Here in the UK, Israeli cuisine is becoming increasingly popular thanks to its vibrant mix of Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, and Eastern European influences. From vibrant street food to comforting home-style dishes, Israeli food is surprisingly easy to recreate using ingredients readily available in UK supermarkets.

Whether you’re new to Middle Eastern cooking or already a fan of hummus and falafel, this guide explores the best Israeli dishes to make in the UK, along with tips on sourcing ingredients locally.

Why Israeli food works so well here in the UK

Israeli cuisine is a fusion of Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, North African, and Eastern European influences, making it both diverse and adaptable. Many core ingredients—such as chickpeas, aubergines, tomatoes, herbs, olive oil, and yoghurt—are widely available across the UK.

Key benefits of cooking Israeli food at home:

• Affordable ingredients
• Vegetarian and vegan-friendly options
• Healthy, fresh flavours
• Easy to adapt to our British tastes

1. Hummus – Israel’s Most Famous Dish

Why It’s Perfect for the UK

Hummus is one of the easiest Israeli foods to make in the UK, as all ingredients are commonly stocked in Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Lidl, and Waitrose.

Key Ingredients

• Tinned or dried chickpeas
• Tahini (sesame paste)
• Lemon juice
• Garlic
• Olive oil
• Cumin
• Parsley
• Paprika

Serving Tips

Serve hummus warm with:

• Pitta bread
• Roasted vegetables
• Falafel
• A drizzle of olive oil and paprika

Little Tip: Homemade hummus is far superior to shop-bought versions and costs less per portion.

Please accept all cookies to see this content or watch content here.

2. Shakshuka – The Ultimate Israeli Breakfast

Why Brits Love Shakshuka

Shakshuka has become extremely popular in UK cafés—and for good reason. It’s comforting and ideal for brunch or dinner.

What You’ll Need

• Tinned chopped tomatoes
• Tomato paste
• Olive oil
• Red peppers
• Onion and garlic
• Eggs
• Spices: cumin, paprika, chilli flakes
• Salt
• Parsley

Please accept all cookies to see this content or watch content here.

Why you should make it

No specialist ingredients are required. It really is an easy-to-make dish that tastes amazing.

Best served with: Crusty sourdough or warm pitta bread.

3. Chicken Shawarma – Israeli-Style at Home

Making Shawarma Without a Rotisserie (spit-roasting)

You don’t need special equipment to make shawarma.

Ingredients

• 4 Tablespoons of Oil
• 3 Cubes of crushed garlic
• 1 Tablespoon of Salt
• 1 Tablespoon of Vinegar
• 1 Tablespoon of Paprika
• 2 Tablespoons of Cumin
• 1 Tablespoon of Chili powder
• 1/2 Tablespoons of Allspice
• 1/2 Tablespoon of Turmeric
• 1 Onion
• 1 Cup of flour
• 1 Tablespoon of Baking powder

Cooking Method

Marinate chicken thighs and roast them in the oven or pan-fry them for authentic flavour. Serve with pitta, salad, tahini sauce, or hummus.

You can watch an instructional video on how to make them here.