A nutritionist’s dream! Eating in Syria should be an exciting and rich experience because of the numerous different styles.

Levantine style cuisine has been consumed and enjoyed throughout Syria for nearly 200 years, and it’s fame is now spreading beyond our borders. So what is it about Syrian food that constantly attracts our attention and keeps us coming back for more? Can it be put down to plain good taste or is it possibly the great nutritional benefits associated with eating Syrian food?

Syrian cuisine is particularly healthy and sophisticated, with emphasis on a variety of vegetables and lean meat. Dishes such as Kibbeh Trabulsia, Yabrak, Mujjadarah, Baaklawa and Maamoul are widely consumed throughout the country.

Their own special mix of textures and spices distinguishes them from the usual modern day fare of simple salad and spongy cake.

There are numerous health benefits associated with eating a Mediterranean style diet. Research and statistics have shown that consuming a Mediterranean diet with high quantities of vegetables and fish reduces the risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

Also, a diet rich in omega oils and vegetables has anti-aging effects; so can this be the secret to unlocking our youth, just eating vegetables and fish? Is this sufficient enough to get rid of those dreaded lines slowly creeping under our eyes, or the irritating appearance of liver spots on our hands? The secret is in moderation; that and the balancing of a variety of foods, each of which has its own unique taste. Each food is loaded with different nutrients, and blended together they have the power to not only feed us satisfyingly, but to delay and reduce the onset of aging.

The lifestyle we live dictates our aging process, which is influenced and affected by illness. If we are lucky enough to be basically healthy, then the food we ingest can have magical effects!

Take for example a traditional Levantine food – maqdoos; eggplant stuffed with walnuts and red pepper, and stored in olive oil. Surprisingly enough, this dish is ideal for optimum health and weight loss. Why? Because it contains antioxidant properties, is high in dietary fiber which is essential for healthy digestion and is rich in omega-3 fatty acids. The omega-3 fatty acids stop our arteries from clogging, which is the beginning of a heart attack or heart disease. These healthy nutritional factors are all found in one little stuffed eggplant that takes a minimum amount of time to prepare.

Another more interesting and commonly known delicacy is the Yabrak or Dolma as it is referred to in Greece; vine leaves stuffed with rice and little pieces of meat. These tiny, green morsels, which are often cooked in olive oil, are so delicious, especially when they are home-made, that you are able to eat a dozen before realization even dawns on you. A great source of nutrients, Yabrak is low in protein and high in good cholesterol (the cholesterol we need) mainly because of the olive oil. Olive oil alone offers antioxidant properties (stops the damaging of our bodies cells thus reducing aging and illness) and is one of the only oils tolerated universally during digestion. A delicious dish, therefore, that is rich in antioxidants and careful on gastric function – what more can we ask for?

Let’s not forget the sweets: maamoul is the most easily recognized and well known sweet. Maamoul is a healthy walnut and date cookie with numerous health benefits – how is this possible? It is mainly due to the dates. Dates alone are abundant in several vitamins and minerals, and have many benefits including muscle development, reducing fatigue (tiredness) and many more. Simply eating one date every day before a meal keeps you fuller for longer. Add walnuts to the mix, and the list of benefits increases… can it get any better?

We cannot even begin to comprehend the full extent of the healthy relationship between Syrian cuisine and good healthy food. Only the commonly known foods in the major cities have been identified so far; the journey into discoveries of the cuisines of neighboring villages, towns and independent hamlets, where different cultures and traditions have integrated and influenced the Syrian food has only just begun. The Ottomans and the Armenians have had a tremendous impact on the taste of Syrian food as well. Taking Yabrak again as an example – when cooked in Damascus, the taste differs greatly to that cooked in Aleppo or Homs. The reason for this is that Damascene food has been influenced by British and French taste, whereas cuisine in Aleppo has a hint of Armenian and Turkish flavors. The diet in Homs is practically Mediterranean!

We should finally note that the Syrian diet which is rich in its large variety of starters, main courses and delicious deserts displays originality and individuality as compared to other cuisines. The thorough attention to precision and detail, the directness yet subtlety of flavor and elegance of presentation demands our attention. Eating in Syria should be an exciting and rich experience because of the numerous different styles. Throwing into the mix all the health benefits doubles all the advantages, and makes this an experience to be recommended to everyone. Oh yes, and it tastes yummy too!

 Adopted by Haifaa Mafalani