Assyrian Cuisine - Breakfast

Breakfast

Tea is almost always drunk in the morning with Assyrian breakfast (ܛܥܡܬܐ, ṭʿāmtā). Assyrian tea is drunk with sugar and evaporated milk as opposed to regular milk or cream. Common breakfast includes fried eggs and tomatoes seasoned with various spices. Scrambled eggs mixed with vegetables are typical as well. Meats used in the morning to eat with eggs include ham, bacon, sausage, Spam, and even pan-fried beef hot dogs, which are mixed in an omelette or scrambled eggs. Soft-boiled eggs are often made when members of the household are sick as many believe it to be very healthy. Hareesa, a traditional Assyrian porridge made of chicken, wheat, and a generous amount of butter, usually made during Christmas, is also eaten as a breakfast by some because it is perceived as a heavy and nutritious meal. Home-made yogurt called mastā can be eaten plain with bread, or mixed with cucumbers, garlic, salt, mint, and olive oil called "jajik." Assorted cheeses and "samoon" (thick Assyrian bread) are a must in any Assyrian household for breakfast time. Usually the cheese is American or "guptah tamirta" (feta), and various cream cheeses from Middle Eastern stores such as "Kiri Cheese" and "Puck". Baklawa, kelecheh, and kadeh may also be eaten during breakfast time. "Gehmar" is a rich cream that is consumed with honey or date syrup on samoon. During Lent, meat and dairy products are forbidden, and many Assyrians fry a mixture of diced tomatoes, onions, potatoes, and green peppers with a generous amount of olive oil, adding to it spices such as curry, red pepper, paprika, salt, and pepper. This is generally eaten with samoon, lawasha (flat, unleavened pita) or pita bread. Lenten breakfasts also include tahini mixed with fig or date syrup called "napukhta" which is again eaten with the breads mentioned previously. Halawah, which is a sesame paste mixed with pistachios, is also popular during Lent.