9 Authentic and Traditional Palestinian Recipes

Condiments and Spices

In Palestinian cuisine, spices play a crucial role in enhancing flavors and adding depth to dishes, and zaatar spice is a particularly significant and beloved spice mix. It holds cultural and historical importance, embodying the essence of Palestinian cuisine.

Salads and Dips

Fresh salads and dips are fundamental components of Palestinian meals, and they often feature a colorful array of fresh vegetables. Tabbouleh and Fattoush are popular across the region and on the Palestinian table. The use of fresh ingredients in salads adds texture, crispness, and a burst of natural flavors to the overall dining experience.

Main Dishes

Meat has cultural and social significance in Palestinian society. Meat dishes are often associated with special occasions, family gatherings, and festive events. Sharing meat-based dishes is a way of expressing hospitality and creating a sense of communal togetherness.

Baked Goods and Bread

Bread serves as a primary source of sustenance for Palestinian families, constituting a significant part of their daily diet. It is a versatile food that can be enjoyed with various accompaniments, such as extra virgin olive oil, labneh (strained yogurt), hummus, and other dips.

Important Pantry and Fridge Staples in the Palestinian Kitchen

If you haven’t cooked Levantine or Palestinian food before, you will find that you might be missing a few ingredients. Here’s a rundown of essential pantry and fridge staples.

Pantry Staples

• Olive Oil: A fundamental ingredient, often used for cooking and dressing salads, reflecting the centrality of olives in Palestinian cuisine.
• Tahini: A sesame paste that adds a rich, nutty flavor to dishes and is a key component in making traditional sauces like tahini sauce.
• Sumac: A tangy, crimson spice that imparts a unique flavor to salads, meats, and dips, enhancing the overall taste of Palestinian dishes.
• Za’atar: A spice blend of thyme, sesame seeds, and sumac, used to season bread, meats, and dips, contributing a distinctive Middle Eastern flavor.
• Freekeh: Roasted green wheat with a smoky taste, commonly used as a grain base for salads, soups, and pilafs.
• Maftoul: Palestinian couscous made from bulgur and wheat flour, often used as a base for hearty salads and stews.
• Pomegranate Molasses: A thick, tangy syrup made from reduced pomegranate juice, adding depth and sweetness to both savory and sweet dishes.
• Nuts (Almonds, Walnuts): Widely used in desserts and savory dishes, providing texture and flavor.
• Lentils: Another important pantry staple, used to make lentil soup, mujadara and other affordable recipes.

Fridge Staples

• Labneh: Strained yogurt with a thick consistency, used as a spread or dip in Palestinian cuisine.
• Feta Cheese: A versatile cheese often crumbled over salads, mixed into dishes, or served as a side.
• Fresh Cheese: Cheeses like Akkawi from the town of Akka, Nabulsi from the town of Nablus are staples. Used in savory and sweet preparations like in my Knafeh (sweet cheese pastry).
• Yogurt: A staple in various Palestinian dishes, used for marinating meats, making sauces, and as a cooling side dish. Dried yogurt, also known as Jameed is a key ingredient in the popular Jordanian-Palestinian Mansaf.
• Fresh Herbs (Parsley, Mint, Cilantro): Essential for garnishing and enhancing the flavors of many Palestinian dishes.
• Garlic: A key aromatic in Palestinian cooking, adding depth and richness to a wide range of savory dishes.
• Lemons: Used for their juice and zest in marinades, dressings, and as a flavor enhancer.
• Eggs: Versatile and commonly used in both sweet and savory Palestinian recipes.
• Tomatoes: Fresh or as tomato paste, an essential ingredient in many Palestinian stews, sauces, and salads.
• Onions: Red onions, white onions, pearl onions, green onions… all play a crucial role.

The Importance of Olives to the Palestinian Diet and Culture

Olives (and the olive tree) are culturally and economically significant to Palestinians for several reasons:

• Cultural and Historical Symbolism: Olive trees have deep cultural and historical roots in the Palestinian identity. They are often seen as a symbol of connection to the land, resilience, and continuity. Olive trees have been cultivated in the region for thousands of years, and their presence is intertwined with the history and heritage of the people.
• Economic Importance: Olive cultivation is a major component of the Palestinian agricultural sector and economy. Olives and olive oil production provide livelihoods for many farmers, contributing significantly to their income. The olive oil industry is an essential part of the Palestinian economy, and the export of olive oil is an important source of revenue.
• Land Ownership and Identity: Olive groves are a tangible manifestation of connection to the land. The cultivation of olive trees has been passed down through generations, and many families have ancestral ties to specific olive groves. The olive trees are not only a source of sustenance but also a symbol of Palestinian attachment to their homeland.
• Cultural Practices: The harvesting of olives is a communal and cultural event for Palestinians. Families and communities come together during the olive harvest season to pick the olives, share stories, and celebrate traditions. This communal aspect reinforces the sense of community and shared identity among Palestinians.
• Challenges and Symbolism of Resilience: Olive trees and the olive industry have faced various challenges, including land confiscation, destruction of olive groves, and restrictions on movement by the Israeli regime. Despite these challenges, the resilience of farmers in maintaining and protecting their olive trees has become a symbolic expression of the broader Palestinian struggle for self-determination and resistance against external pressures.