Traditional Jordanian cooking in Amman with a local family

Meet Afaf and Ahmed

Ahmed has been working in the tourism industry for many years now, and in 2022 he started hosting cooking classes in his home, with his wife, Afaf. Afaf learned to cook from her mother and grandmother, and later received professional culinary training through a program facilitated by the USAID here in Jordan. Together they are so excited to share their food, culture and culinary traditions with travelers visiting Amman. Through this experience you can expect to learn about traditional Jordanian cooking while sharing customs, traditions, and stories inspired by their rich heritage.

What to expect

Please note menu might vary. If there are particular dishes you are interested in trying, please include your request in the booking form.

In-home meal (1 - 8 guests) Ahmed, Afaf and their daughters, Reema and Jana will welcome you to their traditional home in Amman. You will be welcomed with Arabic coffee while they introduce you to the customs, traditions and way of life in Jordan. Later join the family at the dining table to enjoy a traditional Jordanian meal, prepared using family recipes passed down through generations. A few dishes that you might try are lentil soup, salad, hummus and maqlubeh (upside down chicken and rice) or mansaf (spiced lamb with rice and yogurt sauce) or musakhan (sumac chicken with onions and flatbread). For dessert you will be served harissah (coconut cake) or toffee pudding. And end your meal with some refreshing mint tea.

Cooking experience (1 - 8 guests) Don your apron and join Afaf in her home kitchen to learn to cook a traditional Jordanian meal. In your 2-hour hands-on Amman cooking class, learn to make a salad or hummus, main dish and dessert. Afaf speaks limited English, so Ahmed will be present to translate. She will introduce you to the ingredients and guide you through the step by step process of making the dishes that she learned to cook from her mother and grandmother. While you cook Ahmed will share some interesting facts on how these dishes became part of the their rich heritage, while Afaf will share some valuable tips and tricks. After cooking, prepare the table and join the family to share the meal you helped prepare.

Market visit (1 - 8 guests) Ahmed will pick you up from your central Amman hotel and drive you to the popular vegetable market downtown. This is a market for fresh produce with some of the best vegetables and fruits in Amman. The produce is local, seasonal and affordable - you will find most of the locals prefer shopping here than in a supermarket. Take a stroll through the souk and enjoy the vibrant smells and the stalls filled with brightly colored, fresh fruits and vegetables, while listening to call of the vendors enticing you to their stalls. Enjoy the entertaining interactions with the vendors, who are friendly and warm, while you pick up a few ingredients for your cooking class.