Syria is a country of rich history, breathtaking sites, and, perhaps most importantly, incredible food.Syrian cuisine is known for its remarkable flavors, vibrant ingredients, and a fusion of influences from various cultures.Syrian cuisine offers a wide range of plant-based dishes suitable for vegetarian and vegan.
While the distinction between vegetarian and vegan diets is precise, it is important to understand these differences in the context of Syrian food culture.Many traditional dishes naturally exclude meat. A lot of recipes are built around the use of lentils, chickpeas, and fava beans.
To understand the difference between vegetarian and vegan diets, it’s essential to define each clearly. to clarify, a vegetarian diet excludes meat, poultry, and fish but often includes other animal products like dairy and eggs.In contrast, a vegan diet goes a step further, eliminating all animal-derived products, including dairy, eggs, honey, and gelatin.
Syria offers a wealth of vegetarian and vegan dishes that highlight the region’s love for fresh, wholesome ingredients. don’t worry, when travel to Syria, there is something for everyone
So many parts of the world are difficult for vegetarians to travel to, but in Syria, they will live in a dream of various plates around them.Vegetarians visiting Syria will find themselves spoiled for choice, as many traditional dishes are naturally meat-free, here are some top dishes
A classic vegetarian dish, made from lentils, rice, and caramelized onions. This dish is not only packed with flavor but also nutrient-dense, fulfilling, and high in protein.
is a popular Syrian dish Yalnji, a vegetarian dish where Syrians fill the grape leaves with a mixture of rice, tomatoes, parsley, and a variety of spices like cardamom, salt, and mint. then, cooked in olive oil and lemon juice, giving a remarkable flavor.
Syrians also stuff zucchini, eggplants, and potatoes with the Grape leaves. the Syrians often serve it as a mezze or appetizer, but it can also be enjoyed as a light meal.
Another famous dish in Syria, which means in Arabic “He Burnt His Finger.” This flavorful dish consists of lentils, dough pieces, and garlic cooked in Tamarind broth.The dressing at the top consists of crispy bread, caramelized onions, and Coriander with garlic.
It’s a unique dish you can’t imagine the flavor unless you try it so make sure to order hora osbao when visiting Syria.
mini cheese pastries, you won’t be able to stop at just one. you are vegan and want to try something similar? please continue reading.Spinach Barak is another must-try food in Syria.These are small, triangle-shaped pastries filled with spinach, onions, and sumac, then, baked to perfection, resulting in a savory, slightly sour taste, making them a popular snack or mezze option.
is a traditional dish made from malva leaves. Cooked with onions, garlic, and olive oil.This dish is highly nutritious and has been a staple in Syrian homes for centuries. also, the Syrians serve it with bread.
Eggplant is a vegetable that holds a special place in Middle Eastern cuisine, especially, in Syria, it is often cut into slices and fried to perfection.Syria’s fries and fried eggplant are more than just food; they are a celebration of flavors and traditions. For vegans and non-vegans alike.To sum up, it’s a famous dish that contains any vegetable the Syrians can Fry! like potato, eggplant, Cauliflower, zucchini and tomato.
made from slow-cooked fava beans seasoned with olive oil, garlic, and lemon, foul is another vegan-friendly dish that’s often enjoyed for breakfast but can be eaten at any time of day.importantly, Foul is very famous in Syria and a lot of Syrians have a tradition that every Friday they have foul moudammas for breakfast.
an essential dish in Syrian cousin, you are not considered to visit Syria if you haven’t tried fattoushActually, fattoush is a refreshing salad made from mixed greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, radishes, and crispy bread at the top, then, with a dressing of sumac and olive oil.It’s ideal as an appetizer or light meal.
Similarly, Tabbouleh is a parsley-based salad with bulgur, mint, tomatoes, and lemon juicestabbouleh is very refreshing and healthy. indeed, a perfect choice Syrians recommend it to those who suffer from light iron deficiency.
Falafel is deep-fried balls made from ground chickpeas, typically served in a wrap with vegetables, pickles, and tahini sauce. It’s a filling, flavorful dish that is not only vegetarian but also a beloved street food across the Middle East.Did you know that in Egypt Falafel is made from the fava beans instead of chickpeas?
One of the most iconic dips in Syrian cuisine.most of you have probably had before, made from pureed chickpeas, tahini, lemon, and garlic, hummus is a vegetarian staple and Syrians often serve it with pita bread or vegetables.
One of the top dishes you should try when traveling to Syria.baba ghanoush is a smoky and creamy eggplant dip made with tahini, lemon, and garlic.in reality, the Syrians serve it with bread or raw vegetables and in both ways, it’s nutritious and delicious.
Lastly, it’s important to clarify that many Syrian dishes can easily be modified, like Mahashi a famous dish in Syria where Syrians fill zucchini and eggplant with rice and meat with some spices.on the other hand, vegetarian people can make it without meat, and still delicious!Also, rice with Peas can be made with or without meat.And the list goes on!Importantly, when visiting Syria, always remember”The amount of food a guest eats is proportionate to his love for the host.” Syrian proverb.
So, why wait? Embark on a journey to Syria, and discover the warmth and hospitality of Syrians.We would be happy if you could share your experience of Your Syria Tour with us on social media.
For more information about Syria’s Culture please get in touch with us today! Alternatively, check out our extensive range of group Syria tours.
| Share This Post!
Sign up and get the latest travel news monthly.
Josh 2024-06-23 Lulu was our tour guide in Damascus in October 2022 and she was the best guide we could‘ve hopefully for! We had a tight schedule so we asked to see as much as possible, which she happily obliged to. She has a very interesting background, knowing every last bit of the city, its culture, history and food! She speaks multiple languages, including Japanese (!) and was just a fantastic guide to have. 10/10 would recommend. Samantha Echeverria 2024-06-23 An extraordinary and humbling experience. From start to finish the whole experience was an adventure, learning of the Syrians deep history gives a great insight to their collective strength and dedication to their culture. To walk the same footsteps as mentioned in the Bible and Quran is profound and indescribable. Overall I was incredibly humbled by my experience in Syria. Thank you again for the experience of a lifetime, and I look forward to coming back to Syria soon 🤲🏼 Per Sommer 2024-05-31 Jeg rejste tre dage sammen med Tambi i det nordlige Syrien. Det var en uforglemmelig oplevelse. Sammen besøgte vi Homes, Krak de Chevaliers, Maloula, Aleppo, Arward Island og Apamea. Ikke bare er Tambi blevet en god ven, men han har også en kæmpe viden om de steder, som vi besøgte. Et af højdepunkterne var også at være på besøg hos Tambi i hans lejlighed og møde hans kone. Her fik vi te, kager og en god snak om oplevelserne under den lange krige. Jeg kan kun give Tambi mine varmeste anbefalinger. Marco Arenas 2024-05-31 I was in Syria a few years ago doing a little tour with Ayoub and the experience was amazing, Ayoub and his team were marvelous guides all around the country, making the most of the trip. Their service is amazing. I highly recommend Ayoub because he is reliable and well-organized. I am looking forward to coming back to Syria! Junaidi 2024-05-21 I recently had the pleasure of exploring Syria with Tambee as our tour guide, and I can't recommend him highly enough. Tambee’s deep knowledge of Syria's rich history and culture brought every site we visited to life. His passion for the country was evident in the way he shared stories and historical insights, making the experience both educational and enjoyable. Tambee’s professionalism and attentiveness were remarkable. He ensured our group felt safe and comfortable at all times, handling all logistics seamlessly. His ability to navigate the complexities of travel in Syria, combined with his warm and friendly demeanor, made our journey both smooth and memorable. What I really love is his knowledge of Islamic History. The way he told me the History of Islam while we are standing on the historical site itself just gave me goosebumps. He can make the history comes to life. In summary, Tambee is an exceptional tour guide whose expertise and dedication significantly enhanced our Syrian adventure. If you're planning a trip to Syria, do yourself a favor and contact Tambee. You won't be disappointed! Joel Lara 2024-05-20 Everything on the tour was amazing. Whatever you need to feel comfortable, they will go out of their way to make sure you feel okay. Tambi was our tour guide and I honestly would not have switched anything about it. He is one of the best tour guides I’ve ever met. Someone that is really passionate about sharing the past, present and future of Syria. You need to book your trip to Syria as soon as possible. There is so much history to be seen in this country. Do yourself a favor and don’t listen to what western media would say about this country. Saying it’s all about terrorism and dangerous, that’s a HUGE lie, go see for yourself how kind and loving those people in Syria are. As for the war in Israel, it feels really safe in Syria. You going there gives people hope for a better future. Visa costs depend on nationality. As a US citizen my Visa was pretty costly 220$. It was WORTH IT! Cymbie Lumbao 2024-05-20 Syria was definitely on our list of country to visit. It exceeded our expectations! Syrians are the most hospitable and warmest people we have ever met. The history is amazing! Tambee is our tour guide and Tayseer is our driver. They are the best! Tambee is very passionate about his country and their history. We felt really safe and well taken care of. We would definitely visit again. We went in for a tour of Syria and came out with a lifelong Syrian friends! 🙏🏽🇸🇾 thank you for a wonderful experience! Shukran! Rahul Mudumba 2024-05-19 Tambee was fantastic, and made sure I had an incredible trip! Filippo Volpato 2024-05-18 Tambee was the most exquisite guide we could have ever wanted. Always attentive, extremely knowledgeable and open to adjust the itinerary based on your interests (expect surprises for you!). Hopefully we will be back to this beautiful country, that Tambee made us fall in love with. Michael Van Arragon 2024-05-18 Ask for Tambee! There is so much to learn about the history and future of our shared humanity in this important and beautiful country. I travelled 10 days across a large part of Syria and wish I could've stayed. Tambee who emphasizes the "intangible" is a talented and enthusiastic story teller with an amazing personal connection to the people and culture. He will help you come away with a big picture appreciation of everything youre seeing and with a specialist's attention to detail; help you deepen your own sense of what is happening today in the region. These are some seriously friendly people- a visit to Syria like this one is so special.
Post Author
Ayoub Al Smadi
Ayoub boasts over five years of tour guiding and tour operator expertise. he has a master’s degree in planning and managing sustainable tourism development, and his cheerful, vibrant personality makes every moment with him fly by unnoticed.
