Azura, Middle Eastern restaurant in Mahane Yehuda Market, Jerusalem, Israel
Azura is a restaurant in Mahane Yehuda that prepares traditional dishes like hummus, kubbeh, and stuffed eggplant with slow-cooking methods. The food is cooked over kerosene burners, a technique that gives the dishes their distinctive flavor and tender quality.
The restaurant opened in 1952 and started with meatless dishes, which were considered a luxury item in Jerusalem at that time. This focus came from the culinary needs of the era and helped the place establish its reputation.
The restaurant reflects Iraqi-Jewish cooking traditions through recipes passed down through generations and still served here today. Visitors can see how these flavors remain important to the local community and continue to draw people from the neighborhood.
The restaurant is located at the end of Iraqi Shuk and focuses mainly on lunch service. The menu and portion sizes are typically designed for quick meals for people coming from the market.
The signature dish Kima combines ground lamb with layers of eggplant and potatoes in a composition that few other restaurants in the area offer. This specific layering creates a mixture of textures that is hard to replicate.
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