33 Essential Middle Eastern Recipes: Classics, Street Foods & Sweets

Middle Eastern cuisine, renowned for its bold spices, fresh ingredients, and complex layers of flavors, brings together an array of dishes from regions as diverse as Lebanon, Syria, Israel, Egypt, Morocco, and Iran. In this guide, we explore 33 beloved recipes—from iconic mezze spreads and sizzling street foods to aromatic main courses and decadent desserts. Whether you’re new to this culinary tradition or seeking to deepen your repertoire, these dishes offer an authentic taste of the Middle East from the comfort of your home.

Table of Contents

• Mezze: Dips, Spreads & Salads
• Street Foods & Sandwiches
• Signature Mains
• Grilled & Oven Roasted Favorites
• Vegetarian & Vegan Classics
• Essential Sides
• Middle Eastern Desserts
• FAQs

Mezze: Dips, Spreads & Salads

Mezze forms the heart of Middle Eastern hospitality, comprising an assortment of small dishes served as appetizers or to accompany drinks. Vibrant in color and bursting with flavor, these dishes invite sharing and conversation.

Best-Ever Baba Ghanoush

A smoky eggplant dip blended with tahini, lemon juice, olive oil, and garlic. Baba ghanoush is a staple, often garnished with pomegranate seeds, parsley, or a drizzle of olive oil. Grate raw garlic at the end for an extra kick or leave it out for a sweeter, more delicate note.

Classic Hummus

This creamy chickpea spread, blended with tahini, lemon juice, and olive oil, is as versatile as it is delicious. Whether served with warm pita or as a dip for fresh veggies, hummus is a must-have on every mezze table.

Garlic Toum

Toum is a bold, fluffy garlic spread made with just garlic, lemon juice, salt, and oil. It’s intensely aromatic and is the perfect condiment for grilled Meats or flatbreads for true garlic enthusiasts.

Best-Ever Tabouli Salad

This zesty salad of fine bulgur, chopped parsley, mint, tomatoes, and onions, with a lemony olive oil dressing, offers a refreshing balance to heartier dishes. Whether Lebanese or Syrian in style, tabouli is bright, herby, and utterly reviving.

Fattoush

A Levantine salad starring crisp pita chips, cucumbers, tomatoes, radishes, greens, and sumac-spiked dressing. Fattoush is crunchy, tangy, and loaded with fresh vegetables—the ultimate antidote to heavy fare.

Labneh

This tangy, creamy strained yogurt cheese can be served with herbs, olive oil, or za’atar. Its thick texture makes it ideal for spreading on pita or as an accompaniment to spicy dishes.

Street Foods & Sandwiches

The bustling street food scene throughout the Middle East is legendary. From stuffed breads to aromatic wraps, these portable delights exemplify the region’s flair for flavor-packed snacks.

Chicken Shawarma

Thinly sliced chicken, marinated in a unique blend of spices (including cumin, coriander, turmeric, cinnamon, and cayenne), is traditionally cooked on a rotating spit. At home, it can be roasted in the oven for juicy, flavorful results. Serve wrapped in pita with crunchy vegetables and creamy yogurt sauce.
Traditional accompaniments:

• Chopped romaine lettuce
• Cherry tomatoes
• Cucumber slices
• Warm pitas
• Garlicky white sauce or toum

Falafel Sandwiches

Golden crunchy balls of chickpeas and herbs, fried to perfection and stuffed into pita pockets with pickles, crisp veggies, and tahini sauce. Roasted or baked falafel makes for a lighter, yet equally satisfying, sandwich option.

Sabich

An Israeli breakfast favorite featuring fried eggplant, hard-boiled eggs, pickles, Israeli salad, hummus, and amba (tangy mango pickle), all packed into a fluffy pita.

Grilled Halloumi Sandwiches

Halloumi, the firm, brined cheese with a high melting point, is sliced, grilled, and stuffed into sandwiches for a salty, squeaky treat—often paired with roasted vegetables or fresh greens.

Za’atar Manakish

Soft flatbreads slathered with olive oil and the herby, zesty za’atar spice mix, then baked until fragrant. Served as breakfast, snack, or sandwich base, manakish are irresistible straight from the oven.

Signature Mains

Main dishes in Middle Eastern cooking combine slow cooking techniques with bright flavors, featuring meats, grains, and vegetables in delightful harmony.

Moroccan Lamb Tagine

Rich, slow-cooked lamb in a spiced tomato sauce, laced with cinnamon, cumin, dried fruits, and preserved lemon. Cooked in a conical tagine pot for maximum tenderness and infused aroma, this North African dish produces both a hearty stew and a stunning centerpiece.

Shakshuka

Simmered eggs poached in a deeply savory sauce of tomatoes, onions, peppers, and a blend of warming spices. Shakshuka is beloved for breakfast but makes a glorious brunch or supper, especially when mopped up with fresh bread.

Lamb Meatballs with Green Goddess Sauce

Spiced lamb meatballs, pan-seared and paired with a herby, creamy green sauce. Often flavored with cumin, coriander, mint, and parsley, lamb meatballs can be snack-sized or meal-worthy, depending on the occasion.

Mujaddara

This Levantine comfort classic features lentils and rice slow-cooked together, then topped with sweet, caramelized onions. Mujaddara is budget-friendly, vegetarian, and deeply satisfying. Regional variations might swap bulgur for rice or include a medley of spices, but the sweet-savory onion topping is non-negotiable.

Roasted Vegetable Casserole

This colorful dish includes layers of eggplant, zucchini, peppers, and onions, seasoned with sumac and fresh herbs, then baked until meltingly tender. Serve it as a main for vegetarians or as a show-stopping side.

Grilled & Oven Roasted Favorites

High-heat cooking methods emphasize Middle Eastern flavor profiles, enhanced by marinades of yogurt, lemon, olive oil, and spices.

Grilled Artichokes

Artichokes brushed with olive oil, garlic, and herbs, then seared over high heat until smoky and tender. Grilled artichokes are a luxurious appetizer or side, especially with a tangy dipping sauce.

Moroccan Spiced Chicken

Bone-in chicken pieces marinated in a bold spice mix (often including paprika, coriander, and cumin), roasted until crispy. Finished with fresh herbs or a squeeze of lemon for brightness.

Homemade Pita Bread

Freshly baked pita is leagues above store-bought—soft, puffy, and perfect for stuffing or scooping up dips. Practicing pita-making lets you control flour type, thickness, and flavor for a personal touch on every sandwich or mezze plate.

Vegetarian & Vegan Classics

The Middle East boasts a wealth of satisfying, plant-based dishes that place vegetables, legumes, and grains center stage.

Mediterranean Chickpea Salad

Chickpeas tossed with cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, red onion, olives, and herbs in a lemon-parsley vinaigrette. Satisfying as a side or light main, this dish is easily adaptable with seasonal produce or protein add-ins.

Roasted Vegetable Baked Falafel

A lighter take on traditional fried falafel: baked patties packed with chickpeas, fresh herbs, and roasted vegetables for maximum flavor and minimum oil.

Lentil Soup

Hearty lentil soup is aromatic with cumin, coriander, turmeric, and garlic. Typically finished with a squeeze of lemon and a dollop of yogurt, it’s comforting and nourishing year-round.

Eggplant Stew

Eggplant, tomatoes, onions, and chickpeas simmered with warming spices until velvety. Serve over rice or with rustic flatbreads for a satisfying main—vegan, gluten-free, and deeply flavorful.

Essential Sides

No Middle Eastern meal is complete without a variety of simple, flavor-packed accompaniments:

• Pickled Turnips: Pink-stained turnip pickles offer a vinegary crunch to balance rich meats.
• Quick-Pickled Cucumbers: Sliced cucumbers in a brine of vinegar, salt, dill, and garlic.
• Toum (repeated): Garlic sauce is so important, it earns mention twice! Always found on Lebanese and Syrian tables to accompany grilled meats, fries, and sandwich wraps.
• Za’atar-Spiced Potatoes: Oven-roasted potatoes dusted with the signature herby blend of thyme, sumac, sesame seeds, and salt.

Middle Eastern Desserts

From honeyed pastries to fragrant puddings, Middle Eastern sweets are a fitting finale to any feast. Many are built around nuts, dried fruits, rose or orange blossom water, and flaky doughs.

Easy Halva

Made from tahini and sugar, halva is delightfully crumbly, nutty, and less sweet than Western fudge. Sometimes garnished with pistachios or chocolate, it melts in your mouth and makes an addictive after-dinner treat.

Baklava

This iconic pastry features layers of crisp phyllo dough brushed with butter, filled with walnuts or pistachios, and soaked in a perfumed honey syrup. Cutting baklava into diamond shapes before baking ensures equal syrup absorption and beautiful presentation.

Kanafeh

A cheese-filled dessert enveloped in fine kataifi pastry and drenched in orange blossom or rosewater syrup. Originating in Palestine and Lebanon, kanafeh’s sweet-salty profile and signature crunch make it a benchmark in Middle Eastern sweet baking.

Sahlab

This warming pudding-style drink is thickened with sahlab powder or cornstarch and flavored with rose water, orange blossom, and cinnamon. A beloved winter comfort, often finished with coconut and pistachios.

Maamoul

Shortbread cookies stuffed with dates, pistachios, or walnuts. Pressed into intricately patterned molds, maamoul are essential at religious celebrations and special occasions throughout the Levant.

Qatayef (Atayef)

Pillowy mini pancakes, stuffed with sweetened cheese or nuts, folded, fried or baked, and generously doused with simple syrup. Qatayef are especially popular during Ramadan.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What are the staple ingredients in Middle Eastern cuisine?

Staple ingredients include olive oil, lemon, garlic, parsley, mint, chickpeas, rice, lentils, yogurt, flatbreads (like pita), and spices such as cumin, coriander, sumac, and za’atar.

Q: Are Middle Eastern recipes generally spicy?

Most Middle Eastern dishes focus on aromatic spices rather than hot chili heat. While chilis and red pepper are sometimes used, flavors come mostly from blends like baharat, ras el hanout, and za’atar.

Q: Is Middle Eastern food suitable for vegetarians and vegans?

Absolutely. Many classic dishes are naturally plant-based, including falafel, hummus, tabouli, mujaddara, fattoush, and a range of dips and salads.

Q: What’s the best way to serve a Middle Eastern meal?

Meals are often served family-style, with multiple mezze dishes, breads, mains, and desserts meant for sharing. Offering a mix of hot and cold plates along with pickles and sauces provides the signature Middle Eastern hospitality experience.

Tips for Home Cooks

• Use the freshest herbs for maximum flavor.
• Don’t skimp on olive oil or citrus—they’re the backbone of most salads and marinades.
• Explore spice blends like za’atar, baharat, and sumac for authentic taste.
• Try making your own pita or flatbreads—they’re easier than you think and well worth the effort.

Middle Eastern Recipe Comparison Table

Bring the magic of the Middle East into your kitchen with this varied collection, whether aiming for a lavish feast or just a taste of everyday comfort. With these recipes, you’ll discover how simple ingredients and a few essential techniques can result in dishes of world-class depth and delight.

Author

Anjali Sayee

 

Anjali is an Associate Editor at StyleCraze with 7 years of experience specializing in hairstyles, hair care, and skin care. She has authored over 300 articles and offers expert advice on hair styling techniques, effective skin care routines, and tips for maintaining healthy hair and skin.

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