Iraqi is said to have some of the oldest cuisine in the world, with the first civilisations of Mesopotamia leaving behind many traces of their food culture. Iraqi cuisine today involves a lot of rice which is grown in the southern marshes, as well as the usual culprits of vegetables like eggplant, tomatoes and okra, as found in other Middle Eastern cuisines.
It is said that the oldest cookbook ever found was discovered in Iraq!
Masgouf
The national dish of Iraq is called masgouf, which is slow grilled fish which comes with minimal seasoning. It’s usually crispy on one side and served with pickles. Other dishes to try are:
Dolma
Iraqi Dolma (stuffed vine leaves) – a version of this exists throughout the region, however it is said that the Iraqi version is one of the best.
Bagila bin dihin
This is the most popular Iraqi breakfast, which is made of soaked fava beans mixed with torn bread and a fried egg omelette.
Halawa dhin
For those with a sweet tooth you have to try halawa dhin. This is a dish only found in Iraq and mainly sold in the city of Najaf. It’s made from dates, coconut, butter and a lot of sugar and then baked into squares.
