Palestine: Recipes and Cuisine

Palestinian women baking bread
Image by Lisa Nessan

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

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.

Hummus bi Tahina 
(Middle Eastern chickpea and sesame dip)

Fattoush 
(Arab tomato and cucumber and bread salad)

Limoonada 
(Middle Eastern lemonade)

Baklava 
(Eastern Mediterranean nut and phyllo sweet pastry)

Muhammara 
(Middle Eastern spicy roasted pepper dip)

Musakhan 
(Palestinian sumac-scented roast chicken)

Bakdoonsiyyeh 
(Palestinian parsley salad with tahini dressing)

Maqluba 
(Palestinian rice and eggplant casserole)

Shawarma 
(Middle Eastern spiced meat sandwich)

Musaka’a 
(Palestinian eggplant baked with tomatoes and chickpeas)

Zaatar 
(Middle Eastern spice blend)

Kefta 
(Middle Eastern spiced meatballs)

Falafel 
(Middle Eastern fried chickpea patties)

Tabouli 
(Middle Eastern bulgur and parsley salad)

Pita 
(Mediterranean pocket bread)

Baba Ghanoush 
(Middle Eastern roasted eggplant dip)

Dibs Rumman 
(Middle Eastern pomegranate molasses)

Laban 
(Middle Eastern cultured milk)

Tarator 
(Middle Eastern sesame-lemon sauce)



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