The Middle East categorises a huge portion of the world! It’s here that you can uncover the maze like Grand Bazaar of Istanbul and walk with the Egyptians at the Valley of the Kings and Pyramids of Giza.
That aside, it is also a place to dive head first into a world of delicious, sensory laden foods and gorge yourself silly!
Many classic dishes from this region are so well loved that they have travelled to all corners of the globe and are daily staples for lunch and dinner. There are many recipes and dishes that may never passed your lips to look forward to too though!
This is a great time of year to venture to the Middle East and with that in mind, here are 8 kinds of Middle East food you shouldn’t miss. Whether you sample them in Egypt, Jordan, Israel or elsewhere these foods will be sure to have you salivating. Alternatively, treat yourself to a cooking fest at home and sample these treats in front of the TV…you’ll soon find yourself transported to the mysterious Middle East.
Tabouleh
Let’s kick things off with Tabouleh; a tasty and colourful treat that you have to try. It’s bursting with fresh vegetables, finely chopped and combined with parsley, mint, olive oil and lemon juice to ensure it’s packed with flavour. It tends to include cucumbers, tomatoes, onion and bulgar wheat, and is seasoned with salt, pepper and garlic. Enjoy it as a fresh and tasty lunch, or side dish for a main meal!
Falafel
No doubt you have tried falafels before. Served warm in pitta bread and bathed with salad it makes for a totally tasty snack. Made from chickpeas, onions and garlic and flavoured with coriander, parsley and cumin this is a staple Middle Eastern dish which has gathered worldwide appreciation! Delicious!
Shawarma
Shawarma is an utterly delicious meat dish – it might be considered a ‘fast food’ but don’t let that put you off. It’s a great meal to enjoy when you are gallivanting around towns and cities in the Middle East. It’s essentially very similar to a Doner Kebab, with meat typically shaved from a rotating spit. Dressings are vast with tahini, hummus, chilli sauce or spices like cinnamon and nutmeg slathered all over it. For tasty finger food, look no further!
Dolma
Stuffed vegetable dishes are all kinds of good and the same rings true with Dolma; stuffed grape leaves. Meat versions are served with garlic yoghurt sauce while vegetable versions are generally served cold. The varieties on offer are plentiful so you’ll be sure to find a version which makes your taste buds sing!
Quwarmah Al Dajaj
Fans of curry will love Quwarmah Al Dajaj. It’s a dish that is commonly enjoyed in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar, among other Middle Eastern countries. The dish calls for a variety of spices as well as okra and dried limes which gives it a distinctive and delicious flavour!
Molokheyyah
There are many ways to spell this dish and when it comes to pronouncing it, well, good luck! It’s a traditional Egyptian dish and to be honest, doesn’t look very appetising; it’s a bright green stew after all. It is made primarily from Molokheyyah leaves with a little help from onion, garlic and lemon juice and can be served with meat such as chicken or lamb. The leaves have a bit of a bitter taste so whilst you may find it’s not entirely to your liking, it’s a traditional dish and should be sampled for the experience!
Maftoul
Very similar to couscous, but slightly larger and made from bulgar wheat, there are many different ways to eat maftoul. One of the best ways to enjoy it is with broth where the maftoul absorbs all the flavours, and then topped with tender meat such as lamb or chicken on the bone. A comfort food if ever there was one this is a hearty and satisfying dish!
Shish barak
This dish originates in Lebanon and is probably going to be unlike anything you’ve eaten before. A yoghurt based stew dish with tiny but tender meat dumplings, with plenty of mint, garlic and coriander for taste. You can enjoy this delicious dish outside of Lebanon, but in places such as Jordan it may have different names such as Athan Al-Shayeb.
So if you are planning a trip to the Middle East here are some delicious examples of Middle East food that you should definitely seek out to sample on your travels; you won’t be disappointed! What dish would you most like to try? Or, what suggestions do you have for other unmissable dishes?
Or, for the cuisine enthusiasts, check out the post on our favourite Spanish dishes that are sure to make your mouth water!
I agree, this article definitely made me hungry! This is a great overview of the “must eat” foods from the Middle East. (Your description of tabouleh sounds absolutely delicious.) Great post!
OMG, this post made me hungry! There’s nothing I wouldn’t like to try.