Doing a virtual food tour and want to bring the full Israeli experience into your home? Here are the perfect Israeli snacks that are guaranteed to transport you right to the marketplace.

Choose from our savory and sweet recommendations, including a bonus idea for when you just can’t decide! All that’s left to do is pick your favorite snack (or try something new) and pull up a seat (or meet us on the couch…we won’t tell anyone!) for your virtual tour.

Something Savory

HUMMUS AND PITA

This classic combo has become very popular outside of Israel, and for good reason! While usually eaten as a meal in Israel, hummus and pita is the ultimate snack duo that is sure to bring your tastebuds right back to Israel. Notice I say hummus and pita and not pita and hummus - the hummus should be the star of the show here!

Not only is it available at almost every supermarket, it is also super easy to make your own, and trust us, there is nothing better than the smell of freshly baked pita. You use hummus as a dip for you pita, or spread it inside the pocket for a convenient hand held snack; you could even toast the pita in little slices to make pita chips! Take it a step further and stuff your pita pocket with falafel, Israeli salad, and chips (french fries) for the full Israeli market experience if you’re in need of a full meal.

Click here for our tried and tested pita recipe and here for our hummus recipe.

Bissli

Bissli is a widely popular Israeli snack and you can find Israelis of all ages snacking on it everywhere, all the time. This crunchy snack made out of fried pasta (no, those shapes are not a coincidental!) acts as the perfect potato chip substitute but with even more crispy crunch. While the classic ‘grill’ (barbecue) flavor is a hit, we also love fun flavors like taco, falafel, onion, and pizza. Perfect for kids and adults, there’s a type of Bissli for everyone.  It might not be the most nutritious snack out there, but calories don’t count on vacation — right?

Where you can buy it: Amazon, Target, Walmart, Marianos, other local grocery stores

Rice Cakes and Cottage Cheese

This snack may not sound Israeli, but trust me, Israelis love this light and healthy snack. Not only is this snack simple, easy, and can be found at any local grocery store, but it is also a great healthy snack that is sure to be a crowd pleaser. Forget your memories of cottage cheese diets of the 1980s: Israelis adore cottage cheese, and even protested in the streets when its price went up. Israeli dairy is delicious, and cottage cheese is not relegated to those watching their weight. Put your own spin on this by using different flavors of rice cakes or crackers and layer all types of veggies on top— the possibilities are endless! A spread of hummus or a sprinkling of EBTB (‘everything but the bagel’) seasoning are delicious Israeli or American additions to this snack, taking simple rice cakes, crackers and veggies and elevating it to a different level.

Israeli Salad

There is nothing more Israeli than an Israeli salad. This simple, easy, and refreshing salad adds the perfect bite to any meal and acts as a great healthy snack. And before you jump to conclusions, no this isn’t a classic leafy salad. A traditional Israeli salad is made with three main ingredients: cucumbers, onions, and tomatoes. Just add some chopped herbs to the mix with a drizzle of olive oil and lemon juice and there you have it, the perfect Israeli salad. But you don’t need to stop at the traditional version of this salad, put as many twists on it as you desire! Like adding white cheese, labne, to this dish gives it an amazing extra salty kick.

Click here for our a simple Israeli salad recipe.

Something Sweet

Halva

Haven’t heard of halva? It's okay, you’re not alone. Halva is very popular in Israel and in many other countries around the world, but hasn’t had its big day in the United States—yet! This dense confection snack is made out of tahini, which is a sesame paste found everywhere in Israel, and can easily be made at home! The fun part about halva is that the flavor possibilities are endless and this treat is not only dairy free, but usually vegan as well. This snack will become your new favorite, energy boosting, sweet pick-me-up to get your through your day. 

Click here for our tahini recipe that you can use to make your own Halva or buy it from Amazon, Target, Walmart, any online candy shop, or local grocery store.

Babka

Babka—classic Eastern European yeast cake—has become very popular throughout America within the past couple of years and rightly so! This sweet snack is a delight made out of yeast dough and a range of fillings. In Israel, it is one ofthe few Eastern European foods that many Israelis have adopted as their own. From the classic chocolate babka, to cinnamon babka, to halva babka, and everything in between, the fillings used to flavor this treat are endless. You can even take this sweet snack and make it savory!

Click here for our babka recipe or find it at a local bakery.

Mekupelet (Chocolate Log)

There is something so satisfying about a classic American chocolate bar. You would think that nothing can compete with it. But I am here to tell you that there is an Israeli counterpart to the chocolate bar that is even better. This Israeli snack is called Mekupelet, which means ‘folded up’ but really translates better to ‘chocolate log’ in English. This snack looks just like a log, hence its name, and is made out of small folds of milk chocolate that flake away and melt in your mouth. I mean YUM. Do yourself a favor and get this chocolate immediately, you will not be disappointed.

Where you can buy it: Amazon, or other online stores.

Pomegranate Cocktail

Need something to to sip on while you’re enjoying your Israeli experience? Well we have the best drink for you. A pomegranate cocktail. This fun drink made with pomegranate juice, simple syrup, and your favorite bubbly wine or champagne is the best way to finish off your virtual tour or any meal. Have children? Don’t worry this drink can easily become a cocktail with any soda, like ginger ale and sprite, fizzy apple sider, or any seltzer water.

Click here for a simple and easy pomegranate cocktail recipe by Fine Cooking.

Can’t Decide?

Bamba

No, not babka again - bamba! While this might sound a wee bit dramatic, we’re going to go out on a limb and say that if you haven’t tried Bamba, you haven’t had the full Israeli experience. Bamba is essentially a peanut butter flavored cheese puff and can be found everywhere in Israel. This snack is a staple in Israeli pantries. Think of it sort of like the Ritz Crackers of Israel, which makes it perfect to bring along for your virtual experience for pure snackability.

Due to its abundance and popularity, it is very rare to find an Israeli with a nut allergy. The tolerance built up during early childhood against peanut allergies is scientifically proven to be because of Bamba! Warning: the reason it is so popular in Israel is because it is somehow both crunchy and fluffy and highly addictive… so shop accordingly.

Where you can buy it: Amazon, Target, Walmart, Trader Joes, and other local grocery stores.

Now that you have the perfect list of Israeli snacks, you are ready for your virtual experience! Just prepare your snacks, sit back, and get ready to take a trip to Israel without even leaving home.

Feeling excited by our appetizers? If you want to make a full Israeli meal and learn more about Israeli cuisine, book your own private virtual (online) cooking class today!