Syrian Pantry

The Syrian pantry has a variety of seasonal fresh vegetables and fruits, grains, dairy products, meat, preserves and spices. This section includes a list of the most common Syrian pantry items.

In this section, the Syrian pantry items are organized in two categories: (1) Common pantry items found easily in regular grocery stores in USA and Europe,and (2) Specialty items that are likely to be found in Middle Eastern or other specialty stores. The specialty items are ordered by usage frequency, so those used in more recipes are placed first.Click here for a printable version in English, Arabic and French.

Common pantry items

Produce

• Potatoes, onion, garlic, tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, green pepper, eggplants, zucchini, green beans, cauliflower, lemon, small okra, cabbage, parsley, carrots, peas, corn.
• Apples, oranges, mandarins, dates, banana, peaches, plums, cherries, melon, watermelon, strawberry, grapes, pomegranates, figs.

Grains

• Syrian flat bread (bigger and thinner than pita bread), buns, dinner rolls, Kaiser rolls.
• All-purpose flour, long grain rice, corn starch.
• lentils, white beans, chickpeas, fava beans.
• Different types of pasta, such as spaghetti.

Dairy

• Milk, plain yogurt, white fresh cheese (such as the Mexican Queso Fresco), mozzarella cheese, eggs.
• Unsalted butter, corn/vegetable oil, olive oil.

Meat

• Chicken, fish
• Beef (mostly ground or stew chunks).
• Some Muslims will only eat chicken and beef marked as ‘Halal’. Fish is always ok.

Preserved foods

• Canned chickpeas, olives, diced/crushed tomato, tomato sauce/paste, corn, mushroom.
• Jams, honey.

Spices and condiments

• Sugar, salt, Black pepper
• Ketchap, apple cider vinegar.
• Ground cumin, mint, paprika, oregano, rosemary, cinnamon, coriander.
• Black tea bags, instant coffee, camomile.

Specialty pantry items

• Tahini (sesame seed puree)
• Baharat (Syrian seven-spice mix)
• Labneh (strained yogurt)
• Zaatar (thyme mix)
• Bulgur (burgul) size # 2 or 3
• Arabic coffee (fine-ground coffee)
• Vermicelli Noodles
• Rose water
• Pomegranate molasses