ISRAEL: Best Israeli Food

In big cities and small towns, Israelis from all walks of life enjoy these popular Israeli foods.

It’s easiest to try them during a trip to Israel, but you can also find many of these dishes at a local Israeli or Middle Eastern restaurant, a specialty market, or make them in your own kitchen!

While there is a tremendous variety of cuisines and food eaten in Israel, certain dishes are considered typical Israeli food.
popular israeli food

These traditional foods of Israel can be found throughout the country in restaurants and cafés,food stands, and of course, in many Israeli homes.

Israeli Breakfast Foods:

These dishes are universally popular in Israel. We often eat them at home because they’re easy to make and very filling. A chopped Israeli salad is often served on the side.

Borekas – these pastries can be filled with cheese, potatoes, or vegetables

Israeli breakfast – features fresh vegetables, eggs, and cheeses

Israeli salad – a popular way to enjoy vegetables

Jachnun – a filling dish made from dough and cooked overnight

Labane – a tangy yogurt spread to be enjoyed at any meal

Shakshooka – an easy way to enjoy eggs in the morning (or anytime!)


Israeli Lunch / Dinner Foods:

Popular Israeli food is characteristically simple. A typical lunch in Israel is shnitzel with different side salads, including hummus and tahini, and served with rice or mashed potatoes, and vegetables.

For a quick meal on the go, it’s easy to grab a falafel or shwarma on the street, usually stuffed in pita with French fries ("chips") and salad.

Baba Ganoush – a tangy eggplant spread

Falafel – deep fried chickpea balls, often served in pita bread

Hummus – a mashed chickpea spread, hummus can be served in many ways and is a staple in Israeli households

Malawach – this flaky round pastry can be enjoyed with sweet or savory toppings

Pita bread – the “national bread” of Israel

Sabih – a sandwich of fried eggplant, hard boiled egg, tahini in pita

Shnitzel – chicken cutlets breaded and fried, Israeli supermarkets also offer many varieties of frozen “shnitzelim” to be enjoyed easily at home

Shwarma – grilled lamb or other meat that is then sliced or “shaved”, often enjoyed in pita or laffa bread

Tahini – a delicious spread made from ground sesame seeds


Israeli Snack Foods / Desserts:

These are just some of the sweet treats available in Israel. Disclaimer - they're not exactly dietetic!

Baklava - a sweet layered pastry enjoyed throughout the Mediterranean and Middle East

Crêpes - In the malls and on the streets, food stands sell freshly made crêpes, available with different fillings.

Ice Cream - Israelis, like people all over the world, love their ice cream.

Knafeh – this dessert is made of shredded pastry, soft cheese and sweet syrup

Malabi – a pudding flavored with rose water and topped with nuts

Sahlab – a rich, creamy, sweet hot drink or pudding


Israeli Drinks:

Living in Israel convertes one from a die-hard tea drinker to a coffee drinker. The coffee served in cafés here is delicious! Fruit shakes and lemonades are especially refreshing and tasty because the produce is grown locally.

Café Afuch – an “upside-down” cappuccino

Fruit Shake – in Israel these shakes are always fresh and flavorful

Mint Lemonade – called “lemonana”, sometimes served frozen and blended

Mint Tea - enjoyed with or without a teabag!


As you can see from this list, most of the popular food in Israel is also “everyday food” – tasty, unpretentious dishes to be enjoyed often, both in and out of the home.

Syrian Muhammara Recipe

Syrian cuisine has been vastly influenced by neighboring Middle Eastern countries and together they share many common dishes. In fact, some of these dishes are loved throughout the world and served in Middle Eastern grandeur. Common recipes from Syria include a host of Kebabs, Shawarma, Hummus, Kibbeh, Fattoush, Falafel, Mahshi, Fattah, Baklava, Basbousa etc. Arabic Coffee and Arak are the common beverages.

In the past,we have covered some of these Middle Eastern recipes through this column ,however, today let’s check out a recipe of a delicious dip. Muhammara is a dip which originated in Syria though it is common in other Middle Eastern countries as well. It is also known as Acuka in neighboring Turkey. A variety of ingredients common in Middle Eastern countries including bell peppers, walnuts, olive oil, garlic and pomegranate molasses blend together to give a unique taste to Muhammara dip. It goes best served along with other Meze, breads and also along as an accompaniment with a number of kebabs and meats. It is fairly easy to make this dip at home and it would add a punch to your Meze table. I’m sure you would love it. So here is the Muhammara Recipe for you to enjoy!
Ingredients

Red Bell Pepper – 2
Pomegranate – 1
Bread crumbs – 1/2 cup
Walnuts – 1/4 cup
Olive oil – 3 tbsp
Salt to taste
Red Chili flakes – 1 tbsp
Garlic – 5 to 6 cloves

Muhammara Recipe

Roast the red bell peppers directly over the gas flame until the skin is black.

Let it cool, then remove the skin and the seeds within and cut into 3 to 4 pieces.
Juice the pomegranate and heat it until it becomes thick and sticky. Pomegranate molasses is ready.

Add roasted red bell pepper, pomegranate molasses, bread crumbs, walnuts, olive oil, salt, red chili flakes and garlic in a blender.
Blend to make a coarse dip.
Drizzle a little olive oil just before serving.
Serve fresh Muhammara with Pita bread or Kebabs.