Welcome to Sallet Al Sayad’s blog, where we are passionate about fresh food and delicious seafood. In this blog, we aim to explore Palestinian cuisine’s diverse and rich flavors. Palestinian cuisine is one of the world’s oldest and most varied cuisines, reflecting the region’s history, culture, geography, and the influence of neighboring countries and peoples. It is a cuisine that celebrates the seasons, local produce, and the traditions of the Palestinian people.
Many people think that Palestinian cuisine is limited to hummus, the famous chickpea dip that is popular around the world. While hummus is indeed a delicious and nutritious staple of Palestinian food, it is far from being the only dish that Palestinians enjoy. In fact, Palestinian cuisine offers a wide range of dishes, from savory to sweet, from simple to complex, from vegetarian to meaty. There is something for everyone in Palestinian cuisine, and we invite you to discover some of the most popular and delicious dishes that Palestinians love.
Here are some of the dishes that you should try if you want to experience the authentic taste of Palestinian cuisine:
- Mussakhan: This is a roasted chicken dish that is flavored with onions, sumac, and olive oil. Sumac is a tangy spice that gives the dish a distinctive red color and a sour taste. The chicken is served over a large flatbread that absorbs the juices and the onion mixture. Mussakhan is often eaten with the hands, tearing pieces of bread and chicken and dipping them in yogurt or salad. It is a festive dish that is usually prepared for special occasions, such as weddings or family gatherings.
- Maqloubeh: This is a rice dish that is cooked with meat, vegetables, and spices, such as cinnamon, cardamom, and nutmeg. The name maqloubeh means “upside down” in Arabic, because the dish is inverted onto a large platter before serving, revealing a beautiful layering of rice, meat, and vegetables. The most common ingredients for maqloubeh are chicken, eggplant, cauliflower, and potatoes, but other variations exist, such as lamb, carrots, or zucchini. Maqloubeh is often served with yogurt, salad, and pickles, and is a hearty and satisfying meal.
- Waraq enab: These are vine leaves that are stuffed with rice and minced meat, and cooked in a pot with lemon juice and olive oil. The vine leaves are rolled into small parcels that are tightly packed in the pot, creating a delicious and aromatic dish. Waraq enab can also be made with other vegetables, such as cabbage, zucchini, or peppers, and can be vegetarian, using only rice, herbs, and spices. Waraq enab is a delicate and elegant dish that is enjoyed as a main course or as an appetizer.
- Mansaf: This is a lamb dish that is cooked in a yogurt sauce, and served over flatbread or rice. The yogurt sauce, called jameed, is made from dried yogurt that is reconstituted with water and seasoned with salt and spices. The lamb is tender and juicy, and the sauce is creamy and tangy. Mansaf is the national dish of Palestine, and is often served on special occasions, such as Eid or weddings. It is a dish that symbolizes hospitality, generosity, and honor, and is eaten with the right hand, sharing from a large communal platter.
- Knafeh: This is a sweet pastry that is made with thin strands of dough, called kadayif, that are layered with cheese, nuts, and syrup. The pastry is baked until golden and crispy, and then soaked with sugar syrup that is flavored with rose water or orange blossom water. Knafeh is a decadent and indulgent dessert that is popular throughout the Middle East, but especially in Palestine, where it is considered a specialty of the city of Nablus. Knafeh is often eaten for breakfast, or as a snack, and is usually accompanied by a cup of tea or coffee.
These are just some of the dishes that showcase the diversity and richness of Palestinian cuisine, but there are many more to discover and enjoy. If you are looking for a place to try authentic Palestinian seafood, we invite you to visit Sallet Al Sayad, where we offer a variety of dishes that are fresh, tasty, and healthy. Some of our Palestinian specialties include Tabouleh, Gazawi salad, and Palestinian Salad: This is a refreshing and colorful salad that consists of chopped calamari, shrimp, lettuce, arugula, onion, and tomato, dressed with olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. It is a typical appetizer or side dish in Palestinian cuisine, and, of course, we also have a rich menu with local seafood produce and imported varieties to suit all tastes.
We hope you enjoyed this blog post and learned something new about Palestinian cuisine. We would love to hear from you, so please share your feedback and suggestions with us. Don’t forget to visit us Sallet Al Sayad, where you can taste the best of Palestinian seafood and more. Thank you for reading, and see you soon!
