142 middle eastern recipes

A truly authentic middle-eastern falafel recipe complete with the hard to find spicy sauce. Very close to the famous Aida's Falafel that used to be located in downtown Toronto.

Middle Eastern sesame soup made with tahini, lemon juice, and stock in just 5 ingredients. A creamy, nutty, tangy vegetarian soup that comes together in minutes. Serve with crusty bread.

Homemade hummus from scratch using dried chickpeas, a pound of tahini, fresh lemon, and a freeze-to-soften trick for ultra-creamy texture. Middle Eastern dip that puts store-bought tubs to shame.

Traditional Middle Eastern semolina cake drenched in lemon syrup. This easy yogurt-based dessert bakes golden brown and soaks up fragrant citrus syrup for a moist, tender treat perfect with tea.

Shawayuh is Yemeni-style grilled steak seasoned with hawayij spice blend and cooked over hot coals. Simple, bold, and smoky with just meat, spice, oil, and fire. Authentic Middle Eastern barbecue.

Browned chicken thighs baked over peppers, mushrooms, tomatoes, and corn in a spiced tomato juice with sumac, cumin, cardamom, and curry. A bold Middle Eastern-inspired one-dish dinner served over rice.

Lentil kufta, a Middle Eastern vegetarian patty made with red lentils and bulgur, seasoned with sauteed onions, scallions, and red pepper. No-fry vegan appetizer shaped into balls or one big mound.

Mujaddara: the humble, soul-satisfying Middle Eastern dish of lentils, rice, and bulgur, cooked with cumin and crowned with deeply browned onions. A hearty, protein-rich vegan meal made from pantry staples.

Simple Middle Eastern yogurt and onion condiment with just three ingredients. Purple onion mingles with tangy yogurt and black pepper for a cooling sauce that pairs perfectly with grilled meats, rice, or flatbread.

Spicy red lentil soup with mustard greens, dry-toasted cumin and cinnamon, and a finishing splash of white wine. A Middle Eastern-leaning vegetarian soup with deep spice and a peppery green bite.

Fried chickpeas sauté cooked garbanzos with browned onions, lemon juice, parsley, mint, cinnamon, garlic, turmeric, and cumin for a fragrant Middle Eastern side. Equally delicious hot from the pan or cold for picnics.

Stuffed eggplant pickles filled with minced cabbage, red bell pepper, garlic, and dill, tied with softened celery ribs and fermented in vinegar brine. A traditional Middle Eastern style pickle ready in 2 to 3 weeks.

Oven-fried potato stew: layered potatoes, onions, and cardamom-spiced beef cubes baked in a deep tomato broth until the potatoes turn a rich red. A rustic Middle Eastern home-style dish from the Arabian Gulf.

This is a Middle Eastern soup, typical of the simple foods served in the desert regions. Serve with pita bread and a grain or vegetable dish for a simple meal. This soup is also food served cold, stuffed into a pita bread.