Syrian Recipes
20 recipesSyrian cooking draws on the Levantine coast, the Mesopotamian plains and a long Ottoman past, and its two great food cities, Damascus and Aleppo, each keep a style of their own. Damascus leans toward mild, fresh, herb-driven dishes, while Aleppo is known for bolder heat, sour cherries, pomegranate molasses and dozens of kibbeh and kebab variations. Bulgur, rice, lamb, chickpeas and eggplant are the backbone, with olive oil, tahini, yogurt and lemon in almost everything. Meals are built around shared plates: a spread of mezze such as muhammara, hummus and fattoush comes first, followed by stuffed vegetables, kibbeh or a stew served with rice. Families preserve eggplant, peppers, olives and cheese for winter, and breakfast is often fatteh, labneh or fava beans with warm bread. Sweets rely on semolina, pistachios, cheese and syrup, and ma'amoul is baked for Eid and Easter. During Ramadan, tables fill with soups, fried pastries and sweet drinks at sunset.
Staple ingredients
- bulgur
- lamb
- olive oil
- tahini
- yogurt and labneh
- chickpeas
- eggplant
- pomegranate molasses
- Breakfast 2
- Appetizers 1
- Soups 1
- Salads 1
- Main Dishes 9
- Breads 1
- Desserts 2
- Drinks 1
- Sauces, Dips and Condiments 1
- Pickles and Preserves 1
Breakfast
Fatteh Hummus (Chickpeas, Crisp Bread and Garlic Yogurt)SY40 minEasy
Mamounieh (Semolina Pudding with Cream and Pistachios)SY30 minEasy
Appetizers
Soups
Salads
Main Dishes
Shawarma Dajaj (Syrian Chicken Shawarma Wraps)SY50 minEasy
Kibbeh bil Saniyeh (Baked Kibbeh Tray)SY1 h 30 minMedium
Fasoulia bi Lahme (White Bean and Lamb Stew)SY2 h 25 minEasy
Kebab Karaz (Aleppo Sour Cherry Meatballs)SY1 h 15 minMedium
Kousa Mahshi (Stuffed Zucchini in Tomato Sauce)SY1 h 35 minMedium
Mujaddara Hamra (Bulgur and Lentils with Caramelized Onions)SY1 h 30 minEasy
Mulukhiyah (Jute Leaf Stew with Chicken and Garlic)SY1 h 20 minMedium
Shish Barak (Lamb Dumplings in Warm Yogurt)SY2 h 15 minChallenging
Yabrak (Stuffed Grape Leaves with Lamb and Lemon)SY2 h 10 minMedium
Breads
Desserts
Ma'amoul (Date and Pistachio Semolina Cookies)SY1 h 18 minMedium
Halawet el Jibn (Sweet Cheese Rolls with Cream)SY1 h 15 minChallenging
Drinks
Sauces, Dips and Condiments
Pickles and Preserves
Common questions
What is Syrian food known for?
Kibbeh in many forms, stuffed vegetables (mahshi), grilled kebabs, fatteh and mezze such as muhammara and hummus. Dishes lean on olive oil, lemon, tahini and yogurt, with pomegranate molasses and sour cherries in Aleppo.
What is the national dish of Syria?
There is no official one. Kibbeh is the dish most often named, and it appears baked, fried, raw and simmered in yogurt across the country.
Is Syrian food spicy?
Mostly mild. Damascus cooking uses allspice, cinnamon and herbs rather than chili, while Aleppo is the exception, with Aleppo pepper and fiery tomato and pepper dips.