Freekeh فريكة Freekeh is made from green durum wheat that processed in a special way to create a unique flavor. The wheat is harvested while the grains are yellow and the seeds still are soft; it then is piled and sun-dried. The piles are carefully set on fire so only the straw and chaff burn, […]

Shishbarak شيش برك Almost every cuisine in the world has their comfort food dumplings, and Syria is no exception. Similar to the tortellini-like dumplings known as manti in neighbouring Turkey, this traditional dish is popular in both the North and South of Syria. Each city has their distinctive way to make it; this recipe is […]

Makhlouta bil Awarma  مخلوطة بالأورمة Makhlouta means "mixed" in Arabic, and in the Middle Eastern kitchen, this typically refers to an ancient dish of mixed beans, legumes and grains. A classic warm comfort food, Makhlouta can range from a soup to a thick, chili-like stew, with countless different variations and ratios of ingredients. This thick, […]

Kibbeh is one of the the most famous of all Syrian dishes… I’ve been told that there are over 20 kinds in Damascus alone! These traditional small fried kibbehs, little football-shaped fritters of bulgur dough with flavourful stuffings, together with warm yellow lentil soup is a classic combination. Kibbeh Maklieh bil Lahmeh  كبة مقلية باللحمة […]

Mahashi Flefleh محاشي فليفلة Stuffed vegetables were cherished by the former Ottoman Empire, and they made them popular from the Balkans to the Levant. Small zucchinis or eggplants are perhaps the most common, but almost any vegetable can be Mahashi (stuffed). Today it’s a combination of colourful peppers (flefleh), stuffed with a mix of ground […]

Maqluba  مقلوبة Maqluba is a traditional dish from the Levant that includes meat, rice, and fried vegetables layered in a pot, which is then tipped over before serving, hence the name which translates literally as “upside-down”. This Syrian version of the recipe includes tomatoes, eggplant, poached halal chicken and spiced ground beef, with a garnish […]

This week we’re featuring a selection of some the many kinds of fatayer found in Syrian cuisine… Tender, homemade flour dough is rolled out and either topped or stuffed with a variety of fillings before being baked. The meat meal includes 1 beef + 1 cheese fatayer; the vegetarian meal has 1 muhammara + 1 […]

Kebab Hindi كباب هندي Levantine cuisine has no shortage of kebabs – as Islamic culture spread across the world it brought with it many dishes, and brought back many inspirations and influences. So it comes as no surprise that there are countless kebab dishes in India, nor that Indian culinary ideas have also filtered back […]

Burgul Behommos with Chicken برغل بحمص Burgul (aka bulgur wheat), is a dried cracked wheat that is an ancient staple of the Middle and Near East. It is typically made from whole grain durum wheat that has been coarsely ground, soaked, steamed and dried, a process that enhances its shelf life and nutritional profile. Compared […]

Musakhan مسخن Over the last 60 years, many people from the Palestinian diaspora have found their way to Syria, bringing elements of their food and culture with them. Musakhan is a traditional Palestinian dish that has become very popular in Syria, especially in the South. Very thin sheets of “taboon” flat bread are filled with […]