Palestine: Recipes and Cuisine

Palestinian cuisine shares many dishes in common with other countries in the region, including Lebanon and Syria to the north and Egypt to the southwest. Falafel, sfiha, tabouli, hummus and baba ghanoush are ubiquitous. Some of the dishes most popular with the Palestinian people include musakhan, maqluba and rice-stuffed chicken called djej mahshi.

Typical Palestinian Dishes

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A list of typical Palestinian dishes and foods. Use it to help you plan a Palestinian-style meal, party or festival.

Appetizers

Baba Ghanoush (Eggplant dip)
Banadoora Maqliya Ma' Thoom (Fried tomatoes)
Hummus bi Tahini (Middle Eastern chickpea and sesame dip)
Mafghoussa (Zucchini and tomato spread)
Sambusak (Meat-stuffed pastries)

Soups and Stews

Khyar b'Laban (Yogurt and cucumber soup)
Shorbet Djaj (Chicken soup)
Shorbet Frikeh (Cracked green wheat soup)

Salads

Bakdoonsiyyeh (Parsley salad)
Fattoush (Tomato, cucumber and pita salad)
Mutabbal (Eggplant salad)
Tabbouleh (Bulgur and parsley salad)

Dairy

Laban (Yogurt)

Poultry

Djaj Mahshi (Chicken stuffed with rice)
Fatteh Djaj (Chicken with rice, pita and yogurt)
Musakhan (Chicken layered with bread, onions and pinenuts)

Meats

Fakhdet Kharouf bel Furun (Roast leg of lamb)
Kefta (Spiced meatballs)
Maqluba (Rice and eggplant casserole)
Shawarma (Spiced meat sandwich)

Fish and Seafood

Sayyadiya (Fish with rice)

Vegetables and Beans

Falafel (Fried chickpea patties)
Mjaddara (Rice and lentils)
Musaka'a (Eggplant baked with tomatoes and chickpeas)
Olives
Rishtaye (Lentils and pasta)

Breads and Grains

Fotoot (Cheese-filled dumplings)
Frikeh (Green wheat)
Marquq (Thin flatbread)
Mjaddara (Rice and lentils)
Pita (Pocket bread)
Rishtaye (Lentils and pasta)
Ruz Hashweh ("Oriental" rice pilaf with ground beef)
Sayyadiya (Fish with rice)
Shrak (Whole-wheat thin griddle bread)

Sauces

Muhammara (Spicy roasted pepper dip)
Taratour (Sesame sauce)

Desserts

Dates
Eish es-Saraya (Custard with pistachios)
Figs
Ghraybeh (Butter cookies)
Kunafa (Shredded wheat with fruits and nuts)
Qatayef (Ramadan pancakes)
Sabra (Prickly pear fruit)

Palestinian Recipes

Try these recipes from Palestine.

Shawarma

(Middle Eastern spiced meat sandwich)

Kefta

(Middle Eastern spiced meatballs)

Falafel

(Middle Eastern fried chickpea patties)

Musakhan

(Palestinian sumac-scented roast chicken)

Tabouli

(Middle Eastern bulgur and parsley salad)

Pita

(Mediterranean pocket bread)

Maqluba

(Palestinian rice and eggplant casserole)

Hummus bi Tahina

Hummus bi Tahini (Middle Eastern chickpea dip)

(Middle Eastern chickpea and sesame dip)

Baklava

(Eastern Mediterranean nut and phyllo sweet pastry)

Baba Ghanoush

(Middle Eastern roasted eggplant dip)

Tarator

(Middle Eastern sesame-lemon sauce)

Muhammara

(Middle Eastern spicy roasted pepper dip)

Zaatar

(Middle Eastern spice blend)

Musaka'a

(Palestinian eggplant baked with tomatoes and chickpeas)

Bakdoonsiyyeh

(Palestinian parsley salad with tahini dressing)

Limoonada

(Middle Eastern lemonade; see Lemonade recipe)

Dibs Rumman

(Middle Eastern pomegranate molasses; see Rob e-Anar recipe)

Laban

(Middle Eastern cultured milk; see Yogurt recipe)

Fattoush

(Arab tomato and cucumber and bread salad; see Horiatiki Salata variations)

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