Food and Drinks

If we think of kebab, we usually think of meat slowly grilled on a skewer, sliced into small pieces and then served in bread with salad and sauces. But the original is a little different from our beloved street food.

Originally, it was called „kabab“ and it comes quite possibly from a shortage of cooking fuel therefore selling and preparing meat in small pieces so it would cook faster. The name is supposed to be of Persian origins and refers to ancient soldiers that roasted their food on their swords over open fires.

This very sweet, fruity drink is very popular in Iraq and can be even eaten as a desert. What we know as ‘sorbet’ has its roots in this summer drink.

Sharbat – also known as Sherbet – is a very common drink in the Middle-East and its varieties go from fruity ice-cold drinks to hearty deserts and sorbets.

The Iraqi cuisine is rich on great small dishes that form colorful platters on the table and especially sauces and dips can be found in a vast variety. Hummus has to be the most popular of all dips and it is a favourite spread amongst vegetarians.

Hummus is usually served with all kinds of foods, whether it is bread, vegetables or even added to cooked meals as stews and soups. It is very high in vitamin C and iron and therefore is a great addition to a vegetarian lifestyle and also can be eaten by vegans.

There is nothing better than good Falafel with salad and bread for take-away but this famous middle-eastern food can also be home-made. The not so secret main ingredients are chickpeas but the real secret lies within the spices.

Egypt supposedly offered the first delicious falafel as a healthy and nourishing alternative to meat during Lent. Wherever it came from, it is one of the tastiest dishes from the Middle East and although making them yourself can be a bit of a hassle at the beginning, this food „of many beans“ will soon become one of the favourites amongst friends and family.

It is one of the most popular fruits in Middle Eastern cuisine, no wonder, the date is sweet and rich in flavor and doesn’t need much else to serve as a truly royal desert.

The date is one of the most popular and most tasteful fruits in Iraq and can be found in many recipes, serves as snack and plays a big part in the culture.

Kibbeh, also known as kibbe, kubbeh or kubbi is an Arab dish made of rice and meat. It’s usually fried or cooked and can be served in many ways which makes it a very popular finger or fast food.

Kibbeh, which can roughly be translated as „balls“, are very easy to make and because the magic lies not only within fresh ingredients but also the way you spice them, they can take all kind of forms and make the Iraqi cuisine more fun.