Five Must Try Israeli Eats

May 18, 2018
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Israel, Savour
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1 Comment

There is more to eat in Israel than Falafel and Shawarma. Israel is a melting pot of cultures with roots from all over the Middle East, North Africa and Europe. As waves of new immigrants arrived, they brought with them the foods that made them feel at home. As the new generation grew up together, they shared their cultures and eventually adopted all of these foods as their own, making Israeli cuisine a sampler of tasty treats from across the region. These are my five favorites dishes that I think everyone should taste on a visit to Israel:

Sabich

Sabich came to Israel with the Iraqi immigrants. Originally eaten for breakfast, this fulfilling and complex sandwich is great anytime of day. Sabich is packed full of yumminess which includes fried eggplant, hard boiled eggs, and (sometimes) boiled potato. Like most Israeli sandwiches, the basic ingredients are then topped with a series of salads (tomato, cucumber, cabbage, carrot, onion), pickles, tahini, and parsley. What makes this sandwich truly special is the amba, or mango curry sauce. It adds a nice tropical flare. The combination of ingredients is unusual, but also so delicious; it is a must-try for any foodie.

Malawach

Malawach is a flaky and tasty treasure introduced to Israeli cuisine by Yemenite immigrants. It is a round, laminated bread which is crispy on the outside and soft and buttery on the inside. I think if a croissant and a pita had a baby, it would be a malawach. The traditional way to eat this carby-dream is with shredded tomato, hard-boiled egg, and a little zhug (a spicy green sauce). There is a “fancier” shop located in the Jerusalem’s Mahane Yehuda market called Jachnun Bar that offers malawach with the traditional toppings plus fried eggplant, fried onion, pickles, green olives and more! They even offer a malawach pizza!

Another favorite Yemenite dish is jachnun, which is made from a dough similar to malawach. Jachnun is basically like a rolled malawach, which is then coated in honey and baked in the oven overnight. It is typically eaten on Saturday. Since turning the oven on or off is not allowed on Shabbat, jachnun is a way to eat a hot meal on your day off. Like Malawach, Jachnun is served with shredded tomato, hard-boiled egg, and a little zhug.

Boureka

The boureka or bourekas (Israelis tend to call it bourekas) comes from turkey, and is a type of pie. It is either made with a puff pastry or phyllo dough, and is typically stuffed with Bulgarian cheese, spinach, mushrooms, eggplant, potato, or some combination thereof. Small, snack like bourekas are everywhere, and can be eaten on the go. However, the truly special way to eat a bourekas is as a sandwich. A larger boureka is sliced horizontally and stuffed with a hard-boiled egg, pickles, tahini, and a little zhug (and sometimes pesto or other sauces as the heart delights). This treat is sometimes called a “bourekas hafta-ah” in Hebrew, which translates to “bourekas surprise,” and what a surprise it is! Delicious.

Shakshuka

Shakshuka originally comes from North Africa (Morocco and Tunisia), and is one of the few Israeli dishes that have really made it big abroad. It’s super trendy in cities across America, and these days, it is even served as a brunch food in non-Mediterranean restaurants. The traditional version is basically a spicier, thicker tomato marinara cooked in a skillet. Eggs are cracked on top and poached in the sauce. Shakshuka typically has some cumin, paprika, and peppers to give a spicy flavor. Like so many other dishes, Shakshuka is best eaten with a thick pita, or any thick bread that can absorb the sauce without falling apart.

An often seen variation on the traditional Shakshuka is the green Shakshuka, which uses a creamy green sauce (usually spinach-based, but other leafy greens have been used as well) instead of the tomato-based sauce. Various soft cheeses also make frequent appearances as an optional accoutrement to this dish, and they add a delicious new twist to an old favorite.

Hummus

Hummus is probably the most historic and iconic (and oft fought over) of these five dishes. Apparently, this chickpea delight became popular in this region during the time of the crusaders! Unlike in the US, hummus in Israel is a full meal, often topped with whole cooked chickpeas, fava beans, mushrooms, hard-boiled egg, or some ground meat. There is also a healthy dose of olive oil on top (it’s definitely not a diet food). Hummus is usually served warm alongside a plate of “bitter” food, such as green olives, pickles, and sliced onion. Oh and fluffy pita of course! My personal favorite is hummus served with preserved lemon on top, yum!

If you’re headed to Israel, or even an Israeli restaurant, keep an eye out for these five delicious dishes. They are all worth a try and will keep you feeling satisfied for days!