Food Adventures: Yemen

      Once home to the bibliacal kingdom of Sheba, and having long been at the crossroads of cultures and empires across the centuries, Yemen hosts a long and interesting past.  With thousands of years of history the country is bound to have good food to go with it, so today we are looking at some foods visitors to Yemen should be sure to try.



Salta

      Salta is considered the Yemeni national dish and is popular throughout the country.  Salta is generally made with a stew base of roasted lamb broth.  Vegetables, meat, eggs, and peppers are common ingredients in the stew.  It is served steaming hot and topped with a dollop of creamed fenugreek.

Yemeni Honey

      Yemen is famous worldwide for its honey production both because of the quality and varieties that can be found in the country.  The quality of Yemen's honey is both a result of the native bees in the region and the climate.  Of all the varieties of honey produced in Yemen, Sidr Honey is the most prized and most expensive honey, produced by bees who are only exposed the nector of the Sidr Tree.

Qat Leaf

      Chewing the Qat leaf is a social tradition in Yemen dating back thousands of years.  The leaf acts as a mild stimulant and is also known to produce euphoric sensations.   While not seriously addictive it is considered a controlled substance in some other countries.  With a social role and physical effects similar to coffee, Qat chewing is highly popular in Yemen and agricultural production of the plant is estimated to use as much as forty percent of the country's water supply.

Ogda

      Ogda is traditional Yemeni stew.  Ogda means knot and the stew is so called because it is made by tying or mixing all the ingredients together.  It is traditionally eaten with bread which is often used as the utensil for scooping the stew out of the bowl.

Sahawik

      Sahawik is a sauce served on the side with many Yemeni meals.  Similar to mexican salsa, Sahawik is a raw, spicy, tomato based sauce usually including chopped up vegetables.  The sauce is a common side at Yemeni meals and can be eaten by itself with bread or is frequently added to soups and stews for increased flavor.

Fatta

      Fatta is essentially a bread based casserol and many variations on the dish exist.  Fatta can be savory or sweet and served as a main dish or desert.