When it comes to food, there’s no shortage of options. From American BBQ to Indian curries and everything in between, there are a lot of great cuisines out there. But if you’re looking for something different—something that can’t be found at your local diner or restaurant—we’ve got just the thing: Middle Eastern food! Here are eight delicious Middle Eastern dishes that will make your mouth water:
Hummus
Mostly, when talking about Middle Eastern food, people jump to hummus. Hummus is a dip or spread made from cooked, mashed chickpeas (also known as garbanzo beans). It’s a staple of Middle Eastern cuisine and an excellent source of protein and fiber. Hummus can be eaten with vegetables for a healthy snack or used as an ingredient in various recipes.
Hummus is often made with tahini (a sesame seed paste), but some versions are made without any additional ingredients besides chickpeas and olive oil.
Mashed fava beans
Fava beans are a type of legume that can be eaten in many different ways around the world. They’re high in vitamins and minerals, including iron, protein, and fiber. They also contain antioxidants. Antioxidants are really important for fighting free radicals that cause aging.
Falafel
Falafel is a fried ball or patty made from ground chickpeas, fava beans, or both. It’s commonly eaten in the Middle East as part of a meze (an assortment of small dishes). It can be served as an appetizer or main course with accompaniments like tahini sauce and pickles on top of pita bread. Traditionally, falafel balls are deep-fried. However, you may also bake them if you prefer to avoid extra calories!
Couscous
Couscous is a type of pasta made from semolina flour from durum wheat. It’s often served with stews or meat sauce and can be eaten as a main course or side dish.
Couscous originated in Morocco and Algeria but is popular throughout North Africa, the Middle East, and Europe (including Portugal). Some people think the word “couscous” comes from an Arabic word meaning “to pound.” Still, others believe it has roots in both Berber languages spoken by indigenous peoples living near the Sahara Desert before Arab traders arrived there around 500 AD
Baba ghanoush
Baba ghanoush is a dip made from eggplant, commonly served with pita bread. It can be eaten as a side dish or as a main dish. Baba ghanoush has become popular around the world, and there are many variations of this traditional Middle Eastern food.
Tabouleh
Tabouleh is a Levantine salad made of tomatoes, parsley, mint, green onions, and olive oil. It’s generally served as part of a meze. “Meze” is a selection of small dishes usually served at the beginning of a meal to stimulate the appetite. The word tabouleh comes from the Arabic word tabbouleh (تبولة).
You can serve tabouleh with both grilled fish and chicken. For vegetarians who want to try this dish but don’t want to eat meat products, you can use chickpeas instead of bulgur wheat and skip adding any kind of meat, such as chicken breast fillet or salmon steak!
Shawarma
Shawarma is a sandwich made of meat cooked on a vertical spit and served on a flatbread. It can be served with a variety of toppings, such as hummus or tahini sauce. Shawarma is popular throughout the Middle East and Mediterranean regions.
Shawarma can be made from beef, lamb, or chicken. Most restaurants have their own recipe for preparing it. The meat is shaved off as it cooks so that it forms layers of fat along with strips of tenderized meat. The result is that every bite contains both chewy fats and tender bits of chicken breast or beef steak.
Halva
Halva is a sweet confection you can make from tahini, honey, and nuts. It originated in the Middle East and is popular throughout Turkey, Greece, and other parts of Europe. You can eat halva as a snack or dessert. Finally, if you’ve never had it before (or even if you have), we highly recommend trying it!
Conclusion
Now that you know more about Middle Eastern cuisine and the history behind it, it’s time to dig into some amazing dishes! We hope that these eight examples of Middle Eastern food will leave your taste buds wanting more.