Syrian cuisine

Syrian cuisine is an Arab and Mediterranean cuisine that traces back to ancient civilization in Syria and the region. Syrian specialties makes use of eggplant, zucchini, garlic, meat (mostly from lamb and sheep), sesame seeds, rice, chickpeas, fava beans, lentils, steak, cabbage, cauliflower, vine leaves, pickled turnips, cucumbers, tomatoes, olive oil, lemon juice, mint, pistachios, honey and fruits.

Selections of appetizers known as mezze are customarily served along with Arabic bread before the Syrian meal's main course, which is followed by coffee, with sweet confections or fruits at will. Many recipes date from at least the 13th century.Eddé, Anne-Marie. (1999). La Principauté ayyoubide d'Alep (579/1183 – 658/1260).

Foods Meze

NameDescriptionBaba ghanoush/ mtabbal ()eggplant (aubergine) mashed and mixed with seasoningsBaterish () mashed roasted eggplant Falafel ()a deep-fried ball or patty made from ground chickpeas, fava beans, or bothFasolia bizzeit ()green beans with olive oil, lemon and garlicFatteh ()pieces of Arabic bread covered with other ingredientsFattetil-makdus ()Fatteh with makdous and minced meatFatteh billahm ()Fatteh with meatFatteh bissamn ()Fatteh made with beef or sheep tallowFatteh bizzayt ()Fatteh made with vegetable, corn, or olive oilFattet jaaj ()Fatteh with chickenFattoush ()salad made from several garden vegetables and toasted or fried pieces of pita breadHalloumi cheese ()usually sliced and grilled or fried () lentils with dough Hummus ()a dip or spread made from cooked, mashed chickpeas, blended with tahini, olive oil, lemon juice, salt and garlicHummus billahm ()hummus with meat on top / jaz maz () eggs in tomato stew, Syrian shakshoukaKishik ()drained yogurtKibbeh ()in the Middle East, dishes made of bulghur, chopped meat, and spicesLabneh ()strained yogurt which tastes similar to cream or sour cream only more tartLahme bil'ajeen () a thin piece of dough topped with minced meat and vegetables.Makdous ()Stuffed and pickled eggplantsMakmoor ()chopped zucchini with rice Msaqqa'a ()grilled eggplant (aubergine) mashed with olive oil, tomato, onion and garlicMhammarah ()a hot pepper dip from Aleppo, made from Aleppo pepperMtabbal ()mashed eggplant (aubergine) blended with tahini, olive oil, salt and garlicOlives ()Shakriyeh () Lamb cooked in yoghurt Shish kebab ()skewered cubes of meat

Stuffed vine leaves NameDescriptionYabrak ()Grape leaves stuffed with rice and minced meat cooked and served hotYalanji ()Grape leaves stuffed with rice and a variety of vegetables and served hot or cold

Kebab

NameDescriptionKebab ()Grilled meatKebab halabi ( meaning "Aleppine kebab") Kebab served with a spicy tomato sauce and Aleppo pepper, with about 26 variants including Kebab hindi (), made from rolled lamb, with tomato paste, onion, capsicum and pomegranate molasses Kebab kamayeh (), made from soft meat with truffle pieces, onion and various nuts Kebab karaz (), made from lamb meatballs with cherries and cherry paste, pine nuts, sugar and pomegranate molasses Kebab khashkhash (), made from rolled lamb or beef with chili pepper paste, parsley, garlic and pine nuts Siniyyet kebab (), made from lean minced lamb served on a tray with chili pepper, onion and tomato

Kibbe

A variety of Syrian dishes made from a fried, baked, grilled, cooked, or raw mixture of bulghur and minced lamb are called kibbe ().

NameDescriptionKibbeh bisseniyyeh ( meaning "plate kibbeh")A plate of baked kibbehKibbeh Halabiyyeh ()Kibbeh with a rice crust; though named after AleppoKibbeh haamdah ()Kibbeh with lemon juiceKibbeh labaniyyeh ()Cooked kibbeh with yogurtKibbeh 'qras (mishwiyyeh) ()Grilled kibbehKibbeh nayyeh ()Raw kibbehKibbeh safarjaliyyeh ()Kibbeh with quinceKibbeh simmaa'iyyeh ()Kibbeh with sumac

Mahshi (stuffed squash)

A famous dish served in Syria is made from vegetables (usually zucchini— / kūsā, or eggplant— / bādhinjān) which are stuffed ( / maḥshī) with ground beef or lamb or mutton, nuts, and rice.

Street food

Syrian street food includes:

NameDescriptionBooza ()Ice cream known for its elastic texture, which is caused by the presence of masticFalafil ()Fried balls or patties of spiced, mashed chickpeas, most often served in Arabic bread, with pickles, tahina, hummus, sumac, cut-vegetable salad and often, shatteh, a hot sauce, the type used depending on the falafil makerKa'ak ()Rings of bread, made from farina and other ingredients, commonly sprinkled with sesame seeds, occasionally served on the table to accompany Syrian cheese; a buttery and sweetened version, filled with crushed dates or walnuts, is eaten as a dessert, usually served to eat with string cheese shaped into a braid (jibneh mashallaleh)Manakish ()Dough topped with za'atar, cheese or ground meat; it can be sliced or folded, and it can be served either for breakfast or lunchShawarma ()Sliced and marinated meat shaved off a roasting skewer and stuffed into Arabic bread or sometimes baguette, alone with hummus, or with additional trimmings such as fresh onion, French fries, salads and picklesMaarouk ()A sweet bread stuffed with date paste and topped with sesame seeds, and served in a wide variety of shapes, popular during Ramadan.

Sweets

NameDescriptionBa'lawah ()Layered pastry filled with nuts, steeped in a honey syrup called atr (), and usually cut in a triangular or diamond shapeBarazek ()A sort of sesame seed cookie, made from white sesame seeds, butter, sugar, milk and honeyBasbousa ()A sweet cake made of cooked semolina or farina soaked in simple syrupBashmina ()Syrian-style cotton candy. Made mainly from flour with a honey syrup called atr ().Bilatat jahanam ( meaning "Hell's tile")Made mainly from sugar and flour with a red food coloringCrêpe ()A very thin French pastry with butter and sugarGhazal al-banat ()Sugar cotton candy stuffed with pistachios or cashewsHalaweh homsiyyeh ()Also known as al Qurmashliya, made from flour, water and salt, fried with oil until they form little pieces, which would be colored afterwardsHalawet al-jibn ()Pastry rolled and stuffed with cheese or thick milk cream, served with a honey syrup called atr ()Halweh ()A slab of sesame paste studded with fruit and candy/sweetsHaytaliya ()A sort of milk puddingKanafeh ()Shoelace pastry dessert stuffed with sweet white cheese, nuts and syrupMa'mul ()Biscuits filled with dates, pistachios or walnuts, and shaped in a wooden mould called tabi (), a popular sweet on Christian holidays (Easter), Muslim holidays ('Id al-Fitr), and Jewish holidays (Purim)Mamuniyyeh ()Mixture of semolina and ghee simmered in water with sugar, usually served with salty cheese or milk cream called qishteh ()Muhallebi ()A sort of milk puddingNabulsiyyeh ()A layer of semi-salty Nabulsi cheese covered with a semolina dough and drizzled with a honey syrup called atr () Naem () A fried flatbread covered in syrupQada'ef ()Semolina dough stuffed with a paste made from sweet walnuts or milk cream, with a honey syrup called atr ()Qamar al-din ()Dried apricot pasteRaha ()A confection based on a gel of starch and sugarRice pudding ()Made from rice mixed with water or milk and other ingredients such as cinnamonSimsimiyah ()A confection of sesame seeds and sugar or honey, with some SaponariaSuwar as-sitt ( meaning "lady's wristlet")A disc-shaped pastry steeped in a honey syrup called atr () while the centre is covered with smashed pistachiosTaj al-malik ( meaning "king's crown")Round dry pastry, the centre of which is filled with pistachios, cashews or other nutsZilabiyyeh ()Thin sheets of semolina dough, boiled, rolled and stuffed with pistachios or milk cream called qishteh ()Znud as-sitt ( meaning "lady's arms")Phyllo pastries with various fillings

Cheeses

Halloumi—a semi-hard, unripened, brined cheese Jibne baida—a white hard cheese with a pronounced salty taste Jibne khadra—a form of string cheese, originated in Syria, also known as jibneh mshallaleh Shanklish—a type of blue cheese made from cow's or sheep's milk and often served topped with dried thyme and olive oil

Beverages

NameDescriptionAl-mateh ()A caffeine-infused drink produced from ground yerba mate leaves and served hot'Ara' ()A distilled alcoholic spirit, transparent in color, made from grapes and spiced with anise seedsAyran ()A yogurt-based beverage mixed with salt and waterJallab ()A fruit syrup which can be combined with liquid to form a hot or warm beveragePolo ()Mint lemonadeQahweh bayda' ( meaning "white coffee")A caffeine-free drink made from water and orange blossom water, sweetened with sugar at will, usually served in lieu of coffeeQamar al-din ()A thick apricot juice, typically served for Iftar during RamadanSalep ()A traditional winter beverage, made with a flour from the tubers of the orchid genus Orchis; salep flour is consumed in beverages and dessertsSyrian beer ()A beverage prepared from yeast-fermented malt, flavored with hopsSyrian coffee ()A beverage made from lightly roasted coffee beans along with cardamom, and served in small cups (as with Turkish coffee)Wine () An alcoholic beverage made from fermented grapes'Ara' Al-suse (عرق السوس)Liquorice drink is prepared from the roots of liquorice, and it is a refreshing drink with many benefits, and it is often prepared cold and in the summer

Syrian cuisine

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