Stretching a broad region from Turkey in the north to down south in Yemen, Middle Eastern food is as vast as the area it makes up. A rich tapestry of history, religion and culture, the food is just as robust as the region. We've gathered together 5 of our current favorite Middle Eastern recipes, spanning from tender braised zucchini, to the classic falafel, to sweet chickpea flour cookies.
Kousa
by @cosetteskitchen
Tender zucchini are hollowed out and then stuffed with meat, rice, allspice and herbs. Once stuffed, they're placed into a garlicky tomato broth and simmered until fork tender. Top them with a creamy yogurt sauce and more tomato sauce!
Falafel are traditionally made with either chickpeas or fava beans, or a combination of both. This recipe uses dried chickpeas, plenty of fresh herbs and warm, earthy spices like cumin and coriander. Then they're deep fried to perfection!
A few simple ingredients make this hummus the creamiest, dreamiest ever! This Syrian version includes chickpeas, lemon juice and good quality tahini to bring it all together. It's topped with toasted pine nuts and chickpeas for a little crunch.
These tender eggplants are the jewels of the summer! Baked until they're crispy on the outside, but soft on the inside, they're drizzled with a garlicky tahini sauce. Finish them off with toasted pine nuts and sweet pomegranate arils for a nice crunch!
These fluffy, mini flatbreads are finished with two different, delicious toppings. A cheesy, herby filling, and a spread called muhammara. If you've never had muhammara before, it's a delicious dip made mostly of peppers, walnuts, lemon juice and olive oil and pairs perfectly with these snacks.
This classic Middle Eastern dessert comes in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, but they all have a few things in common. Kenafeh starts with a base of finely shredded dough, layered with sweet cheese and is topped with a sugary syrup and crushed pistachios. It's a sweet treat you'll want again and again!
These cookies have the most amazing melt-in-your-mouth texture! Made up of chickpea flour and powdered sugar, as well as a good dose of cardamom, they're topped off with sweet pistachios and rose petals.
Check out our weekly Feedfeed podcast where we feature a broad range of food and culture and talk, "What's On Your Table".
In this week's episode, we shine a light on a few of these beautiful dishes and interview Middle Eastern community members to learn more about this rich heritage and culture. Listen here!
