Dolma

If you're looking for something healthy to eat in Iraq, why not try this traditional dish called Dolma? When you order this delicacy, you will typically be offered a large serving of mixed veggies, such as zucchini, eggplant, and tomato, cooked in an egg-lemon sauce with garlic, onion, and pepper. This meal is typically served hot. However, another type of dolma is served cold in a garlic yogurt sauce. You can try both and see which one you like.

Although Dolma versions can be found throughout the Middle East, the Iraqi version is unquestionably the best. Instead of the more familiar stuffed grape-leaf, Iraqis use boiling chard wrapped in finger-length stuffings of minced beef, rice, nuts, and spices all topped in lemon zest—you'll have a hard time putting them down! It's like a melt-in-your-mouth bite of rice, beef, and vegetables that tastes tangy, sweet, tomato-y, and umami-rich.