Syrian cuisine facts for kids
Syrian cuisine is the traditional food and cooking style from the country of Syria. It mixes the cooking habits of many different people who have lived in Syria throughout history.
Syrian food often uses eggplant, zucchini, garlic, and lamb meat. Other common ingredients include rice, chickpeas, lentils, tomatoes, olive oil, lemon juice, and mint. You'll also find sweet things like pistachios and honey.
Before the main meal, people often enjoy a selection of small dishes called meze. These are usually served with Arabic bread. After the main course, people might have coffee, sweet treats, or fruits. Many of these recipes are very old, some dating back to the 13th century!
Contents
Delicious Syrian Food
Tasty Appetizers and Small Bites
Small dishes called meze are a big part of Syrian meals. They are like appetizers that you share.
| Name | What it is |
|---|---|
| Baba ghanoush (بابا غنوج) | Mashed eggplant mixed with yummy seasonings. |
| Falafel (فلافل) | Deep-fried balls or patties made from ground chickpeas or fava beans. |
| Fattoush (فتوش) | A fresh salad with different vegetables and toasted or fried pieces of pita bread. |
| Halloumi cheese (جبنة حلومي) | A special cheese, often sliced and grilled or fried. |
| Hummus (حمص) | A creamy dip made from mashed chickpeas, tahini, olive oil, and lemon juice. |
| Kibbeh (كبة) | Dishes made from bulgur wheat, chopped meat, and spices. |
| Labneh (لبنة) | A thick, strained yogurt that tastes a bit like sour cream. |
| Lahmacun (لحم بعجين) | A thin piece of dough topped with minced meat and vegetables. |
| Makdus (مكدوس) | Small eggplants that are stuffed and pickled. |
| Moussaka (مسقعة) | Grilled eggplant mashed with olive oil, tomato, onion, and garlic. |
| Muhammarah (محمرة) | A spicy dip from Aleppo, made from hot peppers. |
| Tabbouleh (تبولة) | A fresh salad with bulgur, parsley, mint, tomato, and spring onion. It's dressed with lemon juice and olive oil. |
Stuffed Vine Leaves
These are popular dishes where grape leaves are filled with tasty mixtures.
| Name | What it is |
|---|---|
| Yabrak (يبرق) | Grape leaves stuffed with rice and minced meat. Served hot. |
| Yalanji (يالانجي) | Grape leaves stuffed with rice and different vegetables. Can be served hot or cold. |
Delicious Kebabs
Kebab is a general name for grilled meat dishes. Syria has many kinds of kebabs!
| Name | What it is |
|---|---|
| Kebab (كباب) | Simply, grilled meat. |
| Kebab halabi (كباب حلبي) | This means "Aleppine kebab" and comes from the city of Aleppo. It's served with a spicy tomato sauce. There are many versions, like:
|
Amazing Kubbeh Dishes
Kubbeh (كبّة) are Syrian dishes made from a mix of bulgur wheat and minced lamb. They can be fried, baked, grilled, cooked, or even eaten raw!
| Name | What it is |
|---|---|
| Kubbeh bi-s-siniyyeh (كبّة بالصينيّة) | A baked kubbeh dish, often made in a tray. |
| Kubbeh labaniyyeh (كبّة لبنيّة) | Kubbeh cooked in yogurt sauce. |
| Kubbeh nayyeh (كبّة نيّة) | Raw kubbeh, a special way to enjoy it. |
Stuffed Vegetables (Mahshi)
A very famous Syrian dish is mahshi (محشي). This means "stuffed." It's usually made with vegetables like zucchini (kūsā) or eggplant (bādhinjān). These vegetables are filled with ground meat (beef, lamb, or mutton), nuts, and rice.
Popular Street Food
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When you walk through the streets of Syria, you'll find many tasty snacks!
| Name | What it is |
|---|---|
| Booza (بوظة) | Syrian ice cream. It's known for being stretchy because of a special ingredient called mastic. |
| Falafil (فلافل) | Fried balls of spiced chickpeas, often served in Arabic bread with pickles and sauces. |
| Ka'ak (كعك) | Ring-shaped bread, often sprinkled with sesame seeds. Some sweet versions are filled with dates or walnuts. |
| Manakish (مناقيش) | Dough topped with za'atar (a spice mix), cheese, or ground meat. It's great for breakfast or lunch. |
| Shawarma (شاورما) | Sliced, marinated meat shaved from a rotating skewer. It's stuffed into Arabic bread with hummus and other toppings. |
Sweet Treats
Syria has many delicious desserts and sweets!
| Name | What it is |
|---|---|
| Ba'lawah (بقلاوة) | Layers of pastry filled with nuts, soaked in sweet honey syrup. |
| Barazek (برازق) | Sesame seed cookies made with butter, sugar, and honey. |
| Basbousa (بسبوسة) | A sweet cake made from semolina (a type of flour) soaked in simple syrup. |
| Halawet al-jibn (حلاوة الجبن) | Pastry rolled and stuffed with cheese or thick milk cream, served with honey syrup. |
| Kanafeh (كنافة) | A dessert with thin pastry threads stuffed with sweet white cheese, nuts, and syrup. |
| Ma'mul (معمول) | Biscuits filled with dates, pistachios, or walnuts. They are popular during holidays. |
| Muhallebi (مهلبية) | A type of creamy milk pudding. |
| Qamar al-din (قمر الدين) | A delicious paste made from dried apricots. |
| Rice pudding (رز بحليب) | Made from rice mixed with milk and other ingredients like cinnamon. |
| Suwar as-sitt (سوار الست) | A disc-shaped pastry soaked in honey syrup, topped with crushed pistachios. |
Refreshing Drinks
Syria offers a variety of drinks, from traditional teas to unique juices.
| Name | What it is |
|---|---|
| Al-mateh (المته) | A hot drink made from ground yerba mate leaves, similar to tea. |
| 'Ara' (عرق) | A clear alcoholic drink made from grapes and spiced with anise seeds. (For adults only) |
| 'Ayran (عيران) | A yogurt drink mixed with salt and water. |
| Jallab (جلاب) | A fruit syrup that can be mixed with water to make a hot or cold drink. |
| Polo (بولو) | A refreshing mint lemonade. |
| Qamar al-din (قمر الدين) | A thick apricot juice, often enjoyed during the holy month of Ramadan. |
| Syrian coffee (قهوة) | Coffee made from lightly roasted beans with cardamom, served in small cups. |
See also
In Spanish: Gastronomía de Siria para niños
