Comfort foodie’s paradise, pt. 2: Lunch/snack time
Breakfast is just the beginning of the whole Israeli food exploration expedition… Leaving aside the restaurants and focusing on the cafes, kiosks and other local fast food places, the choice still seems endless, so where do you begin? Some of my favorite snacks/dishes are the following:
- Hummus – For those who are not familiar with it, it’s a dish made from cooked, mashed chickpeas, blended with tahini, olive oil, lemon juice, salt and garlic. It can be served cold or warm, plain or with add-ons such as whole chickpeas, olive oil, mushrooms, hard-boiled egs, etc.
- Grilled eggplant with tahini (sesame paste) – This is exactly what it sounds like – a simple but very nutritious dish that I actually like to eat for dinner. You take a whole, grilled eggplant, slice it open and cover it in tahini sauce. Some cafes offer it but it’s also very easy to make it at home.
- Falafel – Patties made from ground chickpeas and/or fava beans, usually served in a pita, topped with a variety of salads, pickled vegetables, and sauces. I feel particularly lucky that I happen to live just around the corner from one of the best places in Tel Aviv!
- Sabich – A similar concept to falafel, except that in this case pita is stuffed with fried eggplant and hard-boiled egg, adding the usual toppings of salads, pickled vegetables and sauces.
- Kubbeh – There are many varieties of kubbeh, but the one I first tried in the food market and that I really love is basically a fried croquette stuffed with minced beef or lamb. It’s to die for!
