Flavor: Iraqi Kebab
Country: Iraq
When Seen: September 2025
In a Bite: Smokey and meaty, similar to BBQ without any heat
In a Haiku: Ground meat, spiced and grilled. Truly Iraqi cuisine. Skewers optional.
Origin Story: Iraqi kebab is a local variant of the shish kebab, which originated in the Ottoman Empire. Whereas the original consists of cubes of meat skewered and grilled, the Iraqi version uses ground meat as well as sumac, cumin, paprika and other spices. Fitting then, that this classic Iraqi dish would be part of the Flavors of Iraq series.
Photo and taste submitted by: Vlad
