Znoud el sit is a traditional Levantine dessert. It is a fried roll of thin phyllo dough filled with a rich milk cream called ashta. The sweet is particularly popular in Iraq, where it is considered a national dessert.
Iskan is a legendary street food street in the heart of Kurdish Erbil. This vibrant corridor comes alive primarily after sunset; locals seek escape from the daily heat and enjoy the bustling atmosphere until dawn. Visitors will find dozens of stalls offering grilled meat, kebabs, and traditional strong tea. Nocturnal Iskan is the true gastronomic heart of the city.
Yassin Kebab is a legendary kebab shop in Kurdish Erbil, arguably the best in town. You can find it in the authentic alleyways of the bazaar beneath the old Citadel. The local chefs prepare fresh kebab over charcoal right before your eyes.
Chaykhana Mam Khalil is a legendary teahouse hidden in the labyrinth of the old Qaysari Bazaar in Erbil, Iraq. Its walls and ceiling are covered with thousands of framed photographs of guests. You will find politicians, poets, and ordinary regulars among them. The establishment was founded in 1952 by Mam Khalil, and today his son continues the family tradition.
Pacha is a strong, slow-cooked broth with pieces of meat, stuffed intestines, and stomachs. It is a traditional Iraqi dish. The food is based on the philosophy of processing the entire animal. The foundation is precisely cleaned lamb or beef meat and innards stuffed with rice and spices. Everything is cooked for long hours until completely tender. Mosul is considered the capital of this specialty.
Tashreeb is a traditional Iraqi dish based on torn bread poured over with strong broth containing slow-stewed lamb or chicken. The recipe originally arose from the need to utilize hardened bread. Tashreeb is incomplete without a plate of fresh vegetables and herbs.
Iraqi tea is a central element of social life in Iraq and a daily ritual accompanying inhabitants from morning to evening. It spread massively only in the nineteenth century thanks to British trade with India and Sri Lanka. Added cardamom gives the tea a specific aroma, while the extreme amount of sugar influences the taste.
Daheen is a traditional, high-calorie sweet originating from the southern Iraqi city of Najaf. Its name refers to the Arabic term for fat. The dessert has a specific consistency; the texture resembles dense fondant or semi-solid caramel. A mixture of wheat flour, sugar, milk, and a significant amount of clarified butter is used for preparation. Important ingredients include date syrup and shredded coconut.
Kaster is an immensely popular Iraqi milk dessert. It is a local aromatic variation on classic instant pudding. Its base consists of British custard powder mixed with milk and sugar; Iraqis elevated this mixture by adding cardamom and rose water. It is always served chilled, often decorated with a layer of jelly or crunchy nuts.
Rumman Hamudh consists of juicy pomegranate seeds sprinkled with salt. For an unprepared European, the salty-sour and simultaneously sweet sensation upon tasting can completely shatter preconceived notions about consuming pomegranates.
