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Sumaghiyyeh

In this article, we will approach Sumaghiyyeh from different perspectives, with the purpose of offering a comprehensive and enriching vision of this topic or character. Along the following lines, we will explore its importance in today's society, as well as its impact in various areas, such as culture, economy, politics and daily life. In addition, we will delve into its evolution over time, its historical relevance and its influence in different contexts. Through detailed analysis, we aim to provide a deeper and more critical understanding of Sumaghiyyeh, in order to encourage constructive and informed reflection on this topic or character.

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Sumaghiyyeh
Alternative namesSumaqiyya,[1] Sumagiyya,[2] Sumaqqiyeh[3]
TypeStew
Place of originArab World
Region or stateGaza Strip, Palestine, Arab World
Main ingredientsSumac, sautéed chopped chard, pieces of slow-stewed beef, and garbanzo beans
  •   Media: Sumaghiyyeh

Sumaghiyyeh (Arabic: السماقية) is a Palestinian dish native to Gaza City, prepared traditionally on holidays. It receives its name from the spice sumac.[1][4] It is a traditional Arab dish, already mentioned in the 11th century, among other dishes by Abū al-Muṭahhar al-Azdī in the story Ḥikāyat Abū al-Qāsim.[5]

The ground sumac is first soaked in water and then mixed with Tahini (sesame seed paste), additional water, and flour for thickness. The mixture is then added to sautéed chopped chard, pieces of slow-stewed beef, and garbanzo beans. It is seasoned with dill seeds and chili peppers, fried with garlic in olive oil, then poured into bowls to cool. Pita bread is used to scoop it.[4] In Gaza, the tahini used is usually "red tahini", which is made from toasted sesame seeds.[3][6]

History

Sumacheria, from page 77 of Tacuinum sanitatis, written in 1533

According to historian Nawal Nasrallah, the 10th-Century cookbook by Ibn Sayyar al-Warraq titled Kitāb al-Ṭabīkh contained an entire section called في عمل السماقيات و الهارونيات (making summaqiyyat and haruniyyat), haruniyya referred to a variation of sumaqiyya that was attributed to Caliph Harun al-Rashid.[7] The dish was said to be a favorite of the Caliph.[8][9]

Later, the dish was mentioned again in a 13th-Century Syrian recipe,[9][8][10] Summaqiya was also imported into Al-Andalus from the Mashriq region,[11] a recipe for it can be found in the writings of Ibn Razīn al-Tujībī.[11][12] Later mentions can be found in the 15th-Century, Ibn al-Mubarrad gives instructions for its preparation in Kitāb al-Ṭibāḫa.[9][8]

Sumāqiyya appeared alongside rummaniyya in some European cookbooks between the 13th and 15th Centuries, and its name was Romanized as somacchia.[7] One of the translated works it appeared in is the Tacuinum Sanitatis, which itself is a translation of the writings of 11th-Century Abbasid physician Ibn Butlan.[13]

21st century

During the blockade on the Gaza Strip which intensified in 2023, the chard traditionally used in the stew was replaced with foraged wild plants,[14] like purslane and malva.[15] Other ingredients like meat, tahini and dill seeds were completely omitted.[16]

Modern-day popularity

In Gaza, the dish is popular during special occasions like weddings and Eid, where batches of it are handed out to family, friends and neighbors.[6][17][18]

Laila el-Haddad describes sumagiyyeh as "quite unknown" outside of Gaza; she also writes that the amount of meat in the dish acts as a measure of generosity.[6]

Similar foods

Kebbeh sumakiyeh (Arabic: كبة سماقية) is a variation of kibbeh that is cooked in a sumac sauce.[19][20][21]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "TRT World - Gaza cuisine". TRT World. 10 Mar 2025. Retrieved 21 September 2025.
  2. ^ Khan, Yasmin. "Sumagiyya: Gazan Beef, Chickpeas and Swiss Chard". TASTE. Retrieved 21 September 2025.
  3. ^ a b Tamimi, Sami; Wigley, Tara (2 July 2020). "Sumaqqiyeh (oxtail stew with chard, sumac and tahini)". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
  4. ^ a b The Foods of Gaza al-Haddad, Laila, This week in Palestine. Turbo Computers & Software Co. Ltd. June 2006, Accessed on 2008-01-07.
  5. ^ Geert Jan van Gelder, God's Banquet (New York: Columbia University Press, 2000) p. 76
  6. ^ a b c El-Haddad, Laila M.; Schmitt, Maggie (2016). The Gaza kitchen: a Palestinian culinary journey (Second ed.). Charlottesville, Virginia: Just World Books. ISBN 978-1-68257-008-1.
  7. ^ a b Nasrallah, Nawal (31 December 2007). "CHAPTER 68". Annals of the Caliphs' Kitchens: Ibn Sayyār al-Warrāq's Tenth-Century Baghdadi Cookbook. BRILL. pp. 28, 29, 299, 300. ISBN 978-90-474-2305-8. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
  8. ^ a b c Newman, Daniel (10 October 2021). "Sumac stew (summaqiyya, سمّاقية)". Eat Like A Sultan. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  9. ^ a b c Newman, Daniel (6 December 2020). "Spotlight on: sumac (سُمّاق), the forgotten spice". Eat Like A Sultan. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  10. ^ Shāh, Ibn Mubārak (2020). The sultan's feast: a fifteenth-century Egyptian cookbook. Translated by Newman, Daniel. London: SAQI Books. ISBN 9780863561566.
  11. ^ a b Al-Tujībī, Ibn Razīn (8 August 2023). The Exile's Cookbook: Medieval Gastronomic Treasures from al-Andalus and North Africa. Translated by Daniel Newman. Saqi Books. ISBN 978-0-86356-997-5. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
  12. ^ Salloum, Habeeb; Salloum, Muna; Elias, Leila Salloum (8 August 2013). Scheherazade's Feasts: Foods of the Medieval Arab World. University of Pennsylvania Press. ISBN 978-0-8122-4477-9. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
  13. ^ Mendelsohn, Loren (1 November 2013). "The Tacuinum Sanitatis: A Medieval Health Manual". Publications and Research. City University of New York. pp. 80, 86. Retrieved 21 September 2025.
  14. ^ "Opinion | Our northern Gaza family will feed our neighbors — until we can't". The Washington Post. 3 April 2024. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
  15. ^ El-Haddad, Laila (25 March 2025). "'This Is the War Version': How Gazans Are Observing Ramadan This Year". Eater. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
  16. ^ "Starvation and the right to food, with an emphasis on the Palestinian people's food sovereignty - Report of the Special Rapporteur on the right to food, Michael Fakhri (A/79/171)". United Nations. 17 Jul 2024. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
  17. ^ "طبق السماقية الاجتماعي في غزة" [Sumaghiyyeh, the social dish in Gaza]. Al-Araby Al-Jadeed (in Arabic). 16 Apr 2019. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  18. ^ "Gaza cuisine: A combination of healthy and festive food". TRT World. 3 Apr 2023. Retrieved 21 September 2025.
  19. ^ "زهرة الخليج - الشيف محمد أورفه لي يستذكر رمضان وأكلاته في حلب" [Chef Mohammed Orfali recalls Ramadan and its dishes in Aleppo]. Zahrat al Khaleej (in Arabic). 11 July 2014. Retrieved 21 September 2025.
  20. ^ "Kebbeh sumakiyeh". Food Heritage Foundation. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  21. ^ "طريقة عمل السماقية الفلسطينية والحلبية بخطوات بسيطة" [How to make Palestinian and Aleppo sumakiyya in simple steps]. E7kky (in Arabic). Retrieved 5 October 2025.
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