Persian/Iranian cuisine
Kabab Torsh: The Sour Kebab From Iran’s Green, Rainy North
Country of origin: Iran (Gilan province) This round’s pick is kabab torsh — literally “sour kebab” — a…
Jordanian cuisine
Sheikh el Mahshi: The Stuffed Eggplant That Skips the Rice Entirely
Country of origin: Levant (Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Palestine) This round’s pick is sheikh el mahshi — eggplant halves…
Jordanian cuisine
Baba Ganoush: The Smoky Eggplant Dip That’s Often Confused With Its Own Cousin
Country of origin: Levant (with widely shared claims across the broader Arab world) This round’s pick is baba…
Lebanese cuisine
Awarma: The Meat Preservation Technique That Predates the Refrigerator by Centuries
Country of origin: Levant (particularly Lebanon and Syria) This round’s pick is awarma — small pieces of lamb…
Egyptian cuisine
Riz bi Haleeb: The Rice Pudding That Keeps Its Grains Intact
Country of origin: Widely shared across the Levant, Egypt, and the wider Arab world This round’s pick is…
Jordanian cuisine
Fattet Hummus: Another Member of the “Fatt” Family, This Time for Breakfast
Country of origin: Levant (Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Palestine) This round’s pick is fattet hummus — a layered breakfast…
Lebanese cuisine
Znoud el Sit: The Dessert Named After a Lady’s Arms
Country of origin: Levant (Syria and Lebanon) This round’s pick is znoud el sit — crisp, golden-fried pastry…
Egyptian cuisine
Mahalabia: The Milk Pudding That’s Been on Middle Eastern Tables for Over a Thousand Years
Country of origin: Widely shared across the Levant, Egypt, and the Gulf, with roots reaching back to early…
Israel
Ka’ak al-Quds: The Sesame Bread Ring That Doubles as a Symbol of Jerusalem
Country of origin: Palestine (Jerusalem specifically) This round’s pick is ka’ak al-Quds, meaning “Jerusalem bread ring” — an…
Iraqi cuisine
Beid Hamine: The Eggs That Turn Brown From an Overnight Sabbath Trick
Country of origin: Iraq, with closely related traditions across the wider Sephardic and Mizrahi Jewish world This round’s…