Food Tour of Palestine.

Alright, so I admit I have turned into one of those people who takes pictures of their food all the time, but I swear it is for a good cause [to be able to share this very important part of the culture with all of you!]. And now the time has come...Allow me to introduce you to the many mouth-watering delicacies of Palestinian cuisine :)

Breakfast done right... A spread of fresh bread from the streets of Jerusalem, falafel, lebneh (strained yogurt) with olive oil, eggs, baba ganoush (an eggplant dip), various veggies (which taste way better than the ones in America), and more. Prepared by and shared with Palestinian friends who invited me to spend the night at their home. 

This classic Palestinian dish is called Maklouba, which literally translates to "upside-down." It is made with a mixture of rice, meat (usually chicken), and vegetables (here with potatoes & chickpeas, but also sometimes eggplant, cauliflower, or fried tomatoes)--all cooked together in a pot then flipped upside down when served, hence the name. It is typically eaten with yogurt and a simple salad of cucumbers & tomatoes.

Lunch break with friends at school. Closest pictured is another traditional Palestinian dish called Musakhan: taboon bread topped with a mixture of onions, sumac, allspice, saffron, pine nuts, and roasted chicken. To the right is a similar bread with jibna (cheese) and zaatar (a popular herb & spice mixture). And lastly, to the left is Mansaf: yellow rice topped with nuts and chicken or lamb, served beside a broth of lamb stock and dissolved dried yogurt. It is traditionally a Bedouin meal, meant to be eaten communally, and also the official national dish of neighboring Jordan.

A simple meal of cooked squash stuffed with rice and meat. But extra special because I helped to make it, using a specific tool to carve out piles of squash, while chatting in Arabic with my friend's sweet family :)

Hummus with a twist, served warm with whole chickpeas and plenty of olive oil. And of course, the typical pita bread and random vegetable plate. This meal was at Afteem, one of the most popular restaurants in Bethlehem, across from the Church of the Nativity. 

Palestine's version of American hamburgers for dinner with our host family. Also, it is worth noting that french fries here are usually eaten inside the sandwich (like when you order a falafel wrap for example). This took a little bit of getting used to, but its actually pretty convenient on the go!

Okay, this dish is not actually rooted in Palestine either, but I had to include it because of how obsessed some of my Egyptian friends are with their beloved Molokheyah (you all know who you are). Its sort of a soup made with minced Jute leaves and spices, with a distinct texture, usually served over rice or other grains. 

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A couple of weeks ago, I noticed these for sale in abundance on the street, but couldn't figure out what they were. Later I learned they are actually un-ripe green almonds! Tender and sort of fuzzy on the outside (like peaches), they are best eaten with a little bit of salt. 

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And last but certainly not least, one of the most famous desserts of the Levant: Kanafeh. It is basically a layer of soft white stringy cheese topped with either shredded phyllo dough or semonila and drenched with sugar syrup, served steaming hot from a large platter. May sound a little strange at first, but trust me--its delicious :)