Food & Drink

Delicious, nutritious Middle Eastern recipes to try at home

Written by:
麻豆原创
October 1, 2021
Canva

Delicious, nutritious Middle Eastern recipes to try at home

Middle Eastern food is among the healthiest cuisines in the world for its heavy inclusion of whole grains, lean proteins, healthy fats, and of course a wide variety of vegetables into the vast majority of dishes. 

麻豆原创 compiled a list of Middle Eastern recipes from . Among the key elements to  these dishes are aromatic spices, nutrient-dense herbs like turmeric and cumin, and widespread use of seeds in recipes. Many of the spices and seeds can be found online if not at local grocers or health-food stores. Most other ingredients are readily available at your local farmer's market or supermarket.  

Keep reading to discover some of the best dishes hailing from countries as diverse as Armenia, Turkey, Iran, and Georgia.

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Real Hummus

- Prep: 15 mins
- Total: 15 mins
- Servings: 20
- Yield: 2.5 cups
- Number of ingredients: 7
-

Chakchouka (Shakshouka)

- Prep: 20 mins
- Cook: 20 mins
- Total: 40 mins
- Servings: 4
- Yield: 4 servings
- Number of ingredients: 10
-

Hamusta Soup

- Prep: 30 mins
- Cook: 20 mins
- Total: 50 mins
- Servings: 6
- Yield: 6 servings
- Number of ingredients: 10
-

Easy Lamb Shawarma

- Prep: 20 mins
- Cook: 20 mins
- Additional: 6 hrs
- Total: 6 hrs 40 mins
- Servings: 8
- Yield: 8 sandwiches
- Number of ingredients: 15
-

Turkish Kebabs

- Prep: 40 mins
- Cook: 10 mins
- Additional: 1 day
- Total: 1 day
- Servings: 6
- Yield: 6 kebabs
- Number of ingredients: 18
-

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Thick-Style Lebanese Garlic Sauce

- Prep: 15 mins
- Total: 15 mins
- Servings: 32
- Yield: 1 quart
- Number of ingredients: 5
-

Lavosh

- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 1 hr
- Total: 1 hr 15 mins
- Servings: 10
- Yield: 10 loaves
- Number of ingredients: 8
-

Keftedes - Greek Meatballs

- Prep: 20 mins
- Cook: 30 mins
- Total: 50 mins
- Servings: 6
- Yield: 6 servings
- Number of ingredients: 14
-

Fereni Starch Pudding

- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 10 mins
- Total: 20 mins
- Servings: 6
- Yield: 6 servings
- Number of ingredients: 7
-

Chef John's Harissa Sauce

- Prep: 20 mins
- Cook: 15 mins
- Additional: 10 mins
- Total: 45 mins
- Servings: 6
- Yield: 6 servings
- Number of ingredients: 12
-

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Kanafa

- Prep: 25 mins
- Cook: 35 mins
- Total: 60 mins
- Servings: 8
- Yield: 1 9x13-inch pan
- Number of ingredients: 9
-

Pita Chips

- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 7 mins
- Total: 17 mins
- Servings: 24
- Yield: 8 dozen
- Number of ingredients: 6
-

Sean's Falafel and Cucumber Sauce

- Prep: 20 mins
- Cook: 10 mins
- Additional: 30 mins
- Total: 60 mins
- Servings: 4
- Yield: 4 servings
- Number of ingredients: 22
-

Turkish Red Lentil 'Bride' Soup

- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 1 hr 15 mins
- Total: 1 hr 25 mins
- Servings: 4
- Yield: 4 servings
- Number of ingredients: 11
-

Turkish Chicken Kebabs

- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 12 mins
- Additional: 2 hrs
- Total: 2 hrs 27 mins
- Servings: 4
- Yield: 4 large portions
- Number of ingredients: 13
-

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Turkish Eggs (Cilbir)

- Prep: 25 mins
- Cook: 10 mins
- Total: 35 mins
- Servings: 2
- Yield: 4 eggs
- Number of ingredients: 17
-

Chicken Shawarma Marinade

- Prep: 10 mins
- Additional: 4 hrs
- Total: 4 hrs 10 mins
- Servings: 4
- Yield: 4 servings
- Number of ingredients: 9
-

Shawarma Marinade for Chicken

- Prep: 10 mins
- Total: 10 mins
- Servings: 6
- Yield: 6 servings
- Number of ingredients: 11
-

Kofta Kebabs

- Prep: 45 mins
- Cook: 5 mins
- Additional: 30 mins
- Total: 80 mins
- Servings: 28
- Yield: 28 skewers
- Number of ingredients: 13
-

Ghormeh Sabzi (Persian Herb Stew)

- Prep: 45 mins
- Cook: 2 hrs 24 mins
- Total: 2 hrs 69 mins
- Servings: 6
- Yield: 6 servings
- Number of ingredients: 15
-

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Persian Rice

- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 55 mins
- Total: 70 mins
- Servings: 8
- Yield: 8 servings
- Number of ingredients: 11
-

Easy Baklava

- Prep: 30 mins
- Cook: 50 mins
- Additional: 40 mins
- Total: 120 mins
- Servings: 36
- Yield: 1 9x13 inch dish
- Number of ingredients: 9
-

Afghani Kabli Pulao

- Prep: 25 mins
- Cook: 42 mins
- Additional: 32 mins
- Total: 99 mins
- Servings: 6
- Yield: 6 servings
- Number of ingredients: 19
-

Shish Tawook Grilled Chicken

- Prep: 30 mins
- Cook: 10 mins
- Additional: 4 hrs
- Total: 4 hrs 40 mins
- Servings: 6
- Yield: 6 kabobs
- Number of ingredients: 15
-

Easy Shakshuka

- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 35 mins
- Total: 45 mins
- Servings: 4
- Yield: 4 servings
- Number of ingredients: 9
-

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Lebanese Mountain Bread

- Prep: 20 mins
- Additional: 9 hrs 18 mins
- Total: 9 hrs 38 mins
- Servings: 8
- Yield: 8 portions
- Number of ingredients: 7
-

Homemade Manti (Traditional Turkish Dumplings)

- Prep: 35 mins
- Cook: 25 mins
- Additional: 30 mins
- Total: 90 mins
- Servings: 4
- Yield: 4 servings
- Number of ingredients: 11
-

Shakshuka (Middle Eastern Breakfast Dish)

- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 25 mins
- Total: 35 mins
- Servings: 2
- Yield: 2 servings
- Number of ingredients: 8
-

Lebanese Seven Spices

- Prep: 5 mins
- Total: 5 mins
- Servings: 106
- Yield: 2 cups
- Number of ingredients: 8
-

Israeli Tomato and Cucumber Salad

- Prep: 20 mins
- Total: 20 mins
- Servings: 6
- Yield: 6 servings
- Number of ingredients: 11
-

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No Fail Bean Pie

- Prep: 30 mins
- Cook: 50 mins
- Additional: 1 hr
- Total: 1 hr 80 mins
- Servings: 12
- Yield: 1 9-inch pie
- Number of ingredients: 11
-

Chicken Curry and Potatoes

- Prep: 20 mins
- Cook: 40 mins
- Total: 60 mins
- Servings: 8
- Yield: 8 servings
- Number of ingredients: 9
-

Arabic Fattoush Salad

- Prep: 25 mins
- Cook: 5 mins
- Total: 30 mins
- Servings: 4
- Yield: 4 servings
- Number of ingredients: 13
-

Baba Ghanoush

- Prep: 5 mins
- Cook: 40 mins
- Additional: 3 hrs
- Total: 3 hrs 45 mins
- Servings: 12
- Yield: 1 1/2 cups
- Number of ingredients: 7
-

Middle Eastern Rice with Black Beans and Chickpeas

- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 45 mins
- Total: 60 mins
- Servings: 8
- Yield: 8 servings
- Number of ingredients: 15
-

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Kanafa

- Prep: 25 mins
- Cook: 35 mins
- Total: 60 mins
- Servings: 8
- Yield: 1 9x13-inch pan
- Number of ingredients: 9
-

Al Kabsa - Traditional Saudi Rice and Chicken

- Prep: 40 mins
- Cook: 1 hr 30 mins
- Total: 1 hr 70 mins
- Servings: 8
- Yield: 8 servings
- Number of ingredients: 23
-

Extra Easy Hummus

- Prep: 5 mins
- Total: 5 mins
- Servings: 4
- Yield: 4 servings
- Number of ingredients: 5
-

Turkish Red Lentil Soup with Mint

- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 45 mins
- Total: 60 mins
- Servings: 6
- Yield: 6 servings
- Number of ingredients: 13
-

Bazlama - Turkish Flat Bread

- Prep: 30 mins
- Cook: 15 mins
- Additional: 3 hrs 15 mins
- Total: 3 hrs 60 mins
- Servings: 4
- Yield: 4 flatbreads
- Number of ingredients: 6
-

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Chef John's Harissa Sauce

- Prep: 20 mins
- Cook: 15 mins
- Additional: 10 mins
- Total: 45 mins
- Servings: 6
- Yield: 6 servings
- Number of ingredients: 12
-

Khachapuri (Georgian Cheese Bread)

- Prep: 30 mins
- Cook: 20 mins
- Additional: 1 hr 5 mins
- Total: 1 hr 55 mins
- Servings: 4
- Yield: 2 khachapuri
- Number of ingredients: 14
-

Zhug Chicken

- Prep: 20 mins
- Cook: 45 mins
- Additional: 1 hr 30 mins
- Total: 1 hr 95 mins
- Servings: 4
- Yield: 4 servings
- Number of ingredients: 8
-

Chef John's Falafel

- Prep: 20 mins
- Cook: 10 mins
- Additional: 12 hrs
- Total: 12 hrs 30 mins
- Servings: 6
- Yield: 6 servings
- Number of ingredients: 12
-

Turkey Kofta Kabobs

- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 25 mins
- Total: 40 mins
- Servings: 12
- Yield: 12 kabobs
- Number of ingredients: 10
-

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Hummus III

- Prep: 10 mins
- Total: 10 mins
- Servings: 16
- Yield: 2 cups
- Number of ingredients: 8
-

Chef John's Baba Ghanoush

- Prep: 30 mins
- Cook: 15 mins
- Additional: 3 hrs 20 mins
- Total: 3 hrs 65 mins
- Servings: 12
- Yield: 6 cups
- Number of ingredients: 10
-

Balela Salad

- Prep: 25 mins
- Total: 25 mins
- Servings: 10
- Yield: 10 servings
- Number of ingredients: 12
-

Chicken Shawarma Salad

- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 35 mins
- Additional: 4 hrs 10 mins
- Total: 4 hrs 55 mins
- Servings: 4
- Yield: 4 salads
- Number of ingredients: 18
-

Israeli Salad

- Prep: 25 mins
- Total: 25 mins
- Servings: 5
- Yield: 5 servings
- Number of ingredients: 11
-

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