SAHTAIN!

Palestine is a place with a rich history and culture. Food in Palestine has important social, spiritual, religious, medical, and in some areas, even magical functions. To date in our journey, we have had the opportunity to try a number of Palestinian dishes. The traditional breakfast was described previously. Let’s move on to the rest of the day.

To start your meal with “salad” or appetizer (or just order for lunch), you must try the Arabic Mezze. You will be treated to a marvellous assortment of salads to be shared, or if you have the appetite, to enjoy on your own. Every mezze is different; however, the usual mezze consists of little individual plates of hummus—chickpeas and sesame oil, and baba ghanoush--pureed eggplants and tahina both of which are for dipping pieces of marvellously fresh pita bread. But that’s not all. Additional salads of slivered carrots with red and green peppers and onions marinated in olive oil, lemon, and a variety of herbs and spices; creamy minced cucumber and spices in yogurt; chopped tomatoes, cucumbers, and onions in olive oil, lemon, and seasonings; grilled pieces of eggplant in an olive oil and herbs sauce, and sometimes a tomato dish slightly reminiscent of salsa. There may be cabbage salads, either or both green and red. Plates of olives, and pickles, and sometimes beets also accompany the salads. A wonderful mix to tantalize the senses!

A popular main dish that is often ordered to follow the salad course is the mixed grill, consisting of individual skewers of ground beef, pieces of chicken, and cubes of lamb, usually served with the best French fries you can imagine.

A favourite main course is called Mansaff which is served in a variety of ways depending on the chef. However, it usually consists of a mound of rice that has been seasoned usually with salt, pepper, nutmeg, onions and garlic, small pieces of toasted pita, pine nuts, and slivered almonds served on a large round tray. Sometimes there are pieces of meat such as ground beef, or small cubes of lamb mixed in with the rice. Or, pieces of grilled chicken or chunks of lamb are sometimes served on the side. Bowls of plain yogurt accompany the dish to be spread on the rice mixture. Delicious!

A variation of this dish is Maklouba (“upside down”) which consists of a mixture of rice with vegetables—often cauliflower and carrots—lamb, or chicken, mild spices and nuts turned upside down on a platter and garnished with sautéed pine kernels, also served with yogurt and a lettuce salad. We were treated to a “home-cooked meal” by one of our usual taxi drivers who insisted on having his wife make up the “best Maklouba in town” and deliver it to our Guest House common room for all to enjoy. The meal which was ordered for seven people, provided leftovers for the next three nights! Khalib is now after us to pick a night to come to his house for his wife to prepare another traditional dish. Can you imagine?

I’ll save descriptions of other dishes for another time. My taxi driver in Bethlehem wants me to come to his house after school one day to meet his wife and family and join them for tea or coffee, and sweets—another delicious topic for later. Ever had such generous taxi drivers in Canada? So for now, as the Palestinians say: ….SAHTAIN!, meaning “a double (good) health.” Bon appetite!