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.