Middle Eastern Recipes
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Similar to biscotti, these Middle Eastern baked goods are perfect with a nice hot cup of tea.
Recipes from Saudi Arabia 2023: Pan-Fried Halloumi with Lime Vinaigrette and Sesame Sourdough Simit
Here you will find not just cheese, not just pan-fried cheese, but cheese pan-fried in butter, topped with the zippiest dressing that balances it so well you don’t even feel the least bit guilty for eating cheese fried in butter.
Sometimes referred to as Turkish Bagels, but popular throughout the Middle East, these beauties turned out to be chewy, crunchy, flavorful, and perfect with a little extra herby kick from the dukkah and za’atar alongside.
Not all salads need to be complicated. With a little mint and some tangy cheese, this is pretty much perfection.
Freekeh is popular in Egypt particularly, but also all over the Middle East. We cooked this along with a fresh salad for the Bahrain GP for the first race of the 2023 F1 Season!
Abu Dhabi 2022: Nigella seed homemade cheese and crackers, Pink pickles, Lentil and bulgur salad, and Lemon-cilantro okra
Tart and earthy, this is a beautifully complex grain salad.
Simple homemade cheese and aromatic crackers pair perfectly well together.
This dish has a few of my favorite ingredients popular in this region including sumac, pomegranate molasses, and barberries. It serves a crowd and has wonderfully unique flavors and textures!
This summery salad is made with a mixture of punchy herbs and creamy components like feta, walnuts, and soft boiled eggs.
This salad has so many delicious flavors and textures with toasted pecans, sliced dates, punchy herbs, and a tart-sweet dressing that marries the whole dish together.
This is a classic Middle-Eastern pilaf that incorporates pasta to add a silky texture to the dish. Traditionally with the addition of fideo or short vermicelli noodle, but equally tasty (and easier to find in Western markets) with orzo.
This dish works so well with the strong herbal flavors and subtle cauliflower, topped with a creamy dressing that balances it perfectly.
Recipes for Pre-Season Testing in Bahrain 2022: Spinach and Feta Pastries, Chili Chickpea Crackers with Whipped Feta Spread, Cucumber Salad, and Za’atar spiced nuts.
Roasted nuts are one of my favorite party snacks. This combination of almonds and cashews roasted with a healthy coating of Za’atar seasoning is super quick and easy (and tasty).
Soft pillowy whole wheat dough encases a slightly tangy filling of spinach, feta, and pine nuts. Lemon and mint amps up the flavor a bit.
These crackers are a bit chewy, have a slight kick of heat, and are perfect with a creamy spread like this Whipped Feta Spread.
Manakeesh (alternate spellings: Manakish or Manaqish) are sometimes referred to as Middle Eastern Pizza, they are basic flatbreads with a range of tasty toppings and are infinitely adaptable.
This is one of those salads that you know will be tasty, I mean… fennel, kalamata olives, pomegranate seeds, of course it will be delicious. But the surprise is how well it all goes together and how none of the elements overwhelm the others.
Kibbie (also spelled Kibbeh, Kibba, Kubba) is a family of dishes that might take the form of patties, fritters, or casseroles. In this delicious recipe, the filling is made hearty with garbanzo beans and walnuts, and flavorsome with onions, spices, and spinach.
That deep interconnectedness and delicious food history of this region results in amazing recipes that work well together, whether they are “Persian”, “Kurdish”, “Azeri”, or “Middle-Eastern”. I gathered a few from different areas and created a feast!
Warm flavors of dates, walnuts, and cardamom make for a delicious filling to this simple and flaky pastry.
Nan-e Barbari is a perfect accompaniment to Sabzi Khordan (herb and feta plate) or a creamy dip like Spinach Borani.
This is more of a concept than a recipe, but I want to share it nonetheless. It can be served as a starter along with flatbread, or set on the table alongside a main meal. Either way it brings lovely texture and flavor to any meal!
Saudi Arabian street food made at home in an American kitchen… what could go wrong?