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Assyrian cuisine is thecuisine of theindigenousAssyrian people,Eastern Aramaic-speakingSyriac Christians ofIraq,[1] northeasternSyria, northwesternIran and southeasternTurkey. Assyrian cuisine is primarily identical toIraqi/Mesopotamian cuisine, as well as being very similar to otherMiddle Eastern and Caucasian cuisines, as well asGreek cuisine,Levantine cuisine,Turkish cuisine,Iranian cuisine,Palestinian cuisine, andArmenian cuisine, with most dishes being similar to the cuisines of the area in which those Assyrians live/originate from.[2] It is rich in grains such as barley, meat, tomato, herbs, spices, and potato as well as fermented dairy products, and pickles.[3]
There is no difference to lunch and dinner to Assyrians as there are with some other cultures. They are referred to askawitrā w kharamsha, orˁurāytā w ḥšāmtā (ܚܕܝܐ ܘ ܥܫܝܐ). Lunch and dinner typically consist ofbasmati rice, which can be prepared either plain, red (smooqah), yellow (shaootah), or plain with fried miniaturenoodles calledsha'riya. Alternatively, there is also green rice (reza qeena), which is flavoured and seasoned withlima beans anddill, which give it a green colour. In place of rice,gurgur (burghul or "perda" inAssyrian) can be prepared in the same way as rice. Beef and chickenkebab, grilled on skewers or a spit, are also commonly eaten at mealtime.
Biryani is an Assyrian rice dish with sha'riya made of green peas, fried cubed potatoes, almonds, raisins, sliced hard boiled eggs, and chicken.Rezza smooqah (red rice) is often made with chicken or meat. Rice is usually accompanied with a stew, calledshirwah(sometimes also called shorba), with a broth basis (prepared with tomato paste, water, and spices) and a main vegetable ingredient (potatoes, beans,okra,string beans,spinach,cauliflower, orzucchini). Beef, chicken, or ox tails can be added according to taste and availability. During Lent, meat is omitted for religious reasons. A traditional Assyrian salad is cubed tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and red onions made with a homemade dressing of lemon, vinegar, salt, pepper, and olive oil.
Other various types of Assyrian special dishes includethlokheh (lentils cooked withcurry and sha'riya),kofta (kipteh, ground beefmeatballs flavored with parsley, rice, onion, and spices in a tomato based stew),[4]kuba hammouth (ground beef long meatballs with an outer cracked wheat shell, much similar to Syrian and Lebanese friedkibbeh), andgirdo (orbushala) is a porridge made of rice and sour yoghurt, served with date or fig syrup.[3][5][6]
Other traditional Assyrian specialities includetepsi (a casserole made in layers of fried potato, fried eggplant, fried green peppers, fried onions, meat, and tomatoes drenched in a tomato sauce and baked in the oven, not unlike theLevantine version ofmoussaka),shamakhshi (fried rolled eggplant stuffed with ground beef in tomato sauce),dolma (rice and tomato sauce stuffed in grape leaves, cabbage, various peppers, zucchini, and eggplant),masgouf (fish spiced with olive oil, salt, and turmeric, topped with tomatoes, potatoes, and onions, then oven-baked) andlahmacun (flatbread topped with ground beef, tomato paste, spices, and onions).
Sesame seeds are important to the cuisine and used to make tahini; an Assyrian folk tale tells of the gods drinking sesame wine on the night before they created the earth.[7]
Boushala (or bushala) is one of the oldest known dishes; it is a yoghurt-based soup with assorted greens such as Swiss chard or spinach and bulgur wheat.[3] This soup can be served hot or cold.[3] Dikhwah (or dokhwa) is a dried yoghurt-based heavy stew with barley and meat.[6]
Harissa (or hareesa) is a porridge made with hulled wheat berries, deboned chicken or beef, and broth, sometimes eaten with butter or cinnamon.[3]
Tashrib (or tashreeb) is a soup made of chickpeas, onions, and chicken or lamb meat, often served on top of bread at breakfast.[8][9] Tashrib is similar to a Syrian dish calledfatta and an Iraqi dish called tashghib. There are variations of the dish that may include more toppings like lentils, noodles, and pomegranate.[9]
Pacha, similar to Armenian and Turkish dishes, is a heavy stew consisting of lamb stomach stuffed with rice, brain, tongue, liver, or offal.[10]
There are several different types of desserts such as cakes and cookies, which includebaklava,kulecheh,kadeh,nazoochi, and others. Due to the influence from the post-Ottoman occupation of Iraq and Syria by theBritish andFrench many customs were picked up from the colonial administrators, and tea and biscuits are often eaten as snacks.
Kadeh looks like a thick yellowish flat bread though it contains plenty of butter, eggs, and sugar which renders it a very sweet pastry.Kadeh are usually prepared alongsidekulecheh and are served during Christmas.[3]Nazoochi is similar tokadeh but sweeter and cut into a triangle shape; it is served during tea time or during social events.[3]
Alcoholic beverages are consumed at different rates in the Assyrian community depending on geography.[3]Arak is one of the most popular alcoholic beverages and can be distilled from grapes or dates.[3] It is a strong alcohol so it is often served with food; it tastes like black liquorice and is clear until mixed with water, which then becomes milky-white. Assyrian rural communities have often traditionally brewed their own organicwheat beer and produced their ownwine.
Daweh is a popular yogurt drink made with yogurt, water, salt, and sometimes mint. It is consumed during the summer when it is hot.[3]
Black tea is almost always drunk in the morning with Assyrian breakfast. Assyrian tea is drunk with sugar and evaporated milk, as opposed to regular milk or cream.Dried lime tea, orchai noomi basra, an Arabherbal tea, may be consumed to treat upset stomachs and indigestion.
Traditional Assyrian coffee is made in a large bronzejezve (which is covered with Assyrian imagery) and is served sweetened, similar to Turkish coffee.[11]Turkish coffee, which is a hold-over from Ottoman times, is often prepared the same way.
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