Jameed

Jameed (Arabic: جميد, literally "hardened") is a Middle Eastern food consisting of hard, dry yogurt made from ewe or goat's milk. Milk is kept in a fine-woven cheesecloth to make a thick yogurt. Salt is added daily to thicken the yogurt even more and the outside of the yogurt-filled cheesecloth is rinsed with water to allow any remaining whey to seep through. After a few days of salting the yogurt, it becomes very dense and can be removed from the cheesecloth and shaped into round balls. It is then set to dry for a few days. If it is dried in the sun it becomes yellow; if it is dried in the shade it remains white. It is important that the Jameed is dry to the core because any dampness can spoil the preservation process. Jameed is the primary ingredient used to make Mansaf, the national dish of Jordan.