Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Friday, May 09, 2025

Gaza Strip's "Watermelon Salad" Divides Locals: Unorthodox Delicacy Sparks Debate

Gaza Strip's "Watermelon Salad" Divides Locals: Unorthodox Delicacy Sparks Debate

A unique delicacy known as "watermelon salad" has polarized residents of the southern Gaza Strip. Contrary to its name, this dish, called Lasima, deviates from the expected sweet and refreshing taste associated with watermelons.
Referred to as "Lasima," "Ajar," or "Qursa" depending on the region, this hot and savory meal requires hours of preparation. While watermelon is an ingredient, its flavor is hardly discernible. The dish has garnered mixed reactions in a territory known for its culinary traditions, with residents in southern Gaza embracing it while those in the north shun it due to its hands-on preparation.

Lasima is a seasonal delicacy available for just two months a year. It is made using small, unripe melons that are roasted, peeled, and mixed with roasted eggplants, thinly sliced tomatoes, lemon, garlic, onion, and olive oil. The mixture is then enjoyed with a special dough baked in the fire's ashes.

The dish is often served in a large clay bowl, earning its name "Lasima," meaning "messy." It is believed by some to have originated over a century ago with the Bedouin Arab tribes in Egypt's neighboring Sinai desert. Others claim it as a traditional Palestinian food, although evidence supporting this assertion is scarce, as the dish is primarily popular in southern Gaza near the Sinai border.

Seventy-year-old Amona Abu Rjila from Khuzaa recalls her parents and grandparents preparing Lasima outdoors during watermelon season, viewing it as a traditional Palestinian dish with Bedouin roots. However, farther north, the dish receives little recognition, with objections mainly directed at its perceived unclean preparation involving bare hands.

In an attempt to challenge the dish's negative perception, social media content creator Mohammed Aborjela distributed samples of Lasima in smaller clay pots to random passers-by in Gaza City. While many respondents had never heard of the dish before, those who tried it expressed their approval.

The video showcasing the tasting experience garnered over 1,000 comments, primarily from intrigued northerners who were curious about the taste but put off by the unconventional preparation methods. Some individuals expressed their reservations about the dish's appearance, while others were intrigued after watching a video featuring women preparing it using what they considered "clean cooking means."

As debates surrounding Lasima continue, the unique delicacy remains a source of culinary diversity within the Gaza Strip, offering distinct flavors that evoke varying opinions among locals.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Common Sense Returns to Britain's Legal System: UK Supreme Court Declares a Woman Is… a Woman
Warren Buffett to Step Down as Berkshire CEO After Nearly 60 Years
Trump Shares AI-Generated Image of Himself as… Pope, Prompting Outrage Reaction
Amazon Launches Satellite Internet Service Amidst Competition with SpaceX
The Rush to the White Gold: Global Investment Surge in Natural Hydrogen Exploration
Trump Administration Removes National Security Adviser Mike Waltz Amid Signal Chat Controversy
Liverpool Clinches Record-Equalling 20th English League Title Under Arne Slot
Massive Explosion at Iran's Bandar Abbas Port Linked to Suspicious Chemical Shipments
Pope Francis Laid to Rest in Rome as World Leaders Attend Funeral
Not Child’s Play: How Competitive Gaming Became a Global Economic Empire
California Surpasses Japan to Become the World’s Fourth-Largest Economy
Former U.S. Congressman George Santos sentenced to eighty-seven months for wide-ranging fraud
Israel Considers Limited Strikes on Iran's Nuclear Facilities Amid Diplomatic Efforts
Saudi Arabia Offers Max Verstappen Unprecedented Deal to Join Aston Martin
Global Pistachio Shortage Amid Rising Demand for 'Dubai Chocolate'
IMF Predicts No Global Recession Amid Trade Tensions
Worldwide Markets Decline as U.S.-China Trade Frictions Intensify
OpenAI Lands Unprecedented $40 Billion Investment
Removing the Political Adversary is Dismantling What's Remaining of Turkey's Economy.
Ex-FIFA President and French Football Icon Acquitted of Corruption Allegations
White House Investigates Security Breach After Journalist Accidentally Added to Secret Yemen Strike Chat
Volunteers in Jeddah Ensure No One Goes Hungry During Ramadan Iftar
New Restaurant Opens in Makkah's Iconic Clock Tower for Ramadan Iftar
Saudi Arabia's Project Masam Removes 552 Houthi Mines in Yemen
Saudi Arabia Fines Over 400 Foreign Trucks for Regulatory Violations
Saudi National Campaign for Charitable Work Reports Significant Donations in Ramadan
Historic Al-Hosn Al-Asfal Mosque Restored in Asir as Part of National Heritage Initiative
KSrelief Expands Humanitarian Efforts in Syria, Sudan, and Lebanon
Saudi Arabia Advocates for Global Water Cooperation at Forum
Madinah Governor Tours Islamic Arts Biennale in Jeddah
Saudi Foreign Minister in Cairo to Lead Meeting on Gaza Developments
Recognition of Saudi and Pakistani Entrepreneurs at Riyadh Ceremony
UAE Announces $1.4 Trillion Investment Plan in the United States
Saudi Arabia Innovates in Soil Quality and Water Conservation
Governor of Taif Engages with Rose and Aromatic Plants Cooperative
Saudi Food and Drug Authority Enhances Preparations for Hajj Season
Saudi Arabia Distributes Aid to Yemen and Romania
Restoration of Historic Al-Qalaah Mosque in Riyadh Underlines Heritage Preservation Efforts
Saudi Arabia Arrests Over 25,000 for Immigration Violations in One Week
UAE’s ADQ and Energy Capital Partners Announce $25 Billion Energy Venture in the U.S.
KSrelief Launches Extensive Ramadan Food Aid Initiative
Ramadan Celebrations Revitalize Historic Jeddah
Makkah Authorities Urge Worshippers to Follow Crowd Management Guidelines
Direct Flights Between Dammam and Damascus Reestablished for Syrian Residents
Saudi Main Index Rises to Close at 11,760 Amid Mixed Market Performance
Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch Visits Prophet's Mosque in Madinah
Cultural Development Fund Hosts Third Annual Storytellers Event in Riyadh
Investment Surge in Fintech, Gaming, and Health Care Across MENA Region
Surging Prices for Religious Tourism in Saudi Arabia Amid Ramadan Rush
Middle Eastern Airlines’ Fleet Projected to Surge Above Global Growth Rates
×