Local Food in Palestine: We all have to eat as an essential component of life. However when you experience food in Palestine, you embark on a magical journey with your senses: the beautiful colours, the amazing aromas, tastes that explode in your mouth and the varying textures.

Food Is Culture, Identity And Hospitality

Food is an important part of Palestinian culture, identity and hospitality. Visitors to the West Bank, Palestine can expect to be offered a variety of food and drink. Palestinian people are extremely hospitable and will want to ensure that visitors and guests are well catered for.

Here we will discuss the types of foods most commonly found, the history behind some of Palestine’s most famous dishes and the customs attached to them. We will also explore options for those with special dietary requirements. You can be sure that while in Palestine you will be able to find delicious food which will meet your needs.

Everyone Can Enjoy Palestinian Cuisine

Food in Palestine can be a serious consideration for some people when travelling to a different country. We know that some people worry about finding food that they like and that is suitable to their requirements. There is no need to worry about this when planning a trip to Palestine. There is something for everyone here! Carnivores will find a variety of meat, fish and poultry dishes to tempt their taste buds. Vegetarians can enjoy a range of fruit, vegetables, breads, cheeses, nuts, pulses, legumes etc. 

Sweets and desserts are extremely popular in Palestine and you will be able to discover local delicacies to satisfy your sweet tooth. There are also lots of savoury foods too. Nobody ever needs to go hungry in Palestine! There is plenty of choice, including some Western foods for those who prefer, although we recommend that you try the sumptuous Palestinian cuisine while you are here!

Tastes Of History, Prepared With Love

Food in Palestine is also a journey into centuries-old traditions where each meal is prepared, served and enjoyed with love. International visitors to Palestine, whether volunteers, interns, students, tourists or here for work will have an amazing food adventure.

The Palestinian table is always full of a variety of dishes despite the weak economy. Palestinians are renowned for presenting delicious yet affordable food that mainly contains meat and ghee, usually accompanied by salad or other side dishes.

Vegetarians And Vegans

There are not many vegetarians in Palestine, and while there are no specific statistics you can tell that this is the case due to most restaurants basing their menu around the meat. 

However it is perfectly possible to eat a vegetarian diet in Palestine. It is also possible to follow a vegan diet although the choices are much more limited. 

There are plenty of meat-free options, including delicious breads, grains, pulses, legumes, fruits, vegetables and desserts. Falafel is also a staple of Palestinian cuisine and it is very easy to fine a falafel restaurant or take-out place where you can either buy a falafel sandwich or the falafel pieces by themselves. At most falafel restaurants you can also buy a container of hummus or various salads by asking for one. These are much tastier than the hummus and salads you can buy from supermarkets.

Meals In Palestine

When eating meals in Palestine whether breakfast at our center, or sharing a meal with a family that invited you, there is not only one dish, there are many. Sometimes a whole meal may be made up of many smaller dishes that are shared amongst everyone. Otherwise, there is usually one or two main dishes and a number of smaller side dishes such as salads, pickles and dips, all to be shared. Sometimes you may be given your own plate with a serving of the main meal, other times the main dish is on a platter and everyone eats from it. 

Note that if you go out to eat at a restaurant in Palestine with others, you will generally be given a basket of bread and several different appetizers such as hummus and various salads and dips. These are included as part of your meal. 

Palestinian Breakfast

Palestinians start their day after having a rich breakfast that usually includes pita bread, labneh (close to sour cream), hummus, sliced tomatoes and cucumbers, olive oil with Za’atar (a mixture of dried herbs) as well as fried or boiled eggs, and in some cities Hallum cheese or yellow cheese and full (fava bean stew).  Tea is always there to accompany any meal.

Lunch in Palestine has more options than breakfast. For instance, Palestine is literally full of restaurants that sell different types of sandwiches. The most common type of sandwich is Falafel (deep-fried balls or patties made from ground chickpeas, fava beans, or both) or Shawarma, which is stuffed with meat and salad.

Here Are Some Of The Most Popular Lunch Meals That You Must Try In Palestine:

  • Fasoulya Beyda: White beans cooked in tomato sauce and served with rice.
  • Fasoulya Khadra: Green beans cooked with a tomato sauce and also eaten with rice.
  • Kufta Bethinia: Meatballs (lamb or beef) cooked with Thinia sauce and served with rice.
  • Kufta bil-bandura: Meatballs cooked with tomato sauce and potatoes. It can be eaten with a spoon or with Palestinian pita bread.
  • Mahshi Lift: Cooked mostly in Hebron, is made from turnips stuffed with rice, minced lamb and spices and cooked in tamarind sauce.
  • Mansaf falasteen: Lamb cooked in a sauce of fermented dried yogurt and served with rice or bulgur
  • Maqluba: Literally means “upside-down” and is a dish that is made with fried cauliflower or eggplant, meat (chicken/lamb) and rice. 
  • Musakhan: This is a common and preferred meal for Palestinians. The meal is easy to make and the content is affordable and easy to obtain. The ingredients: olive oil, sumac, pine nuts, chicken pieces, onions, and taboon bread. The term ‘musakhan’ means “something that is heated.”
  • Zarb: this is a different type of cooking where the meat (lamb or chicken) is cooked under high pressure in an airtight oven under the ground and served with rice and bread, this way of cooking is influenced by Jordanians, especially those who live in the deserts.
  • Mujaddara: This is another popular meal as it is very affordable. It is very easy to make and the ingredients are available all year round. This meal contains lentils and rice with fried onions on the top.

What Else Can You Expect? 

Whatever you choose to eat you will find that the Palestinian kitchen is rich with variety and there is something for every palate. Generally speaking, food in Hebron is not very expensive, for example, a falafel sandwich costs around 4 NIS (about 1 American dollar). A normal meal such as Maqluba or Mansaf will cost you around 15-20 NIS (approximately 6 American dollars).

Don’t worry if you like fast food, there are places for you as well. Palestine has branches of the big international chain restaurants such as Kentucky, Domino’s Pizza, and Pizza Hut. There are also similar local Palestinian fast food restaurants. The major chain branches are mostly in Ramallah, Hebron, Bethlehem, and Nablus.

Sweet Treats

Palestine is famous for its sweet treats and desserts. These are mostly made up of sweet  pastries, sweetened cheeses, nuts, dates and syrups. Kenafah is one of the most desired sweets for Palestinians. It was originally made in Nablus and that’s why called “Kenafah Nabulsia”. It contains cheese pastry soaked in sweet, sugar-based syrup. This isn’t the only delicious sweet you can find. There is also Baklawa, Burma, Muhalabiyeh, Qatayef (mainly available during Ramadan) and many others.

Street Food In Palestine

Street Food in Palestine: One of the biggest staples in Palestinian culture is the array of foods and flavors found in their traditional dishes. Volunteers can expect to be treated with delicious meals, including Fasoulya, Mansaf, Maqluba, and Kousa when they eat with their new neighbors and friends in Hebron. However, another highly accessible and tasty style of food that can be found in Palestine is street food.

Lining the streets of Hebron are numerous food stands, where you can find anything from snacks, sweets, to full meals.

  • Palestinian BBQ

You can find multiple BBQ food stands in Hebron, where you will be attracted by the enticing smell of grilled chicken, tomatoes, onions and peppers. This meal, both delicious and healthy, serves as an ideal lunch or dinner any day of the week.

  • Potato Rings

Something that might be familiar to internationals are the fried potato stands. Thinly sliced potato carvings dipped in a fryer, this popular street food is a hybrid between potato chips and French fries. These potato rings serve as a warm and satisfying snack during the day and are a favourite of both Palestinians and Internationals.

  • Shawarma

Another delicious type of street food that is enjoyed by internationals visiting Hebron is called Shawarma. Slices of meat or chicken are carved from a vertical rotisserie, where it is then wrapped in a fresh flatbread pita with vegetables and sauces of your choosing. This meal is quick, easy, and perfect to bring on the go.

  • Falafel

Falafel is a common street food all around the Middle East and may be sold in dedicated falafel restaurants or small stalls in the street. You can either buy falafel pieces in a bag or a falafel sandwich. Usually in Palestine, falafel sandwich will come with chips (fries) in the sandwich, and there is a selection of other possible ingredients to go in the sandwich: different salads, fried vegetables, pickles, hummus, tahini sauce, and spicy sauce. While usually falafel sandwiches are made in pita bread, some falafel places will offer several types of bread for your sandwich.

  • Fruit and Vegetable Markets

Some of the freshest fruits and vegetables you will ever eat will be found here in Palestine. Dates, avocados, grapes, peaches, watermelon, apricots, peppers, tomatoes and cucumbers are just some of the healthy choices that you will find just down the road at the local market.

The inexpensive prices and friendly nature of the fruit market owners make these stands very popular amongst volunteers.

  • Qatayef

If you are craving a sweet dessert while walking through town after dinner, look no further than the Qatayef street stands. This dessert is an iconic sweet in Palestine that consists of either nuts or cheese wrapped in a doughy pancake batter.

All the Palestinian food is either eaten with bread or a spoon, sometimes with a fork but never will you find a knife, since everything is being cut into small pieces or soft enough to be “cut” with the spoon.

Summary

Palestinian cuisine is an important part of Palestinian identity, representing a connection to the Palestinian people’s land, history, and traditions. It is celebrated not only for its delectable flavors, but also for its cultural significance. The Palestinian diet consists of a wide range of grains, vegetables, fruits, and meats. Many traditional Palestinian dishes use fresh and local ingredients like olive oil, herbs, spices, and vegetables. 

Some of the most iconic dishes in Palestine are maqlouba, mansaf, warak diwali (stuffed grape leaves), falafel, shawarma, and hummus. Palestinian cuisine is not only about eating food, but also sharing love, spending time together and hospitality. One of the best parts of coming to Palestine is not only trying the delicious traditional food, but the whole experience of sharing a meal with others.