II. Vegetable Side Dishes

Until recently, people did not think much of meatless dishes, a legacy from our ancestors. In the medieval menu, the category of vegetarian dishes was dubbed muzawwarat (fake, simulated dishes), usually recommended for the sick and for fasting Christians during Lent. However, eating vegetarian dishes as appetizers or snacks was perfectly acceptable. Various cold vegetable dishes, generally called bawarid al-buqoul, were prepared by boiling or frying vegetables, such as eggplants, gourds, or fava beans. They were drizzled with vinegar and olive oil or mixed with yogurt.