Although most people plan a trip to Israel to visit the holy places, getting to know the local cuisine is also worthy of special attention. The culinary traditions of Israel are very diverse, because they have developed under the influence of many peoples living in the country. To help you navigate the vast range of dishes that you can try in Israel, we offer you a list of the most interesting of them.

Hummus is the king of Israeli cuisine. appetizing snack made from chickpeas, olive oil and lemon juice has long gained popularity around the world, and yet the most delicious hummus is prepared in Israel. It is usually served hot fresh bread, but Israeli chefs are not afraid of experiments, and you can try different variants serving hummus, for example, hummus kavarma - hummus with minced lamb and onions.

There are many versions about the origin of falafel - balls of chickpeas or beans, but no matter what people are the author of this dish, it undoubtedly occupies important place in Israeli cuisine. You will find it in almost all establishments: from expensive restaurants to budget eateries. Falafel is especially popular as a street food, as it is much cheaper and easier to buy than to cook at home. Falafel is traditionally served with hummus, bread, Israeli salad and pickles.

Knafeh is an Arabic sweet that is very popular in Israel as a dessert. Knafeh is made from dough and goat cheese with a lot of sugar syrup, sometimes nuts or cream are added to knaf. Ready meal sprinkled with pistachios and flavored with a few drops of rose water. Knafé must be eaten hot.

Eggplants are widely used in Israeli cuisine. They are served with tahini or yogurt or mashed with lemon juice and spices - this is baba ganoush. Like many other local snacks, baba ghanoush is served with freshly baked bread. Despite the simplicity, this is a very tasty and, importantly, healthy and low-calorie dish.

Shakshuka is one of the most popular breakfasts in Israel. The main ingredients are eggs and tomatoes, but shakshuka is more than just scrambled eggs. Tomatoes play the main role in shakshuka, about 5-7 pieces are required per serving. A thick sauce is prepared from tomatoes, onions, garlic and spices, into which raw eggs. The dish turns out to be very beautiful: white-yellow round scrambled eggs look very picturesque on a red tomato background.

Jerusalem Mix Grill

A trip to Jerusalem cannot be considered complete without trying the famous Mix Grill, which consists of fried pieces of different types of meat. The classic mix includes lamb, veal, goat and pigeon. All this is fried on a grill or in a pan, as a result, all types of meat complement each other's taste, turning into an incredible, incomparable dish. Grilled mix is ​​served wrapped in thin bread or placed in a pita, along with fresh and pickled vegetables.

Burekas came to Israel from Turkish cuisine. These are a kind of pies that are baked from puff pastry stuffed with potatoes, vegetables or cheese. Ready-made burekas are often sprinkled with different seeds, which help to distinguish them by the type of filling. Like many other local dishes, burekas are served with tahini, Israeli salad and cold yogurt.

Malauah

And the Israelis borrowed this dish from Yemen, and in popularity it is not inferior to hummus and falafel. As you probably noticed, the inhabitants of Israel are not indifferent to different types of bread, and malauach is another variety of it. Malawah is an unleavened pancake made from puff pastry, to which flavoring additives are relied: spicy tomato sauce and boiled eggs, tahini, olive oil, honey or other sweets.

This is another dish that came to Israel from Yemen. Jahnun is a roll of rich puff pastry with a lot of butter or margarine. The peculiarity of its preparation is that jahnun is baked for a very long time: from 8 to 12 hours on a small fire. Jahnoon is usually prepared on the night from Friday to Saturday, but in many restaurants it can be ordered on any day of the week. Jahnun is served with tomato sauce, seasoned with khug, and boiled eggs.

Israeli salad

Well, how can you visit Israel and not try the symbol of local cuisine - Israeli salad? Even if this name hides a mixture of ordinary fresh vegetables! The classic composition of the Israeli salad includes tomatoes, onions and cucumbers, but peppers, carrots, green onion and parsley. All salad vegetables are cut into neat cubes - the smaller the better - and mixed with chopped herbs. The salad is dressed with a mixture of lemon juice and olive oil and seasoned to taste with salt and pepper.

Once Maria Kurganova packed her bags and moved to Israel. Now the girl lives in sunny Tel Aviv and talks about it on her blog. And today Maria will share with us a list of seven favorite places for breakfast and the most delicious items on the morning menu!

The Tel Aviv breakfast is a collection of the best of Mediterranean cuisine: fresh vegetable salads, salty fish, goat cheese, hummus, freshly squeezed juice and, of course, great pastries.

With such a breakfast, a weekend in Tel Aviv begins. Fortunately, there are many wonderful cafes here and every weekend you can go to a new institution. I will talk about the places for breakfast that are very popular among Tel Aviv residents, as well as what is worth trying there.

Benedict

Cafe Benedictis the most popular breakfast spot in Tel Aviv. You can have breakfast here at any time of the day. In the cafe varied menu designed for every taste. You can order individual dishes or choose one of the proposed options. The classic breakfast at Benedict consists of eggs, jams, several types of bread, salads and drinks of your choice. There is also an option for vegans and weight watchers (light breakfast).

What to order? Of course, eggs Benedict is the main dish of this establishment! Butter-fried toast with boiled egg and bacon (or salmon).

Please note that it is not possible to book a table with them. There is always a queue at the central restaurant on Rothschild Boulevard. I advise you to leave your name and phone number to the hostess and go work up an appetite along the boulevard until you get a call.

Address: Rothschild 29

The Norman

The Norman Hotelconsidered one of the best in Tel Aviv. But even if you live elsewhere, you can enjoy its atmosphere and great service by coming here for breakfast.


Choose a table in a cozy restaurant on the ground floor or on an open veranda. The morning menu includes egg dishes and a buffet with fresh pastries, jams, several types of cheese, fish and desserts.

What to order? They have wonderful shakshuka, but here I would recommend taking eggs Benedict. Perhaps they are even better here than in the institution of the same name, as they are served on thin bread, so you can really taste the taste of fish or bacon. To refresh yourself, order one of the fruit and vegetable cleaners on offer.

Address: Nahmani 25

Manta Ray

Restaurant Manta Raylocated on one of the Tel Aviv beaches. Come early to take a table on the veranda and enjoy not only the view, but also the scent of the sea.


What to order? The feature of this place is snacks - a lot of small plates with sauces, fish, fried eggplant and other goodies. I consider their pancakes a must for tasting. These are fluffy, small American-style pancakes with maple syrup, fruit and cream. Well, you need to drink it not with coffee, but with kava with lychee inside the glass.

Address: Quay, 7 Koifman

Tola'at Sfarim

Tola'at Sfarim-wonderful bookstore with cafe inside. This is a rare place in Tel Aviv, where it is always quiet, almost like in a library. People come here to work in a quiet environment or read a book. The shop and café are housed in a beautiful building with floor-to-ceiling windows and semi-circular turrets. This "secret" place is easy to pass by and not notice - due to this, a pleasant intimate atmosphere is preserved here.

What to order? One of the proposed breakfasts and definitely a croissant with butter and jam!


Address: Embankment, Maze 7

One of the most popular places for breakfast among Tel Aviv residents is a cafe.xhoho. There is a very homely atmosphere, many regular customers who know each other and the staff well. If you want to plunge into Tel Aviv life and feel like "your own", you are here. And, of course, food. Everything here is homemade, vegetarian and healthy.



What to order? I highly recommend their bagels, the ingredients for which you choose yourself: vegetables, onion jam, salmon, soy cheese. Grilled banana pancakes for dessert. By the way, the morning menu here can be ordered at any time of the day.



Address: Gordon 17

Meshek Barzilay

Meshek Barzilay- one of the best vegan cafes in town. However, vegan or not, you'll love it here anyway. The cafe is hidden in one of the hidden streets of the picturesque area of ​​Neve Tzedek. In the mornings there are almost no people here, quiet music is playing, so you can spend several hours here having a pleasant conversation and not even notice how quickly the time has flown by. I would especially like to note their service, professional and at the same time very individual.


What to order? Of course, their signature Royal Couple brunch! This breakfast consists of a basket of bread with vegan butter, tehina and jam, several salads, drinks, vegan cheeses and two main courses - spinach and cashew calzone and fritata. All dishes are very hearty and large, so it’s better to come here with three or four of us and arrange a “sharing”.


Address: Ahad Ha'Am 6

Orna & Ella

Cafe Orna & Ella- Another popular cafe that has been around for a very long time. This place is an amazing combination of sophistication and simplicity. Classic Israeli dishes are prepared here, but in their more useful option, using seasonal organic ingredients. Surprisingly, the prices in this legendary place are no higher than in a standard Israeli cafe.

What to order? Sweet potato pancakes are very popular, however, and their breakfasts are very good. They are suitable for those who want to start their morning with something tasty and healthy. Eggs, whole wheat bread, salad, freshly squeezed juice. Everything is simple, but how good!

Address: Sheinkin 33

Bekitzer Café-Bar Chef

Born in Leningrad studied at a non-core university, and followed in the footsteps of his father as a cook. He worked in several city restaurants: "1913" on Voznesensky Prospekt, "Gouache" on Vladimirsky, "Terrace" on Kazanskaya, "Massmidia" on Gorokhovaya, a beer restaurant in Pulkovo-3.

After that, he began to collaborate with the Global Point restaurant group - first with "22.13" and "Barbaresco", then in Funky Kitchen as a sous-chef, and then as a chef.

About the dish

Shakshuka is a typical Israeli breakfast. Fried eggs on a vegetable pillow are always at the head of the table, served along with hummus, labane, chershi and other meze snacks, as well as tortillas. Shakshuka is different in every family: somewhere tighter, somewhere more spicy. As a rule, it is prepared from 10-12 eggs in a large frying pan - for the whole family. The main component of the dish is the right spices. They are difficult to find in ready-made mixtures in Russia, so it is better to do it yourself.


Ingredients for 5 servings

Eggs - 10 pieces.

Garlic - 20 g

Tomatoes - 1.3 kg

Onion - 400 g

Tomato paste - 6 art. l.

Hot water - 0.5 l

Parsley - 50 g

Baarat - 1.5 st. l.

Shug - 1.5 tsp (20 g)

Salt - 1 tsp (10 g)

Black pepper pinch

For cold

Green chili peppers 3 pcs.

Garlic - 4 large cloves

Salt - 1/2 st. l.

For baarat

Black pepper - 1 tsp

Cardamom - 1 tsp

Bay leaf - 1 tsp

Cinnamon - 1 tsp

Carnation - 1 tsp

Shug. Blend the ingredients with an immersion blender until smooth.

Baarat. grind the ingredients in a mortar or coffee grinder in a ratio of one to one. The rest can be stored in the refrigerator.

Shakshuka

In a large deep and unheated skillet chop fresh tomatoes, onions, garlic, sprinkle generously with salt so that the tomatoes give juice in which they will be stewed. Sprinkle all this at once with spices - skhug and baarat. Mix and put on fire

After boiling the mixture add diluted in water tomato paste bring to a boil again and reduce heat. Simmer until the liquid has evaporated by half - you should get a viscous dense mass.

Make small funnels with a spoon in the mass by the number of eggs (take the convex side of the spoon). Break eggs into them - the yolk should sink inward, and the protein should flow out a little.

Simmer over low heat. When some of the proteins have seized, cover and simmer for about 10 minutes more (the time depends on the number of eggs, the yolks should remain a little liquid). How more eggs the longer it takes to cook.

Sprinkle generously with black pepper. and parsley. Serve hot with salad, tortillas, hummus.

Photo: Dima Tsyrenshchikov

Jews take breakfast seriously. In their opinion, the morning meal should be tasty, satisfying and varied. What do they prefer to eat for breakfast in Israel?

Israeli breakfast features

The traditional Jewish breakfast has its own rules. For example, in the morning in Israel it is not customary to serve meat, but you can eat dairy products, eggs, pastries, salads, fish and various spreads. The fact is that Jews do not eat dairy and milk products at the same time. meat dishes. And in the morning, cheese and cottage cheese are traditionally served, so meat is excluded.

The traditional Israeli breakfast has its own history. In the early years of the state, Jews had breakfast in a common dining room, where food was offered in the form of buffet. The meal was hearty and varied, so that people would gain strength for hard work. The tradition of serving such a breakfast in Israel has been preserved and taken root.

Now local hotels offer guests breakfast in this form - the guests themselves choose what they like best. And the offer is impressive: hot, different types breads and buns, all kinds of cheeses, cottage cheese, fish, salads, sauces, snacks, desserts, fresh and pickled vegetables,.

A traditional breakfast in an Israeli cafe will not disappoint either. Here you will most likely get a main hot dish, a salad, a basket of fresh pastries, a set of small jars of hummus, jam, avocado, soft cheese, and maybe even a bowl of muesli with honey, nuts, yogurt and fruit. And, of course, they will bring a drink: juice, coffee or tea. Such an impressive set in a small cafe in Israel will cost about 45-60 shekels. If you are not used to eating so tightly in the morning, then feel free to order one breakfast for two.

An interesting detail: in Israeli cafes you can order breakfast at any time of the day. It is eaten at least for lunch, at least for dinner. And, by the way, many do just that - this traditional breakfast in Israel is very satisfying.

Shakshuka

This is the most popular main dish that Jews eat for breakfast. It is served hot right on the pan in almost all Israeli cafes. Shakshuka is made from eggs, ripe tomatoes and other vegetables. Various spices are also added, such as paprika and black pepper. The dish looks very appetizing and bright. Shakshuka tastes great with freshly baked bread.

Hummus

Hummus is a very common snack in Israel. It looks like a puree made from chickpeas, with the addition of sesame paste, lemon juice, olive oil, paprika and garlic. Hummus may contain other ingredients: feta, pumpkin, herbs, tomatoes, hot peppers Chile. The value of this snack is in the high content of protein and iron. Usually Jews eat hummus spread on bread.

Baba Ganoush

Baba ganoush also has a puree-like structure. Eggplant food is prepared with the addition of olive oil, lemon, sesame and other seasonings.

For the dish, ripe eggplants are chosen, which are baked on coals. Thanks to this, the appetizer acquires a special grilled flavor.

Traditional Israeli salad has simple recipe, but remains a success. Prepare a salad of fresh vegetables: tomatoes, cucumbers and onions. Sometimes there are other ingredients: parsley, bell pepper, green onions, carrots. The vegetables are cut into small cubes, the greens are chopped, after which everything is evenly mixed. As a dressing, a mixture of lemon juice, olive oil, black pepper and salt is used. So simple and delicious salad is also often eaten for breakfast in Israel.

Where to have breakfast in Tel Aviv

A traditional Israeli breakfast is eaten slowly, enjoying the taste and enjoying life. Here they know a lot about food and consider it frivolous to skip the morning meal. If you want to try everything that is eaten for breakfast in Israel, check out a good local cafe.

Cafe Xoho

It offers delicious breakfasts. Huge portions, mouth-watering shakshuka, wonderful muesli and great pastries. And wonderful unforgettable coffee.

The interior is youthful and extraordinary, cat lovers will especially appreciate it - multi-colored purrs on the walls will cheer you up. Vegetarians will find many suitable dishes on the menu and, by the way, very tasty ones. Traditionally, breakfasts can be ordered throughout the day. Pleased with low prices, a morning meal will cost about 40-50 shekels.

Benedict

Benedict is another very good breakfast spot in Tel Aviv, open 24/7. There are especially many visitors in the morning, so you may have to queue a bit. And if you are not in the mood to wait, you can book a table in advance.

There are several breakfast options on the menu. Big choice sweet pastries. Fast good service, great atmosphere, cozy interior. You can eat both in the hall and on the outdoor terrace. The cost of breakfast is 60-70 shekels.

Bucke

Bucke is a great place to start the day. Here you will find a real Israeli breakfast - shakshuka here is one of the best in Tel Aviv. Do not leave indifferent and warm bread, salads and everything is very, very tasty. To eat breakfast, you need to try hard, as it is quite impressive.

Where to have breakfast in Jerusalem

Cafe Yehoshua

This cafe will delight you with perfect Israeli breakfasts. There is traditional shakshuka, as well as French toast and pancakes. You can order and, it costs 58 shekels. There are always a lot of visitors, the cafe is very popular.

Nadi Cafe

Local breakfasts definitely deserve praise. All dishes are very tasty and prepared from the freshest products. A traditional set breakfast is served on a huge tray along with cheeses, sauces, fruits, salad, bread and delicious coffee (149 shekels). "Light versions" will cost 30-60 shekels. There is a great outdoor area where breakfast will seem even tastier.

First of all, the city of Netanya is very well located. When emigrants from Eastern Europe founded a moshav here in 1929 (a moshav is a type of agricultural community in Israel), they could hardly have imagined that over time it would turn into one of the largest and most famous resort cities in Israel. Today, Netanya for Israel is about the same as Nice for France, and the unique Levantine flavor is felt in every piece of local bread. However, the location on the Mediterranean coast is not everything.

A few years ago, Netanya was literally occupied by French emigration, which could not but affect the character of the city and, as you understand, its cuisine, which already combined elements of Turkish, Greek, Italian and Spanish cuisine. The French brought their own elegance and style to this magnificent mishmash, and also opened a huge number of cafes and bakeries. And not to say that the natives were strongly against such an occupation. Now in Netanya it is customary to understand not only the intricacies of the rules of kashrut, but also the quality classic baking, olive oil and spices, and breakfast with the obligatory croissant has become an integral part of every Netanya morning.

So, what is customary to eat for breakfast in Netanya.

  • Morning croissants with butter and tomato jam
  • Fresh baguette with extra virgin olive oil
  • Various cheeses with tomatoes and herbs
  • Fried eggs "Mekushkeshet"
  • Salad "Israeli", that is, "Israeli" - very finely chopped vegetables, seasoned with olive oil and lemon juice
  • Marinated salmon. Usually, home cooking
  • Hummus chickpea puree, tahini sesame paste, labane yoghurt cheese and pesto
  • Gherkins, capers and olives
  • Cardamom coffee - 1 part deep roasted and 2 parts lightly roasted coffee, a little cardamom


Tomato jam

What do you need:
8 small ripe tomatoes
200 g sugar
juice from half a small lemon

What to do:
On the tomatoes, make cruciform shallow cuts, lower them for a few minutes in boiling water, then transfer to cold water. Remove the skin, cut into four parts, cover with sugar. Leave overnight in the refrigerator. In the morning, put in a saucepan, put it on low heat. Simmer, without bringing to a boil, for 20 minutes. Then add lemon juice, stir and remove from heat.

Fried eggs "Mekushkeshet"

What do you need:
4 eggs
25 g butter
1 tsp olive oil

What to do:
Heat up in a frying pan olive oil. Add butter, immediately pour in the eggs. Quickly mix the mixture with a spatula until the yolk and protein are completely curtailed; the result should be a lush egg mass. Serve immediately and eat immediately.

Restaurants in Netanya where my family and I like breakfast:

"Milky Way"

Small family run dairy restaurant.
Opening hours: from 09.00 to 00.00.
The restaurant is kosher, so on Friday it is open until lunch, and on Saturday - from the end of Saturday until one in the morning.
Address: Netanya, Hertzel St.6. It is on the main promenade, not far from the sea.
Phone: +97298824638 (for calls from abroad)/098824638 (for calls within Israel).
The staff speaks English, there is a menu in English and Russian. Tipping is optional, not included in the bill.
Up to 40 shekels payment only in cash; starting from 40 shekels, payment by card is possible.
The owner of the restaurant is called Shimshon. An extremely pleasant and sociable man. Works in a restaurant on a par with waiters.

My choice:
Breakfast "Aruhat Boker Yisraeli" (from Hebrew “Israeli breakfast”). Omelet, vegetables, 2 types of spreads (according to the season - salad with tuna or avocado salad), cheese paste (cottage cheese), bread (white, whole grain and gabetta), butter and homemade jam.
In addition, coffee and orange juice.
Breakfast is very (!) large; one breakfast is enough even for two very hungry adults.
The breakfast price is 38 shekels (a little over $10).
Additional coffee or juice will cost 4 shekels (slightly more than a dollar).
You can also order an additional portion of salad (from tuna, egg, from bell pepper), it will cost another 6 shekels (about 1.5 dollars).

Also in the "Milk Way" there are other breakfast options:
"Belgian waffles". Includes 4 small Belgian waffles, coffee or juice, maple syrup. The price is 32 shekels (about $9).
"French Toast" Includes egg toasted bread, maple syrup, coffee or juice.
The price is 32 shekels.
"Signature Breakfast". Includes fruit salad(seasonally), yogurt, honey and granola. Served with coffee or juice. Price - 32 shekels
"Bagel special". Includes bagel sandwich with cheese spread (or tuna salad, with egg salad or avocado salad, to taste and season), coffee or juice. The price is 32 shekels.
"Children's breakfast"(very rare for Israel). Includes granola (or muesli) and milkshake.

"Scotsman"

The restaurant is eclectic but very delicious cuisine. For lovers of hearty breakfasts.
Opening hours: 10.30-00.00, every day.
Address: Netanya, Kikar Ha`atsmaut 7. This is on the central square, not far from the waterfront.
Phone: +97298624546 (for calls from abroad)/098624546 (for calls within Israel).

Payment by card is possible, without restrictions.
WiFi available
The owner's name is Guy.

My choice
Seafood with Garlic Sauce. Includes king prawns, breaded calamari and shell mussels, as well as salads, boiled potatoes and Georgian lavash. The price is 92 shekels (about $25).


"Signature Breakfast", served from 10.30 to noon. Includes egg salad, french fries, coffee, homemade lavash with cheese. The price is 30 shekels (about $8).
"Children's Breakfast" Includes kids hamburger or schnitzel and french fries. Price - to be confirmed.


Breeze

Israeli, European and Uzbek cuisine. Great place for romantic and family breakfasts.
Opening hours: 10.00-00.00, every day.
Address: Netanya, Gad Machenes st. 2, Independence Square; The restaurant is located on the promenade, overlooking the sea.
Phone: +972547776350 (for calls from abroad)/054547776350 (for calls within Israel).
Email: [email protected]
Site http://breeze-rest.co.il
All staff speaks Russian, there is a menu in Russian. Tipping is optional, not included in the bill.
Payment by card: starting from 50 shekels.

My choice:
"Business Breakfast" Includes choice of scrambled eggs or scrambled eggs, fresh vegetable salad, tuna salad, homemade jam (from blackcurrant, strawberry or raspberry), specialty bread - brown bread with seeds, baked in the restaurant. In addition, natural drinks to choose from: homemade lemonade, orange or grapefruit fresh. Coffee.

The price for breakfast for one is 39 shekels (a little over $10), for breakfast for two - 59 shekels (a little over $16).

Other breakfast options are also available:
"French Breakfast" Includes large croissant (baked at the restaurant) and Colombian coffee. Available croissants with chocolate, cheese and almonds. Butter is free. The price of breakfast is 19 shekels (about 5 dollars).

Dear users of the site, our site continues to publish materials about breakfast traditions in different cities of the world (and not only cities). We will publish interesting texts and photographs!