Orange Blossom Water

Syrian cuisine in general, and especially Aleppine cuisine, has a very wide selection of dishes. Being surrounded by olive, nut and fruit orchards, Aleppo is famous for a love of eating, as the cuisine is the product of fertile land and location along the Silk Road. The International Academy of Gastronomy in France awarded Aleppo its culinary prize in 2007. But in fact, Aleppo was a food capital long before Paris, because of its diverse communities of Arabs, Kurds, Armenians, Circassians and a sizable Arab Christian population. All of those groups contributed food traditions, since Aleppo was part of the Ottoman Empire.

Aleppo prides itself on the best cuisine in the Middle East, the city has a vast selection of different types of dishes, and this post is just a brief introduction about Aleppine cuisine, everything here (dishes, or ingredients) are specialty of Aleppo.

Most dishes or ingredients have in their name the word “Halabi” or “Halabiyeh”, this word means “From Aleppo”. Aleppo in Arabic is “Halab”, and “Halabi or “Halabiyeh” is derived from “Halab”.

Above: Fustuq Halabi

The Syrian pistachio tree is known since Assyrians age. The origin of this tree goes back to Al-Batim Tree in the Mediterranean sea basin and Middle East regions; however, the original place of the Syrian pistachio is Syria (Ein Al-Tina). Many references refer to this kind as (Pistachio – Pistacia vera L.) known since 3500 years BC in West Asia and “Great Syria” countries. The Aleppo pistachio is attributed to Aleppo city which is the traditional area for planting this tree since long ages; therefore, whenever Aleppo city is mentioned, we have to mention the Aleppo pistachio (Fustuq Halabi). In Aleppo, the pistachio blossomed producing a dozen varieties, a unique diversity. These varieties differ both in the color and the size of the fruit on the tree. As the taste and scent, the soil and position of the trees provide the variations. Pistachio is important ingredient in the traditional cuisine of Aleppo.

Above: Dibs Al-Fleifleh Al-Halabiyeh دبس الفليلفة الحلبية

Dibs Al-Fleifleh Al-Halabiyeh is red pepper paste made from Aleppo Pepper (a variety of Capsicum annuum). It is prepared in summer (July and August). Aleppo pepper is de-seeded, then spread in trays and left outside in sun until semi-dry. Then it is ground using a meat grinder with the medium holed plate attached, then seasoned with coarse salt for preservation, and kept in bags in freezer or mixed with olive oil and stored in jars covered with olive oil and kept in fridge.

Dibs Al-Fleifleh Al-Halabiyeh is widely used in Aleppine recipes like Manaqish as you see in the picture, Kibbeh Naiyeh Bi-Zeit Az-Zeitoun, Itch, Bathenjan Mshattah, Mhammara, Lahm Bi-‘Ajin, and others.

Above: Flaifleh Halabiyeh Matthoneh  فليفلة حلبية مطحونة

Flaifleh Halabiyeh Matthoneh (Ground Aleppo Pepper) is made from Aleppo Pepper (a variety of Capsicum annuum). It is prepared in summer (July and August). Aleppo pepper is de-seeded, then spread in trays and left outside in sun to fully dry. Then it is ground using a grinder, then mixed with fine salt for preservation and stored in jars in cool dry place or in fridge, and it is used in many dishes.

Above: Al-Bhar Al-Halabi, Bhar Al-Daqqa Al-Halabi البهار الحلبي، بهار الدقة الحلبي

Al-Bhar Al-Halabi is a mixture of spices which is only available in Aleppo and widely used in Aleppine dishes.

Above: Za’tar Halabi زعتر حلبي

Aleppo is very famous for Za’tar mix (Thyme mix). In Aleppo, Za’tar is prepared by blending ground thyme leaves with spices (anise, coriander, fennel, cumin), and with (terebinth, peanuts, watermelon seeds, cantaloupe seeds “sometimes other kind of seeds are used”), this mixture is ground using grinder, then sumac and sesame seeds are added. Za’tar Halabi is slightly sour, salty, warming, aromatic, and less pungent than other mixes. It is eaten with olive oil.

Above: Ma’rouk Ramadan (Ma’rouk Halab / Ma’rouk Halabi) معروك رمضان، معروك حلب / معروك حلبي

Ma’rouk is a sweet bread available during the holy month of Ramadan. It can be eaten plain, or the bread can be stuffed with (cheese, date paste, chocolate…).

Above: Ka’ek Al-Eid / Ka’ek Bi-Mait Al-Jebenh كعك العيد/ كعك بمية الجبنة

Ka’ek Al-Eid is salty cookies seasoned with (mahlab, anise, fennel, and cumin). The dough is mixed with sesame seeds and nigella seeds.

Ka’ek Bi-Mait Al-Jebneh is similar to Ka’ek Al-Eid in shape, but without the spices, and prepared with (salty water of cheese, the cheese used is either Jebneh Mshallaleh (Syrian string cheese) or Jebneh Biada Baladiyeh), this will be clear when I’ll post the recipe.

Above: Mamouniyeh مامونية

Mamouniyeh is a sweet breakfast dish like porridge made with semolina, sugar, water and ghee and garnished with cinnamon and pine nuts. It is served with cheese (Jebneh Mshallaleh (Syrian string cheese) or Jebneh Biada Baladiyeh), and with Sha’eebbiyat .

Above: Mrabba Al-Ward مربى الورد

Mrabba Al-Ward (Rose Jam), famous in Aleppo made of Damask Rose Petals (ورد الجوري السبيعي), jam is served with cheese (Jebneh Mshallaleh (Syrian string cheese) or Jebneh Biada Baladiyeh).

Above: Mrabba Al-Jouz مربى الجوز

Mrabba Al-Jouz (Walnut Preserve), is a specialty of Aleppo, made from early, green walnuts. Cloves and cinnamon are added during preparation. Walnut preserve is highly prized, as its preparation is laborious and time-consuming.

Above: Left: Diafet Jouz Al-Hind ضيافة جوز الهند

Above: Right: Raha Bel-Ward راحة بالورد

Diafet Jouz Al-Hind is oval or round shape sweets made with coconut, meringue and sugar, they’re baked as biscuits then joined together, and served in celebrations (specially at weddings).

Raha Bel-Ward is Turkish delight with pistachios and coated with Damask Rose Petals.

Above: Ghazel Al-Banat غزل البنات

The ultimate Ramadan exclusive, Ghazel Al-Banat, fluffy white clouds of spun sugar, that melt in your mouth, only to surprise you with toasted Aleppo pistachios suspended in the nest of sweet threads, also it is available plain or stuffed with Qashta (milk cream). The photo above is Ghazel Al-Banat but not exactly the same shape that is available in Aleppo (I couldn’t find it), here is a photo from the net showing the exact shape of Aleppine Ghazel Al-Banat

Above: Al-Jeq Malban, Al-Je’ Malban  الجق ملبن، الجئ ملبن

Al-Jeq Malban (in Turkish: Cevizli Sucuğu‬‏). Al-Jeq Malban is made with walnut halves threaded onto cotton strings and dipped in boiled grape juice which is thickened by adding cornstarch. The walnut “ropes” are tied onto a metal ring and dipped again and again into the hot boiled grape juice until they are thickly coated, then they are hung to dry. It can be prepared at home, and grape molasses can be used if grape juice is not available, I’ll show you the recipe later.

Above: Sujuq سجق

Sujuq is Sausage, it is fatty minced meat mixed with garlic and spices (Al-Bahar Al-Halabi, ground Aleppo pepper, curry, cumin, coriander, black pepper, salt). This mixture is kept in a bag made of cloths, and allowed to air-dry in a cool place. You can eat sujuq in different ways, for example it’s popular to make sujuq sandwiches with pita bread, or to use it over pizza.  I’ll post the recipe with ideas soon.

Above: Kibbeh Darawish كبة دراويش

Kibbeh dough is prepared with extremely lean ground lamb kneaded with bulgur wheat (cracked wheat) until a dough is formed. In “The Encyclopedia of Aleppo”, it is mentioned that in Aleppo there are more than 60 kinds of Kibbeh. That is why Aleppo is known as “the home of stuffed vegetables and kibab (plural of kibbeh) حلب أم المحاشي و الكبب.

Kibbeh Darawish is a type of Kibbeh Meqliyeh (deep fried kibbeh). Kibbeh Darawish is known for the shape which you see in the photo, also in Aleppo the filling is seasoned with Al-Bahar Al-Halabi.

More examples of Aleppine Dishes / Food / Ingredients:

– Bastirma بسطرما : air-dried cured beef surrounded with ground Aleppo pepper and chaman, a pungent spice. Armenian in origin.

– Martadella Halabiyeh مرتديلا حلبية : very fine ground meat “Habra” mixed with spices, garlic, peeled pistachios then rolled into a thick sausage shape. The meat is smoothed by hand then boiled in water and vinegar. Cut into rounds and served cold.

– Lahmeh Bi-Karaz  لحمة بكرز : lean minced meatballs cooked with small sour cherries (washneh) and spices. Served on pieces of Arabic bread cut in triangles and scattered with pine nuts and parsley.

– Kabab Khashkhash كباب خشخاش : fatty minced meat mixed with hot peppers, parsley, and crushed garlic, then shaped into kabab and grilled, served on a bed of tomato sauce.

– Bastiq بصطيق : sheets of grape paste, spread on fabric, and dried.

– Ghraibeh Estanbouliyeh (Ghraibet Al-Louz) غريبة اللوز الإسطنبولية: oval or round shaped sweets made with almonds, meringue and sugar, they’re baked as biscuits then joined with a chocolate or pistachio paste.

– Sharab Al-Louz شراب اللوز : is a drink made with almonds, milk and sugar, served in celebrations (specially at weddings).

Aleppo “history, heritage, cuisine” need thousand pages and still not enough. Of course, I didn’t cover everything here but you will discover more about Aleppo and the food when I publish Aleppine recipes.

Read “Part 1” here: To Aleppo With Love – Introduction, Part 1

This entry was posted on Saturday, January 24th, 2015 at 9:00 PM and is filed under To Aleppo With Love. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.