166 delicious middle eastern recipes from around the world
A fragrant and hearty lamb stew slow-cooked with a medley of vegetables and aromatic spices, embodying the rich culinary heritage of Bahrain. This dish is a comforting and flavorful representation of traditional Bahraini home cooking.
Kullaj bil Ashta is a delightful Jordanian dessert featuring crispy, flaky phyllo pastry filled with a rich, creamy ashta (clotted cream) filling. These pastries are typically fried until golden brown and then drizzled with a fragrant sugar syrup, often infused with rose or orange blossom water. They are a popular treat for celebrations and special occasions.
A unique and flavorful Iraqi dish featuring tender lamb meatballs simmered in a sweet and tangy cherry sauce, often garnished with pine nuts and fresh mint.
Maamoul are traditional Middle Eastern shortbread cookies, often made with semolina flour, filled with spiced date paste, and sometimes shaped using decorative molds. These cookies are a staple during religious holidays like Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, symbolizing celebration and hospitality.
A fragrant and flavorful rice pilaf featuring tender lamb, hearty chickpeas, and aromatic spices. This dish, inspired by Palestinian Qidreh, is a celebratory meal often served on special occasions.
Aromatic and flavorful grilled chicken marinated in a blend of Middle Eastern and Comorian spices, yogurt, and lemon. 'Faham' refers to charcoal, indicating its traditional cooking method, resulting in a smoky and succulent dish.
A hearty and flavorful stew featuring tender lamb and okra simmered in a rich tomato-based sauce. This dish showcases the influence of Middle Eastern and North African cuisines on Djiboutian food, with aromatic spices and a comforting texture.
Tender and flavorful Middle Eastern spiced meat skewers, featuring ground lamb mixed with aromatic spices and fresh herbs, then shaped onto flat skewers and grilled to perfection. Traditionally served with lavash bread and fresh accompaniments.
A rich and flavorful stew featuring tender lamb, sweet apricots, and aromatic spices, creating a delightful balance of savory and sweet notes. This dish is often slow-cooked to perfection, allowing the flavors to meld beautifully.
Palestinian national dish - tender roasted chicken layered with deeply caramelized onions, fragrant sumac, and spices, served atop warm taboon bread. A truly iconic and flavorful experience.
Tender, marinated chicken thighs, thinly sliced and served with a variety of classic Israeli accompaniments like tahini, pickles, and Israeli salad.
A classic Jordanian dish of green bell peppers stuffed with a flavorful mixture of rice, ground meat, pine nuts, and currants, simmered in a light, savory tomato-based sauce. This dish is often served as a side or a light main course.
Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, these Palestinian-style falafel are made with a blend of chickpeas and fava beans, seasoned with fresh herbs and spices. They are typically served in pita bread with tahini sauce and a fresh salad.
Lebanon's national dish - torpedo-shaped bulgur shells filled with spiced lamb and pine nuts, deep-fried to perfection. This recipe focuses on the classic fried version.
A Palestinian dish popular in Israel, featuring roasted chicken seasoned with sumac and onions, served over taboon bread.
A delightful variation of kibbeh, where bulgur and finely ground meat are formed into small, savory balls, then simmered in a rich, spiced tomato sauce. This dish offers a comforting and flavorful taste of Jordanian home cooking.
Luqaimat are small, deep-fried dumplings that are crispy on the outside and soft and airy on the inside. They are typically drizzled with date syrup or a sweet sugar syrup and are a popular dessert, especially during Ramadan.
A rich and flavorful dish featuring layers of toasted pita bread, chickpeas, a tahini-yogurt sauce, and topped with spiced ground meat and toasted nuts. A celebratory and hearty Palestinian classic.
A flavorful and aromatic rice dish featuring tender, slow-cooked chicken infused with spices, often cooked in a traditional tandoor or oven, served with a fragrant rice.
Halawet el Jibn are delicate, sweet cheese and semolina rolls filled with clotted cream (Ashta) or mascarpone, drenched in a rose or orange blossom scented syrup, and garnished with pistachios. This dessert is a beloved Syrian specialty, known for its unique texture and fragrant sweetness.
A sweet, moist semolina cake soaked in rosewater or orange blossom syrup, often topped with almonds. This version is a popular dessert in Israel, reflecting Middle Eastern influences.
A hearty and flavorful dish featuring smoked green wheat (freekeh) cooked with tender chicken, aromatic spices, and a generous topping of toasted nuts. It's a comforting and celebratory meal often found on Palestinian tables.
A popular Bahraini dish featuring pan-fried or deep-fried white fish served with a creamy and tangy tahini sauce. The fish is typically seasoned with local spices, and the sauce is made with tahini, lemon juice, garlic, and sometimes yogurt, offering a delightful contrast of textures and flavors.
A classic smoky Lebanese eggplant dip, fire-charred for an irresistible depth of flavor, then blended with creamy tahini, pungent garlic, and bright lemon juice. It's a smoother, more refined cousin to mutabbal.
