Learn Arabic in Palestine invites people from all over the world to participate in our Palestinian cooking classes in Hebron, West Bank, as not only a great opportunity to learn culinary skills but also to engage in Palestinian culture and society. Through this program, you will have the chance to meet many Palestinians, learn Palestinian Arabic, and experience daily life in Hebron, Palestine.
The Palestinian cooking classes take place in our modern kitchen, kitchenette, and culinary space at Learn Arabic in Palestine. You will learn how to cook Palestinian vegetarian, vegan, and meat meals, as well as traditional Arabic dishes with local Palestinian cooks. Eastern Mediterranean cuisine in general will also be a focus of this course.
If you are looking for an immersive cooking school in Palestine, this program is for you, as it will simultaneously allow you to know Palestine and the West Bank even better through the food you make and eat. During the cooking lessons, you will get to know Palestinian-Levantine culture and local agriculture as well as the food.
Make a Special Palestinian Meal at Home
Following our lessons, you will be able to cook authentic Palestinian recipes back home, which means that you will always be able to produce a taste of Palestine wherever you are. If you are a professional cook, this course will also allow you a new edge and niche that very few Western cooks possess!
Food is Central to Palestinian Culture
Of course, we all need to eat to live, but in Palestine, meal times are about more than just satisfying your hunger. Cooking and eating is a social activity, and food is central to Palestinian culture. Friends and family typically gather around the table for a shared meal and great conversation, and friendships grow in the presence of coffee, tea, snacks, and sweets. In Palestine, food is simply adored, not only for satiating our hunger but also for the happy memories it helps us to create.
Food is a great way to bring people together. The shared experience of preparing, sharing, and enjoying delicious meals helps to build relationships and develop a greater understanding of the people here in Hebron.
There is a wide variety of fruits and vegetables available and in some Palestinian homes that you visit, you will be served fresh-cut fruits and/or vegetables. Sliced apples and oranges are common staples. You may also be served a blend of nuts and seeds or dried fruit when you visit with your host family or the homes of Palestinian friends that you make.
Needless to say, wherever you are in Palestine and whatever you do, you will experience food and food culture!
Where, When, and Who Can Participate?
Learn Arabic in Palestine is looking for all travelers to the region of Palestine and Israel with an interest in cooking, Palestinian culture, and/or Palestine to participate in our Cooking in Palestine Program.
If you are planning a trip to Palestine or Israel, consider visiting Hebron and participating in the Cooking Course in the West Bank, Palestine, for a few days to gain a rich and authentic cultural culinary experience at Learn Arabic in Palestine.
Brief Information about the Cooking Course
As a participant in our Cooking Course in the West Bank, Palestine, Program, you will spend your days in our center’s kitchen learning how to create tasty, traditional Palestinian meals. Maqluba, mansaf, hummus, falafel, Arabic coffee, and tea are only a few of the possibilities that await.
We will introduce you to and demonstrate step-by-step how to prepare the most famous and staple Palestinian dishes. By the time you complete the program, you will walk away with culinary and cultural knowledge, satisfied taste buds, and many new recipes to add to your collection.
The table below gives some general information about our cooking lessons
| Location of the cooking course | Location of the cooking course |
| Program Language | English, Arabic |
| Cooking course duration | 1-13 Weeks |
| Starting/ Ending Dates | Participants can freely choose their starting and ending dates. We offer cooking classes programs in Palestine year-round (Summer, Winter, Autumn, and Spring) |
| Monthly CostsWeekly Costs | €400 a week |
| Homestay in Hebron | Palestinian host family Male dorm Private (Additional fees apply) |
| Cooking course includes | Palestinian traditional food Vegan food Vegetarian food Palestinian cuisine |
| Form of the cooking course | Small groups (1-3)Private cooking class |
| Application Deadline | No Deadline |
| Reviews of our center | Reviews On Gooverseas.com Reviews On Goabroad.com Participants video testimonials |
Food in Palestine
In this program, not only will you gain knowledge about Palestinian cooking, culture, and customs, but you’ll also have the opportunity to live with a host family in Hebron, furthering your immersion. This allows you to experience daily life as a Palestinian, as you will be treated as part of the family and be invited to participate in family activities and attend any family events and social gatherings.
Host families provide exciting opportunities for visiting internationals to learn more about Palestinian culture, meet new people, and improve their Arabic language skills.
Something for Everyone
We understand that the idea of trying a different cuisine can be a little intimidating for some people, but there is no need to worry. You will find a wide variety of foods available in Palestine and there are certain to be several dishes that you will find to your taste.
Rice, meat, and plenty of different vegetables are widely available, and there are many local fruits you can enjoy when they are in season.
Vegetarian and Vegan Food in Palestine
It is perfectly possible to enjoy Palestinian food as a vegetarian or vegan. Although most Palestinians include meat in their diet, it is not difficult to create dishes without meat. There are lots of foods that are vegetarian, such as falafels and hummus, soup, mujaddara, tabbouleh, and many more. Most dishes can be adapted to become vegetarian, and while it is perhaps a little more difficult to find vegan food, there certainly are options.
During the cooking courses in the West Bank, Palestine, you will be able to select ingredients to suit your needs and restrictions. One of the regular additions to meals is vegan pita bread. Nobody needs to go hungry! Palestinian people are generally very hospitable, they want our international visitors to feel comfortable and happy and will do what they can to help you enjoy your stay.
If you have concerns about dietary restrictions or preferences, we are confident it will be relatively easy to find ingredients, dishes, and substitutions for you as needed, but we encourage you to reach out to us beforehand so we can give you the most accurate information possible and prepare for your arrival!
Sweet Treats
Along with its meat dishes, Palestine is famous for its sweets and desserts; if you have a sweet tooth, there are lots of tempting options for you to try, and you can also learn to make some of these dishes yourself.
For example, Kinafah is one of the most famous and much-desired sweets for Palestinians. It was originally made in Nablus, and that’s why called “Kenafah Nabulsia“. It contains cheese pastry soaked in a sweet, sugar-based syrup.
There is also Baklawa, Burma, Muhalabiyeh, Qatayef (mainly found in Ramadan), and many others.
Popular Palestinian meals you can learn to make include:
- Fasoulya Beyda: White beans cooked in tomato sauce and served with rice.
- Fasoulya Khadra: Green beans cooked with a tomato sauce and also eaten with rice;
- Kufta Bethinia: Meatballs (lamb or beef) cooked with Thinia (tahini) sauce and served with rice.
- Kufta bel-bandora: Meatballs cooked with tomato sauce and potatoes. It can be eaten with a spoon or with pita bread.
- Mahshi Lift: Cooked mostly in Hebron, is made from turnips stuffed with rice, minced lamb, and spices and cooked in tamarind sauce.
- Mansaf falastine: Lamb cooked in a sauce of fermented dried yogurt and served with rice or bulgur.
- Maqluba: Means “upside-down” and is a dish that is made with fried cauliflower or eggplant, meat (chicken/lamb), and rice.
- Musakhan: This is a common and preferred meal for Palestinians. The meal is easy to make and the content is affordable and easy to obtain. The ingredients are olive oil, sumac, pine nuts, chicken pieces, onions, and Taboon bread. The term ‘musakhan’ means “something that is heated.”
- Zarb: This is a different type of cooking where the meat (lamb or chicken) is cooked under high pressure in an airtight oven under the ground and served with rice and bread. This way of cooking is influenced by Jordanians, especially those who live in the deserts.
- Mujaddara: This is another popular meal as it is very affordable. It is very easy to make and the ingredients are available all year round. This meal contains lentils and rice with fried onions on the top.
When Can You Join our Cooking Course in Palestine?
You can join Learn Arabic in Palestine at any time throughout the year, and we can work with you to find a time that suits you best. With this program, you’ll choose the start and end dates for your cooking adventure with us in Palestine, so it is entirely up to you!
If you are planning a trip to Palestine, consider staying one or more days with us in Hebron for a one-of-a-kind cultural cooking experience. From your very first meal, you will enjoy this enriching time in Hebron with Learn Arabic in Palestine.
Program Fees for Cooking Courses in Palestine
The Cooking Course in Palestine fees include pre-departure support, accommodations with a local host family, breakfast, program assistance & coordination while in Palestine, three hours of Arabic lessons, and some visits to different sites in the city of Hebron.
As stated, the program fee includes 3 hours of private Arabic lessons a week or 12 hours a month. If you are interested in continuing to study Arabic once the Cooking in Palestine Program ends, then we at Learn Arabic in Palestine are more than happy to organize this for you. At the Center, we host Arabic students year-round who come to Palestine to enhance their language skills. You will be welcome.
Which Airport Should I Start Checking for Flights to Palestine?
Unfortunately, there are no airports in Palestine; as such it is currently impossible to fly directly into the West Bank. Palestinians use either the airports in Jordan or Egypt to travel abroad. However, internationals can fly to Israeli airports and then cross to Palestine. We believe the easiest ways to get to Learn Arabic in Palestine are:
- To fly to Ben Gurion, Tel Aviv Airport (Israel). It takes about two and a half hours from the airport to Learn Arabic in Palestine in Hebron via shared Taxi.
- You can fly to Eilat airport in Israel and then travel by booking a shuttle or taking a bus to Jerusalem and then to Hebron. The whole trip can last between 6-7 hours.
- You can also fly to Queen Alia International Airport in Amman, Jordan, and then cross to Palestine, but this route takes more time and is more expensive.
Reviews from Former Participants
Our organization, Learn Arabic in Palestine, in Hebron has now over 13 years of experience and prides itself on the positive feedback received from over 800 international students. Rating and reviews are accessible through the following links:
- +830 Reviews (96.8%) on Gooverseas.com
- +170 Reviews (9.3/10) on Goabroad.com
- Participants’ video testimonials
How to Get Further Information
Should you have any questions about our Cooking Program, please do not hesitate to contact us at Info@ecpalestine.org with Cooking Course in the West Bank, Palestine in the subject line.
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Find Us Online
You can contact us via email: Info@ecpalestine.org, WhatsApp, or phone: +972 599-479880
