Pickles and Preserves

Pickled vegetables and sweet preserves have always had an important role in Palestinian cuisine: Breakfast often includes white cheese and jam, while little bowls of bright pickles and olives accompany most meals. Large jars of pickles line the shelves of most kitchens and are exchanged among families and neighbors. These products have become even more important now, as a means of preserving any surplus crops in the absence of reliable refrigeration.