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Thali

🇮🇱 The food of Israel

45 dishes from Israel, best known first, across 4 cities and regions.

Israeli cooking is shaped by Jewish communities from across the world, blending Middle Eastern, North African, European, and Mediterranean influences. It stands out for its mix of Jewish and Arab dishes, use of local produce, and adaptations to religious rules and modern trends.

  • Hummus, falafel, and shakshouka are everyday foods in Israel.
  • Kashrut rules shape what ingredients and dishes are eaten.
  • Kugel yerushalmi is a sweet, peppery noodle pudding from Jerusalem.
  • Sufganiyot are filled doughnuts eaten at Hanukkah.
  • Khubeza leaves were foraged and eaten during the 1948 siege of Jerusalem.

The cooking of Israel

Israeli cuisine is a blend of many Jewish diaspora traditions, especially those from the Middle East, North Africa, and Europe. Over centuries, local produce and Mediterranean ingredients have shaped the food, while religious dietary laws (kashrut) and customs for holidays and Shabbat play a key role. Dishes from Arab and broader Middle Eastern cuisines, such as hummus and falafel, are now common, though their adoption has sparked debate. Modern Israeli food is also influenced by international trends, with chefs experimenting with new ingredients and fusion styles.

Staple foods in Israel

Wheat, barley, olives, figs, dates, pomegranates, and grapes have been central since ancient times. Bread, olives, cheese, and raw vegetables form the base of many meals. Chickpeas, eggplant, and peppers are widely used. Dairy, fish, and fresh fruits and vegetables are important, reflecting the Mediterranean climate. Pita bread, couscous, and rice dishes are common, and spices like za'atar and herbs are often added.

Breakfast in Israel 11 dishes

A typical Israeli breakfast draws on kibbutz traditions, featuring bread, olives, cheese, and raw vegetables. In hotels and many homes, it is served in an abundant form, sometimes including eggs and salads, reflecting the use of local produce.

Sweets and drinks in Israel

Pastries and cakes from Central and Eastern Europe, such as babka and strudels, are popular. Sufganiyot, a type of filled doughnut, is eaten especially during Hanukkah. Locally produced wines and handmade cheeses from cow, goat, and sheep milk are widely enjoyed. Coffee and tea are common drinks.

From region to region in Israel

Regional cooking in Israel reflects the origins of its people. Jerusalem is known for pies like sambousak and burekas, and for kugel yerushalmi, a sweet and peppery noodle pudding. Mizrahi cuisine, brought by Jews from North Africa and the Middle East, features grilled meats, stuffed vegetables, and spicy salads. Sephardic dishes show Balkan and Turkish influences, while Ashkenazi foods from Central and Eastern Europe include gefilte fish and schnitzel.

Festival and religious food in Israel

Jewish holidays shape many food traditions. Challah bread is made for Shabbat, while hamin, a slow-cooked stew, is served for Sabbath meals. Sufganiyot are eaten at Hanukkah, and khubeza, a wild mallow, is sometimes prepared on Independence Day, recalling its use during the siege of Jerusalem.

Where this page comes from

The facts in this overview come from the Wikipedia article "Israeli cuisine", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence. Thali rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.

Cities and regions of Israel

Galilee 2Jerusalem 2Abu Gosh 1Kafr Yasif 1
MealBreakfastLunchTea timeDinnerSupperSnacks
KindMain dishStreet foodSoupStew or curryRice dishNoodle or pasta dishDumplingBreadGrill or roastSandwich or wrapPie or savoury pastrySalad or sideCheese or dairy foodSausage or cured foodSauce, pickle or fermentSweet or dessertDrink
DietVegetarianVeganFish and seafoodMeat
ShawarmaMeatشاورما 🇸🇾 Syria and 5 moreMeat roasted on a vertical spit and sliced into flatbread with sauces and vegetables Street food, Lunch, Dinner HummusVegan 🇸🇾 Syria and 5 moreMashed chickpeas blended with tahini, lemon, and garlic, served as a dip or spread Sauce, pickle or ferment, Breakfast, Lunch Freekehفريكة 🇵🇸 Palestine and 5 moreRoasted green durum wheat grains, a staple across the eastern Mediterranean Main dish, Lunch, Dinner KhachapuriVegetarianხაჭაპური 🇬🇪 Georgia and 4 moreLeavened bread filled with cheese, sometimes egg, from Georgia Bread, Breakfast, Lunch Tajineطاجين 🇲🇦 Morocco and 4 moreNorth African stew slow-cooked in a cone-lidded clay pot Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Lentil soupVegan 🇪🇬 Egypt and 5 moreA hearty soup made from lentils, often with vegetables and spices Soup, Lunch, Dinner Apple sauceVegan 🇺🇸 United States and 5 moreSmooth cooked apples, sometimes sweetened or spiced, eaten as a side or dessert Sauce, pickle or ferment, Lunch, Dinner Maqlubaمقلوبة 🇵🇸 Palestine and 5 moreRice, meat and fried vegetables cooked in layers and served upside down Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Challahחַלָּה 🇮🇱 Israel and 5 moreBraided egg bread central to Jewish Sabbath and holiday meals Bread, Dinner, Lunch CholentMeatטשאָלנט 🇫🇷 France and 5 moreA slow-cooked Jewish stew of meat, beans, grains and potatoes for the Sabbath Stew or curry, Lunch Gefilte fishFish or seafood 🇵🇱 Poland and 5 morePoached patties of seasoned fish, often topped with carrot Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Kugelקוגל 🇮🇱 Israel and 5 moreAshkenazi Jewish baked casserole of noodles or potatoes, sweet or savory Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Fatayerفطائر 🇱🇧 Lebanon and 5 moreSmall Levantine pies with savoury fillings, baked in various shapes Pie or savoury pastry, Snacks, Lunch PtitimVegetarianפתיתים 🇮🇱 Israel and 1 moreToasted, grain-shaped pasta created in Israel as a rice substitute Main dish, Lunch, Dinner LebenVegetarianلبن 🇮🇱 Israel and 1 moreFermented milk, enjoyed as a drink or yogurt across the Middle East and North Africa Drink, Breakfast, Lunch Kibbeh nayyehMeatكبّه نيّه 🇱🇧 Lebanon and 2 moreRaw lamb or beef mixed with bulgur and spices, served as a Levantine mezze Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Israeli saladVeganסָלָט יְרָקוֹת יִשְׂרְאֵלִי 🇮🇱 IsraelFinely chopped tomato, cucumber and onion salad, dressed with lemon juice or olive oil Salad or side, Breakfast, Lunch Jerusalem mixed grillMeatמעורב ירושלמי 🇮🇱 IsraelGrilled chicken offal and lamb with spices, a specialty of Jerusalem Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Bourekasבורקס 🇮🇱 IsraelBaked turnovers with savory or sweet fillings, popular in Israel and Sephardic Jewish cooking Street food, Breakfast, Lunch Peanut butterVegan 🇺🇸 United States and 5 moreA thick paste made by grinding roasted peanuts, used in sweet and savoury foods Sauce, pickle or ferment, Breakfast, Lunch

Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

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