While you explore the heritage sights, religious institutions, and
Tel Aviv party scene during your visit, don’t forget to stop along the way to try some of Israel’s tastiest dishes. Here are five of the best foods to try on your next trip to the holy land.
Shakshuka
Shakshuka is the perfect vegetarian breakfast dish for people who like joy. It’s traditionally made with poached eggs in a tomato sauce with chili peppers, garlic, cumin, paprika, and cayenne pepper. Shakshuka is simple to make, healthy, and light (if you take it easy on the bucket of challah bread it’s served with). Its origins stem from North
Africa, but it has become a staple in Middle Eastern cuisine, taking on slight variations cross-culturally (sometimes served with feta on top, for instance). If you happen to be in Jaffa, do not skip a visit to Dr. Shakshuka, one of the most famous spots in the world to feast on the spicy tomato dish.
Msabbaha
If you fall victim to the plague of “hummus’d out” while gorging yourself across
Israel, you might want to try hummus msabbaha, or “deconstructed hummus,” a delicious variant on the traditional creamy staple. Msabbaha is a spread that leaves the chickpeas whole, mixing them in with tahini, which adds an interesting texture and consistency. Order the triple plate at Abu Hassan, which comes with traditional hummus, msabbaha, and ful (fava beans). But if you’re feeling adventurous, head to Halil, a hidden gem and casual lunch spot owned by Arab Christians in the town of Ramle.
Falafel
If you’ve never tried falafel — those spiced, deep-fried chickpea balls — we're so, so sorry. Falafel is a staple of Israeli cuisine and the food your vegetarian friends have been eating for decades. While you can find falafel everywhere in Israel, Falafel Razon, a cheap takeaway spot right by the Carmel Market, is the best. It offers some of the freshest falafel pita sandwiches for under $2. For a finer dining experience, try the falafel at Old Man and the Sea, a gorgeous restaurant right on the Old Port in Jaffa where the falafel balls are perfectly crispy on the outside, and soft and moist on the inside.
Shawarma
Much like falafel, shawarma is the quintessential quick and cheap lunch option. Have you ever seen those revolving spits with fat sacks of meat glistening in rotation? That’s shawarma: a hunk of lamb, chicken, turkey, beef, or veal (sometimes mixtures of two) that’s shaved into thin slices and stuffed into a sandwich. Try Shawarma Bino if you’re a veal or lamb lover, or Dabush for perfectly seasoned turkey and chicken shawarma.
Kanafeh
Think of kanafeh as a crunchy cheese blintz that tastes like a sweet mozzarella stick. With Levantine Arab roots in
Egypt,
Turkey, and Yemen, kanafeh was largely popularized by Palestinians. This stringy pastry dessert is stuffed with goat or sheep cheese, soaked in sugary syrup and butter, and topped with crushed pistachios. Try Haifa's Café Shtroudl for baked kanafeh with pistachio ice cream on top.
Source: Internet
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