Food is one of the most distinctive Israel traditions. Jews coming from Europe, the Middle East, South Africa, Australia, America, and other countries have adopted the local food preparation habits into their unique dietary laws and effectively passed them to generations.
In the recent couple of years, Israel’s culinary scene has officially made its way to the international culinary scene. It appears to be driven by an outstanding set of food traditions originating from various parts of the world, from Bulgarian street food to amazing Parisian-style Brasseries. As travelers book Israel flights to different parts of this country, they should be prepared to have a delicious bite as they walk back to their hotel rooms.
Street food
There has been little debate about Israeli street delicacies. It isn’t an exaggeration that the downtown areas of many cities and towns in Israel have street food kiosks nearly on every corner. That means there is a variety of food choices for both locals and visitors.
Most of these foods have crossed the ocean and can be found in some North American cities and towns. Perhaps you are wondering what the real Israel’s street foods are and where do they come from. Well, chickpeas are an example of the oldest cultivated plants in Israel. They a popular staple of peasant cooking and offer a great source of protein. This could be the reason chickpeas have been in the daily diet of Jews of North Africa and the Mediterranean for centuries. Other street delicacies include;
Hummus
According to ‘The Book of New Israeli Food’ authored by Janna Gur, chickpeas for the basis of falafel and hummus. The latter is held in such high regard that it’s rarely prepared at homes. Hummus is savored at favorite ‘hummusia.’
It’s one of Israel’s national foods as it is ‘nutritious, filling, and cheap.’ Besides, it doesn’t require the use of forks and knives – just pita bread and a good wrist!
Falafel
Falafel came from Egypt. It was prepared by Egyptian Christian Copts who used to serve it with fava beans during Lent. Note that during that time, meat wasn’t part of their diet. Generally, falafel is a combination of parsley, chickpeas, cumin, lemon juice, garlic, salt, pepper, and coriander. Some chefs opt to add eggs, burgul, and dry bread crumbs.
This mixture is shaped into small balls then deep-fried using a gadget known as falafel maker. The gadget scoops up the mixture and dips it into boil oil.
Tchina
Also known as tahina or tahini, tchina is an Arabic term that means ‘ground.’ This street food is made of ground sesame seeds. It is combined with ice cold water, crushed garlic, salt, and lemon juice. It can be served with pita.
Other street delicacies you may want to taste during your trip in Israel include sabikh, kebabs, shwarma, burekas, nuts, coffee, sahleb, fruit juices, and more. The allure of Israel’s street food scene continues to grow as Jewish chefs both in Israel and other parts of the world make headlines and probably get top accolades.
