The Jerusalemite Cuisine

Dawood Basha

Dawood Basha is meatballs that are fried and then cooked in tomato sauce. The meatballs may be served just fried.

Kefta with Grape Leaves

It is a special Jerusalemite dish. It consists of grape leaves stuffed with ground beef, and is cooked in a casserole in the oven

Al-Makmourah

One of the delicious Palestinian dishes. It is rich in olive oil and sumac. It consists of dough layers stuffed with pulled chicken and onions. It is cooked in the oven.

Al-Sumaciyyah

One of the famous Palestinian dishes. It is usually served in all the special and important occasions, especially on the first day of Eid. It is called Al-Sumaciyyah because it contains sumac.

Al-Maftool

Al-Maftool is one of the popular dishes in Jerusalem. It consists of granules or very tine balls made of flour. These are cooked in tomato sauce, onions, and chickpeas.

Al-Maqluba

For the Jerusalemite families, a week can’t go without making the famous Maqluba at least once. It consists of rice, vegetables, and meat cooked together, and then the pot is flipped in a big plate, that’s why it is called Maqluba (Maqluba means “being flipped”)

Al-Shishbaraq

One of the Palestinian popular dishes, especially among the villagers in the cities around Jerusalem.

Al-Msakhan

It consists of chicken, a lot of chopped onions soaked in sumac and olive oil, in addition to the Kmaj or Yufka bread. They also sprinkle toasted almond on the top.

Stuffed Chicken

In the Jerusalemite way, chicken is stuffed with rice, pine nuts, and ground meat. This mix makes the dish unique and delicious.

Jerusalemite Sesame Bread

It one of the foods most associated with Jerusalem ever! Having it on any Jerusalemite breakfast table is a must.

Awwameh

A very popular dessert in Jerusalem. It consists of balls drenched in syrup.

Qatayif

It is a popular dessert in Jerusalem. It is associated with the Holy Month of Ramadan. It consists of pancakes stuffed with nuts and drenched in syrup

Baraziq

A bit of flour and a lot of sesame make thin Jerusalemite Baraziq. It is one of the most eaten desserts in Jerusalem.

Mshabbak

A dessert associated with religious occasions in Jerusalem, especially Ramadan and the anniversary of Al-Isra’a and Al-Mi’raj.

Hareesah

The Hareesah is one of the most loved desserts in Jerusalem, by the young and the old. Its ingredients, semolina, yoghurt, and flour, are available in all houses.

Mutabbak

One of the famous old Jerusalemite desserts. It is considered as a main Jerusalemite desserts made in Ramadan and the different occasions.

Kullaj

One of the desserts people of Jerusalem love to have in feasts and banquets. It consists of Phyllo dough stuffed with cheese or walnut with cinnamon

Madlouqa

One of the easy-to-make desserts. It has beautiful colors and tastes so good.

Hetaliyyeh

One of the delicious light deserts common in Jerusalem. In some countries, it is called “Mhallabiyyeh”.

Al-Hilba

It is a famous common dessert in Jerusalem. It is covered with syrup. It smells different from the rest of desserts, because it is made using Fenugreek.

Al-Bahteh

One of the delicious dishes. It consists of rice, cooked in milk and sugar, with a bit of rosewater. It can be served hot or cold.

Ka’ak Al-Eid

A common kind of baked goods. It is exclusively made in the Eids. It is considered one of the most important parts in Eid.

Al-Masfan Bread

A kind of bread rich in olive oil, turmeric, and sugar. It is distributed to people once a year.

Tamarind

One of the popular Jerusalemite Juices in Ramadan. People in Jerusalem prefer to drink it at the Iftar, after a long day of fasting in Ramadan.

Al-Khushaf Juice

This beverage is originally Turkish. It consists of date infusion with pieces of dried fruits.

Licorice Juice

It is a beverage that is sweeter than the sugar itself.it quenches the thirst of fasting people.

Carob Juice

One of the beverages people of Jerusalem prefer in Summer, because it’s cold and hydrating, and because of its immense health benefits.

Julep Juice

It consists of currant or date syrups. It is one of the Jerusalemites’ favorite beverages.

Kamar El-Din Juice

The syrup of dried apricots with a bit of olive oil. It is prepared in the apricot season, and kept until Ramadan.

Almond Juice

One of the special beverages made in the Holy Month of Ramadan.