Marag Recipe (Iraqi Okra and Lamb Stew)
Make Iraqi marag bamia: lamb and small okra in a garlicky tomato stew with dried lime, served over white rice. Tips so the okra stays whole and never slimy.
Masgouf, kebab, samoon bread, margat stews and cardamom chai: the everyday food of Baghdad and beyond, made at home without a bakery oven or a riverside fire.
Recipes developed and tested by Farwa Zeeshan
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The recipes to cook first
- 9MasgoufButterflied grilled fish
Iraqi KebabJuicy flat-skewer kebabs- 9SamoonDiamond bakery bread
Iraqi Spinach StewSpinach and lamb stew
Iraqi Basturma and EggsBasturma and eggs
Iraqi ChaiBaghdad cardamom tea
Learn the technique
Guides behind these recipes
Quick answers
Iraqi Recipes FAQ
What is the national dish of Iraq?
Masgouf, a butterflied fish grilled by an open fire.
What is samoon?
A diamond-shaped Iraqi yeasted bread.
What is amba?
A tangy mango pickle sauce served with kebabs and sandwiches.
Every recipe
All Iraqi recipes
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Dajaj Mahshi Recipe (Iraqi Stuffed Roast Chicken)
Make Iraqi dajaj mahshi: whole chicken stuffed with spiced rice, nuts and raisins, simmered then roasted golden. A feast centrepiece with timings that work.
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Kubba Hamuth Recipe (Iraqi Sour Kubba Soup)
Make Iraqi kubba hamuth: rice-shell dumplings filled with spiced meat, simmered in a sour broth of turnip, beetroot or chard and lemon. Shaping tips included.
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Iraqi Tikka Recipe (Lamb Shish Kebab)
Make Iraqi lamb tikka shish kebab: cubes of lamb marinated in onion juice, yogurt and spices, skewered with fat and grilled hot. Tender, charred and juicy.
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Potato Chap Recipe (Iraqi Stuffed Potato Croquettes)
Make Iraqi potato chap: mashed potato shells filled with spiced mince, coated in crumbs and fried crisp. Tips so they hold together and never burst.
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Kleicha Recipe (Iraqi Date Cookies)
Make Iraqi kleicha, the national cookie: a cardamom and rose water dough rolled around spiced date paste, sliced into spirals and glazed. Tender every time.
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Samoon Recipe (Iraqi Diamond Bread)
Make Iraqi samoon at home: soft yeasted bread shaped into diamond rolls and baked hot until puffed and golden. Dough, shaping and oven tips that work.
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Iraqi Kebab Recipe (Grilled Minced Beef Kebabs)
Make Iraqi kebabs: minced beef and lamb with onion, parsley and spices, pressed onto flat skewers and grilled hot. Fat ratio and squeezing tips so they stay on.
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Masgouf Recipe (Iraqi Grilled Fish)
Make Iraqi masgouf at home: a whole fish butterflied, rubbed with tamarind, turmeric and salt, then grilled or oven-roasted skin-side down until smoky.
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Iraqi Chai Recipe (Cardamom Tea Brewed the Baghdad Way)
Brew Iraqi chai the traditional way: strong Ceylon tea steamed on low heat with cardamom, served sweet in small istikan glasses. Never bitter.
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