Appetizers
Assyrian Maza (ܡܙܐ) is similar to related cuisines' Mezes which may include ḥemṣē ṭḥīnē, Baba Ghanouj, Tapoula, Fattoush, vegetables and dip, Burek(fried egg roll stuffed with either ground beef or chicken, onions, parsley, and various spices), etc. Fava beans, known as baqqilē, and chick peas, known as ḥemṣē or ḥerṭmanē (ܚܪܛܡܢܐ), are very common in soups, salads, and find their way into many foods. Fried almonds and raisins are also used but not as appetizers but rather as garnishes for main dishes. "Potato chap" is deep fried mashed potatoes stuffed with ground beef, parsley, and onion. "Kubba" made with ground beef and an outer shell of ground wheat is flattened and then fried or oven baked is another maza favorite, it is often eaten with ketchup or steak sauce. Another popular maza is tourshee which literally means pickled. Many different types of vegetables are pickled such as cucumbers, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, beets, and peppers. As mentioned in the main paragraph, tea is a staple in the diet even more so than coffee. Almost always the maza is accompanied with tea or Turkish coffee.
Read more about this topic: Assyrian Cuisine