Countries with the Most Similar Food to Syria

The Country Food Similarity Index is a statistically-based attempt to quantify how similar the food in one country is relative to another. By comparing the weight of raw food ingredients used in each country, a score is assigned that reflects the degree of similarity between the respective countries. The methodology is exactly the same for each country studied. 

The Most Similar Cuisines to Syrian Food

Syria has a rich history and diverse influences. All five of the countries with the most similar food to Syria are in predominately Muslim countries. In fact, Islamic dietary laws dictate the types of meats that are permissible, leading to a focus on chicken and beef in their cuisines. In addition, these countries all have relatively dry climates.

1. Jordan is on Syria’s southern border. These countries feature dishes where vegetables like eggplant, zucchini, peppers, and grape leaves are stuffed with a mixture of rice, herbs, and sometimes meat, then cooked in a flavorful sauce. Flatbreads like pita bread are staples in both Syrian and Jordanian cuisines.
2. Iran is not an Arab country, but it still has similar food to Syria. Flatbreads are a staple in both Syrian and Iranian cuisine. They are used to wrap, scoop, or complement the main dishes. In Syriaf, dishes like Makloubeh feature fresh herbs like parsley and mint. Similarly, Iranian cuisine’s emphasis on herbs are seen in dishes like Ghormeh Sabzi.
3. Algeria was once a French colony, similar to Syria. Both border the Mediterranean Sea. Their cuisines make use of ingredients common in the region’s cooking, such as olive oil, tomatoes, onions, and garlic. Baklava and other various sweet pastries are also popular in these predominately Muslim countries.
4. Lebanon and Syria have cuisines that make use of common ingredients such as lamb, chicken, rice, bulgur wheat, chickpeas, eggplant, tomatoes, cucumbers, parsley, mint, olive oil, lemon, garlic, and various spices like cumin, cinnamon, and sumac. Grilled meats, such as kebabs and shawarma, are popular in both Lebanon and Syria.
5. Turkey is on Syria’s northern border. These nations make use of similar ingredients such as lamb, beef, poultry, vegetables like eggplant, tomatoes, and chickpeas, as well as spices like cumin, paprika, and mint. Grilled meats made from lamb and beef, especially kebabs, are popular in both Turkish and Syrian cuisines.

Related: The 10 Most Similar Countries to Syria

The Least Similar Cuisines to Syrian Food

All five countries with the least similar food to Syria have tropical climates. Most of these countries get much more rainfall than Syria as well. As a result, they are also more densely forested than Syria. Wheat and potato based products are less commonly eaten in these five countries.

1. Micronesia‘s reliance on seafood and tropical produce reflects the abundance of these resources in its environment. In Syria, ingredients legumes (chickpeas, lentils) and meats (lamb, chicken) are more prevalent due to the region’s agricultural practices and climate.
2. Central African Republic is a former French colony in the middle of Africa. The majority of the country’s diet is based on cassava and yams. Plantains are also an extremely common source of food in the country. In contrast, Syria typically eats more oranges.
3. Solomon Islands is another country located in the Pacific Ocean on this list. The country’s diet is much more reliant on sweet potato, yam, taro, and coconut than Syria. In addition, coconuts are more commonly used in the Solomon Islands.
4. Burundi is yet another landlocked African country on this list. Its diet is in large part based on cassava, sweet potatoes, plantains, and bananas. Very little potatoes and wheat are eaten in Burundi as well, compared to Syria.
5. Sierra Leone is predominately Muslim, but its food has little in common with Syria. The vast majority of the nation’s diet is made up of starches, especially rice and cassava. The country’s climate is much hotter and gets significantly more rainfall than Syria.

Related: The 10 Least Similar Countries to Syria

Full Food Similarity Ranking of Countries and Territories

Syria’s Most Common Food Ingredients

Protein: Egg, Lamb
Fruit: Orange, Lemon
Vegetable: Tomato, Eggplant
Starch: Wheat, Potato

Primarily based on 2020 data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the U.N.