds of Vegetables, and Chicken).
If you want to visit Jordan and try some delicious local cuisine, book your ticket to our Jerash and Amman City Tour from the Dead Sea, which will take you from Jerash to the Dead Sea and through Amman.
Let us introduce you to some of the foods we think you should try if you visit Jordan.
1- Jordan Mansaf
And the dish’s name refers to how fatty and heavy it is. Originally, it was made with ghee, camel or lamb meat, meat broth, and shrak bread. Mansaf is now prepared with new ingredients that add flavor and value to the dish. In addition to the meat and shrak bread, rice and laban Jameed were added to the dish.
Mansaf is served in a large splatter with shrak bread on the bottom, rice on top, topped with meat, fresh parsley, and almonds/pine nuts, and finished with a spoonful of laban jameed. You can’t get away from this rich flavor!
Furthermore, Mansaf is served in almost every local restaurant in Jordan, and it is prepared in every home across the country! And if you asked any Jordanian (what’s your Friday lunch meal?) Mansaf will be their initial response.
2- Maqloba
Maqlooba, which literally means “upside down,” is Jordan’s second most popular dish. It originated in Palestine, and in addition to Jordan, it is well known in Syria, Lebanon, and the majority of Arab countries, though each country has its own twist on it.
Let’s talk about maqlooba as a Jordanian dish! It’s a very healthy meal. It’s mostly made of meat (usually chicken), fried vegetables, and rice.
But why is it known as maqlooba? Because all of these ingredients are layered in the pot and cooked before being flipped upside down when served, you will get a cake meal full of flavorful ingredients and lovely aromas. Maqlooba is accompanied by yoghurt and a traditional salad of tomatoes, cucumbers, parsley, lemon juice, and salt.
3- Falafel in Jordan
You’d never guess that these soft and crispy balls made of spiced, ground chickpeas could make you so happy! If you don’t believe us, consider traveling to Jordan with one of our destinations and trying Falafel as part of your Jordan food exploration!
It’s basically the highlight of the day all over Jordan! People eat it whenever they want; it has no set schedule. Simply go to your nearest local restaurant and order falafel to fall in love!
Moreover, Falafel can be served stuffed with Arabic bread and accompanied by hummus and salad, or it can be served separately. Choose your favorite and dig in!
For the best falafel in Amman, go to downtown Amman and look for Hashem restaurant in one of its narrow traditional alleys, and enjoy the taste of history!
You can book your Amman City Tour and Salt from Amman with 10% off and enjoy the great taste of food in Jordan!
4- Shawerma
“Let’s eat shawerma!” you’ll probably hear a lot when you visit Jordan. Shawerma is what most Jordanians crave when they go out!
This magnificent rich and juicy meat sandwich will instantly melt your heart. Shawerma is made with paper-thin, crisp roast meat slices of lamb, beef, or chicken meat cooked on a single, sizable skewer.
They are typically served in shrak bread (similar to pitta bread) with a variety of salads, most notably those with pickles, onions, sumac, and tahini cream, or as a main course with French fries, sauces, and salads.
5- Knafeh
It’s time to treat yourself to something sweet! But it’s not the usual sweetness you’re used to.
Knafeh is made in an open fire tray, with cheese on the bottom and dough on top! They wait until the buttery dough forms a crisp crust and the cheese has melted before serving it to customers hot off the plate. To add more sweetness to the dessert, knafeh is served with a sweet syrup called (kater).
The sweetness of Knafeh can be tasted at the famous shop Habiba across Amman, but the most famous one is in downtown Amman, in a narrow alley where you can find people grapping their knafeh plate and sitting on the sides of the alley and having conversations while enjoying this sweet goodness..
Don’t wait too much and book your plate of Knafeh with our Jerash and Amman City Tour from Dead Sea tour and enjoy a fully enjoyable experience exploring the path of ancient Romans in Jordan starting from Jerash to Amman ending with the Dead Sea.
Exploring the taste of Food in Jordan is a must if you ever planned to visit! You can’t get enough of the various cuisines and Jordanians who will make your stay unforgettable.