Although Syrians are not big on steaks; this dish, ‘Sharhat Mtafay شرحات مطفاية’, will satisfy any steak-lover. Thin tender steaks are seared then “quenched” by lemon-garlic sauce. Simply good!
Vegetarian Stuffed Grape Leaves
Grape leaves are stuffed with a vegetarian mix, rolled and cooked in a tangy sauce with olive oil. This version of stuffed grape leaves (also known as yalanji) is served cold as an appetizer.
Maamoul bi Ajwa (Date Cookies)
Filling your house (and heart) with sweet baking smells, Maamoul bi Ajwa is associated with special occasions like Eid, but can be eaten year round too. It is a golden crumbly cookie with a sweet date filling.
Makdous (Pickled stuffed eggplant in olive oil)
Fall is the season when many Syrian households are busy preparing makdous (magdoos) for the whole year. Piles of baby eggplants are stuffed with walnut and sun-dried red pepper then pickled in olive oil. A staple breakfast/supper/snack dish.
Zaatar (thyme) Swirls
A quick, easy, delicious and funappetizer that will please anyone including the little ones! Zaatar mix is rolled in a doughand and cut into swirls. Zaatar is an herby mixture of thyme, sumac and sesame popluar in Syria.
Tabouli Salad
A staple salad at Syrian restaurants, this colorful dish is made with the freshest ingredients, bring spring time to any table. Finely-chopped parsley, tomato and burgul are dressed with lemon and olive oil. Reserve your best olive oil for this dish as it showcases its full flavor!
Sayadieh (Fish With Spiced Rice And Caramelized Onions)
A sensational dish from the Syrian coast on the Mediterranean. Rice is cooked with caramelized onion and fragrant spice and topped with seared fish. Fish can be fried, grilled, baked or cooked with rice. The recipe calls for whole spices but you can substitute with ground ones.
Kibbeh bil sanieh (Kibbeh Pie)
‘Kibbeh on a tray’ is one of the easiest kibbeh dishes to make, yet full of kibbeh’s nutty flavor and highly adaptable. Kibbeh dough is layered with meat-nut mixture, baked and served with salads and yogurt.
Kufta Kabab
Kabab, the king of all grilled meat, is a summer favorite. Lamb is mixed with garlic and parsley, grilled and served with assorted salads and veggies. With over 20 varieties, this is the most popular one in Syria. Simple, smoky, authentic and sublime!
Beewaz (parsley salad)
This easy-to-make salad is a must-have with grilled meat such as Kufta Kabab and grilled chicken. Use it as a bed under your kabab or to add a crisp fresh touch to grilled meat sandwiches.