[[File:Chaldean Breakfast 2015-04-29 10-17.jpg|thumbnail|Chaldean Breakfast]]
'''[[IraqChaldean]]i cuisine''' or '''Mesopotamian cuisine''' has a long history going back some 10,000 years – to the [[Sumer]]ians, [[Babylonia]]ns, [[Assyria]]ns, Chaldeans and [[Persian Empire (disambiguation)|Ancient Persians]].<ref name="Salloum">http://www.thingsasian.com/stories-photos/3592 Foods of Iraq: Enshrined With A Long History. Habeeb Salloum.</ref> [[Clay tablet|Tablets]] found in ancient ruins in Iraq show recipes prepared in the temples during religious festivals – the first [[cookbook]]s in the world.<ref name="Salloum" /> [[Ancient Iraq]], or ''[[Mesopotamia]]'', was home to a sophisticated and highly advanced civilization, in all fields of knowledge, including the [[culinary art]]s.<ref name="Salloum" /> However, it was in the [[Islamic Golden Age]] when [[Baghdad]] was the capital of the [[Abbasid Caliphate]] (750–1258) that the Iraqi kitchen reached its zenith.<ref name="Salloum" /> Today, the cuisine of Iraq reflects this rich inheritance as well as strong influences from the culinary traditions of neighbouring [[Iran|Persia]], [[Turkey]] and the [[Syria region]] area.<ref name="Salloum" />
Meals begin with appetizers and salads – known as ''[[Mezze|Mezza]]''. Some dishes include ''[[Kebab]]'' (often marinated with garlic, lemon and spices, then grilled), ''[[Shawarma|Gauss]]'' (grilled meat sandwich wrap, similar to ''[[Döner kebab]]''), ''[[Bamia|Bamieh]]'' (lamb, okra and tomato stew), ''[[Quzi]]'' (lamb with rice, almonds, raisins and spices), ''[[Falafel]]'' (fried chickpea patties served with ''[[Amba (condiment)|amba]]'' and salad in ''[[pita]]''), ''[[Kibbeh|Kubbah]]'' (minced meat ground with [[Bulgur|bulghur wheat]] or rice and spices), ''[[Masgouf|Masgûf]]'' (grilled fish with pepper and tamarind), and ''[[Maqluba]]'' (a rice, lamb, tomato and aubergine dish). Stuffed vegetable dishes such as ''[[Dolma]]'' and ''[[Stuffed peppers|Mahshi]]'' are also popular.<ref name=ABC>{{cite book|last=Albala|first=Ken|title=Food Cultures of the World Encyclopedia|year=2011|publisher=[[ABC-CLIO]]|isbn=978-0-313-37627-6|pages=251–252}}</ref>
Contemporary [[Iraq]] reflects the same natural division as ancient [[Mesopotamia]],<ref name=OCF>{{cite book|last1=Davidson|first1=Alan|authorlink1=Alan Davidson (food writer)|last2=Jaine|first2=Tom|authorlink2=Tom Jaine|title=[[Oxford Companion to Food|The Oxford Companion to Food]]|year=2006|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]|isbn=978-0-19-280681-9|page=405}}</ref> which consisted of [[AssyriaMesopotamia]] in the arid northern uplands and [[Babylonia]] or [[Chaldea]] in the southern alluvial plain.<ref name=OCF/> ''[[Al-Jazira, Mesopotamia|Al-Jazira]]'' (the ancient Chaldea) grows [[wheat]] and crops requiring winter chill such as [[apple]]s and stone fruits.<ref name=OCF/> ''[[Babylonia|Al-Irāq]]'' (Iraq proper, the ancient Babylonia) grows [[rice]] and [[barley]], [[Citrus|citrus fruits]], and is responsible for Iraq's position as the world's largest producer of [[Phoenix dactylifera|dates]].<ref name=OCF/>
==History==
One of three excavated [[cuneiform]] [[clay tablet]]s written in 1700 BC in [[Babylon]],<ref name=ABC/> 50 miles south of present-day [[Baghdad]], deals with 24 recipes for stew cooked with meat and vegetables,<ref name=ABC/> enhanced and seasoned with [[leek]]s, [[onion]], [[garlic]], and spices and herbs like [[Cinnamomum aromaticum|cassia]], [[cumin]], [[coriander]], [[Mentha|mint]], and [[dill]].<ref name=ABC/> Stew has remained a mainstay in the cuisine.<ref name=ABC/> Extant [[Kitab al-Tabikh (disambiguation)|medieval Iraqi recipes]] and modern Iraqi cuisine attest to this.<ref name=ABC/>
==Iraqi cuisineChaldean Cuisine==
===Ingredients===
Some characteristic ingredients of Iraqi Chaldean cuisine include:
*Vegetables such as [[aubergine]], [[tomato]], [[okra]], [[onion]], [[potato]], [[courgette]], [[spinach]], [[leek]]s, [[artichoke]]s, [[garlic]], [[Bell pepper|peppers]] and [[Chili pepper|chilli]].
*Cereals such as [[rice]], [[bulghur|bulghur wheat]] and [[barley]].
*Pulses and legumes such as [[lentils]], [[chickpeas]], [[green bean]]s, [[Mung bean|green grams]], and [[Cannellini#White beans|cannellini]].
*Fruits such as [[olives]], [[Phoenix dactylifera#Dates|dates]], [[raisin]]s, [[apricot]]s, [[plum]]s, [[Common fig|figs]], [[grape]]s, [[melon]]s, [[pomegranate]], [[apple]]s, [[cherry|cherries]], [[quince]], and [[Citrus|citrus fruits]]; [[Orange (fruit)|orange]], [[lemon]] and [[Lime (fruit)|lime]].
*Cheeses such as [[Baladi Gubta cheese|baladigubta]], [[feta]] and [[halloumi]].
*Herbs and spices such as [[cinnamon]], [[cardamom]], [[coriander]], [[fenugreek]], [[cumin]], [[oregano]], [[Mentha|mint]], [[thyme]], [[saffron]], [[Black lime|dried lime]], [[Cinnamomum aromaticum|cassia]], [[dill]], [[turmeric]], [[baharat]], [[advieh]], [[sumac]] and [[za'atar]].
*Nuts and seeds such as [[sesame]], [[pistachio]]s, [[almond]]s, [[walnut]]s, [[hazelnut]]s and [[pine nut]]s.
Other Iraqi culinary essentials include [[olive oil]], [[sesame oil]], [[tamarind]], [[vermicelli]], [[tahini]], [[honey]], [[Rub (syrup)|date syrup]], [[Strained yogurt|yogurt]] and [[rose water]]. Lamb is the favourite meat, but chicken, beef, and fish are also eaten. Most dishes are served with rice - usually ''timman anbar'', a yellowish, very aromatic, long-grain rice grown in the provinces of [[Anbar Province|Anbar]] and [[Qadisiyyah Province|Qadisiyyah]].<ref name=GM>{{cite book|last=Marks|first=Gil|authorlink=Gil Marks|title=Encyclopedia of Jewish Food|year=2010|publisher=[[John Wiley & Sons]]|isbn=978-0-470-39130-3|page=585}}</ref> [[Bulghur|Bulghur wheat]] is used in many dishes, having been a staple in the country since the days of the [[AssyriaBabylon|Ancient AssyriansChaldeans]].<ref name="Salloum" /> [[Flatbread]] is a staple that is served, with a variety of dips, cheeses, olives, and jams, at every meal.
===Mezza===
Iraqi rice cooking is similar to the method used for [[Persian cuisine|Persian]] ''[[Pilaf|chelow]]'',<ref name="GM"/> a multistep process intended to produce just-tender, fluffy grains.<ref name=GM/> A prominent aspect of Iraqi rice cooking is the ''[[Tahdig|hkaka]]'', a crisp bottom crust.<ref name=GM/> It differs slightly from the Persian ''tahdig'', which is a single thick piece; the ''hkaka'' contains some loose rice as well.<ref name=GM/> Before serving, the ''hkaka'' is broken into pieces so that everyone is provided with some along with the fluffy rice.<ref name=GM/>
*''[[Dolma]]'', the mixture of ground lamb or beef with rice is usually made with many fillings in the same preparing pot, as well as [[pomegranate]] juice, prominently used by North Iraqis to give it a unique taste. The [[Assyrian AChaldean people|AssyriansChaldeans]] of Iraq may either call it ''dolma'' or ''yaprekh'' which is the [[Syriac language|Syriac]] term for stuffed grape leaves. Iraqi Arabs usually served dolma without yoghurt. Often chicken or beef ribs are added to the cooking pot, and sometimes served with the dolma instead of masta or khalwah. Iraqi dolma is usually cooked and served in a tomato-based sauce. In Mosul, dolma is very popular. In Mosul they include courgettes, tomatoes, onions, peppers and grape leaves. They are occasionally smoked.
*''[[Biryani]]'', a set of rice-based foods made with spices, rice (usually [[basmati]]), and meat/vegetables. It was brought to India by Persian Muslim travellers and merchants, and is collectively popular in Iraq, Kuwait, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, India and among Muslims in Sri Lanka.
*''[[Khichdi]]'', a food of Indian origin made from rice and lentils. Khichdi is commonly considered to be a comfort food and was the inspiration for the Anglo-Indian dish of [[kedgeree]].
{{div col|2}}
* [[Culture of Iraq]]
* [[Assyrian Chaldean cuisine]]
* [[Levantine cuisine]]
* [[Mediterranean cuisine]]