West Bank Overview
- Overview - Customs and Culture - Diet and Recipes - Language - Religion - Events and Holidays - Interesting Facts
People Government - Politics Geography Environment & Climate Economy News - Weather History National Symbols Photos Videos Travel and Tourism Link-to-CountryReports Sources   United States Edition Video Library

What do people eat in West Bank?

Diet

The diet in the West Bank is largely influenced by the region's history, culture, and geography. Traditional Palestinian cuisine is characterized by its use of fresh ingredients, such as vegetables, grains, legumes, and meat. Here are some of the staple foods in the West Bank:

Bread: Bread is a staple food in the West Bank, and it is often served with every meal. Traditional bread is made with flour, water, and salt and is baked in a taboun oven.

Vegetables: Vegetables are a central part of the West Bank diet, and many dishes are based on seasonal vegetables such as eggplants, tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers. Popular dishes include musakhan, which is a chicken and onion dish served with bread and sumac, and maqluba, which is a layered dish of rice, vegetables, and meat.

Legumes: Legumes, such as chickpeas and lentils, are a common ingredient in the West Bank diet. Hummus, which is made from chickpeas and tahini, is a popular dip that is served with bread and vegetables.

Meat: Meat is also a part of the West Bank diet, particularly lamb and chicken. Meat dishes are often cooked with vegetables and spices, such as cumin, cardamom, and cinnamon.

Olive oil: Olive oil is a common ingredient in the West Bank diet, and it is used for cooking, seasoning, and dressing. It is considered a healthy fat and is an important part of the Mediterranean diet.

Sweets: Sweets are an important part of the West Bank diet, and they are often served with tea or coffee. Baklava, which is a sweet pastry made of layers of phyllo dough, honey, and nuts, is a popular dessert.

Mealtime

Food is an essential part of the culture in the West Bank. Traditional Palestinian cuisine is rich and flavorful, with a variety of dishes that reflect the region's history and influences from neighboring countries. Some popular dishes include musakhan (roasted chicken with sumac and onions), mansaf (lamb cooked in a yogurt sauce with rice), and maqluba (an upside-down rice and vegetable dish).

Popular West Bank Recipes

Back to West Bank Facts

World Regions
Africa Asia Central America Europe Middle East North America Oceania South America The Caribbean
Most Popular
United States of America China France Italy Canada Spain India Brazil Mexico
All Countries
Afghanistan Akrotiri Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Anguilla Antarctica Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brazil British Indian Ocean Territory British Virgin Islands Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burma Burundi Cabo Verde Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Christmas Island Clipperton Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia Comoros Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Cook Islands Coral Sea Islands Costa Rica Cote d’Ivoire Croatia Cuba Curacao Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Dhekelia Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Eswatini Ethiopia Falkland Islands Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia Gabon Gambia, The Gaza Strip Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guernsey Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Holy See Honduras Hong Kong Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Isle of Man Israel Italy Jamaica Jan Mayen Japan Jersey Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Korea, North Korea, South Kosovo Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macau Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mayotte Mexico Micronesia Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Niue Norfolk Island North Macedonia Northern Mariana Islands Norway Oman Pakistan Palau Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Pitcairn Islands Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Reunion Romania Russia Rwanda Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Sudan, South Suriname Svalbard Sweden Switzerland Syria Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Timor-Leste Togo Tokelau Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States (US) Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela Vietnam Virgin Islands Wake Island Wallis and Futuna West Bank Western Sahara World Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe