A Taste of Home
From olive oil to maqluba, Palestinian cuisine has a rich and aromatic heritage.
Edited By: Farida Khaled
Photo Taken by: Rayaheen Sam Qatena
Palestine is a land full of flavor, with a history as long and rich as the olive oil trees that line its hills.
The land is a vibrant mix of art and cuisine. From the fresh flavors of hummus and falafel to the bold spices of Maqluba and Knafeh, Palestinian food reflects the country’s rich cultural heritage.
Omar Shabrawy, a famous food blogger and the creator of the Instagram page Omar’s Food with more than 130,000 followers, shed light on recent events in Palestine by cooking Palestinian dishes and educating people about them. He uses dishes to raise awareness about Palestinian’s current situation and connect it to their culture.
He tries to outsmart the social media algorithm by posting Palestinian content focused on food rather than politics and scenes of violence.
“I believe food plays a major role in all cultures, not just Palestinian. It resembles the history and identity of the people beyond the politics and borders. One of the key methods of sustaining and expanding a country’s culture is through food,” says Shabrawy.
Palestine has famous foods that not everyone is aware of. In fact, people sometimes confuse certain dishes with other Arab cuisines around the world. Standing in the same popularity amongst Palestinians as molokhia (green vegetable soup) does for Egyptians, the maqluba is an authentic Palestinian delicacy.
Maqluba (which literally translates into upturned) is the first national Palestinian dish. The essential ingredients include rice, chicken, and fried vegetables, mainly eggplant. As the name implies, the dish is overturned onto the plates and presented upside down, making it look artistic and appealing.
“There are many Levantine dishes that have different variations in the countries of that region; I would say maqluba stands out the most as a popular Palestinian dish, In addition to it representing an entire culture, for me personally, I love that it’s a full meal on its own. It also includes several things that I enjoy eating, like the spiced rice and eggplants and how they’re cooked within the flavors of everything,” says Shabrawy.
Growing from its age-old and iconic trees, and a main ingredient used worldwide, olive oil is an icon of Palestinian cuisine. In fact, olive trees contribute 14 percent of the Palestinian economy, according to the Yale Review of International Studies (YRIS).
“The olive tree is strongly significant in Palestinian culture and history, which is why it’s represented on their keffiyeh (scarf),” says Shabrawy.
The olive oil leaves on the Palestinian keffiyeh symbolize the plantations through the different generations of Palestinian families.
Olive oil is not the only Palestinian staple; zaatar (oregano) is another ingredient Palestinians cherish.
“Unfortunately, there isn’t enough representation of Palestinian food across the world, not enough to make it evolve as it deserved to,” says Shabrawy.
Shabrawy calls on people to read about the history of Palestinian cuisine and learn about the stories of the origin of each dish. He suggests that people watch online videos of how they can recreate the dishes to feel connected to Palestinians and appreciate their cuisine and food on a personal level.
