Eating is an essential component of life. However, when you experience food in Palestine, you embark on a magical journey with your senses. This includes the beautiful colors, 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 various 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 traveling 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 fruits, vegetables, breads, cheeses, nuts, pulses, legumes, etc. 

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

Tastes Of History, Prepared With Love

Palestinians also take you on a journey into centuries-old traditions, preparing, serving, and enjoying each meal 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. They mainly contain meat and ghee, usually accompanied by salad or other side dishes.

Vegetarians And Vegans

Few people in Palestine are vegetarians, as evidenced by the meat-centric menus in most restaurants.

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 bread, grains, pulses, legumes, fruits, vegetables, and desserts. Falafel is also a staple of Palestinian cuisine and it is very easy to find a falafel restaurant or take-out place. 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, people make a whole meal from many smaller dishes that everyone shares. Otherwise, they usually serve one or two main dishes with several smaller side dishes, such as salads, pickles, and dips, all for sharing. Sometimes, they give you 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 when you go out to eat at a restaurant in Palestine with others, the staff will generally serve you 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. This usually includes pita bread, labneh (close to sour cream/cream cheese), hummus, sliced tomatoes, and cucumbers. Often you may have olive oil with Za’atar (a mixture of dried herbs) as well as fried or boiled eggs. In some cities halloumi 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 full of restaurants that sell different types of sandwiches. The most common type of sandwich features falafel (deep-fried balls or patties made from ground chickpeas, fava beans, or both) or shawarma, stuffed with meat and salad.

Examples of Palestinian Breakfast Foods

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 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. Many eat it with a spoon or with Palestinian pita bread.
  • Mahshi Lift: Cooked mostly in Hebron make turnips stuffed with rice, minced lamb, and spices, then cook them in tamarind sauce.
  • Mansaf Falasteen (Palestine): Lamb cooked in a sauce of fermented dried yogurt and served with rice or bulgur
  • Maqluba: Literally meaning “upside-down,” this dish features 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 cooking method involves cooking lamb or chicken under high pressure in an airtight oven underground, influenced by Jordanians, particularly desert dwellers. It is served with rice and bread.
  • 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 big international chain restaurants such as Kentucky Fried Chicken, 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 consist mainly 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

One of the biggest staples in Palestinian culture is the array of foods and flavors found in their traditional dishes. When volunteers eat with their new neighbors and friends in Hebron, they can expect to enjoy delicious meals like Fasoulya, Mansaf, Maqluba, and Kousa. However, another highly accessible and tasty type of food found in Palestine is street food.

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

Fruit and Vegetable Markets: You will find some of the freshest fruits and vegetables to eat 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.

Examples of Palestinian Street Food

  • Palestinian BBQ: In Hebron, you can find multiple BBQ food stands where the enticing smell of grilled chicken, tomatoes, onions, and peppers will attract you. 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 is 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 favorite of both Palestinians and Internationals.
  • Shawarma: Internationals visiting Hebron enjoy another delicious type of street food called Shawarma. They wrap slices of meat or chicken, carved from a vertical rotisserie, in a fresh flatbread pita with vegetables and sauces of their choosing. This meal is quick, easy, and perfect to bring on the go.
  • Falafel: Falafel is a common street food throughout the Middle East, sold in dedicated falafel restaurants or small stalls on the street. You can either buy falafel pieces in a bag or a falafel sandwich. Usually in Palestine, a 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.
  • 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.

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 about 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.