Middle Eastern recipe collection

A fantastic healthy dip perfect for the holidays or anytime you might have company coming. Butternut squash is roasted with an Arabic Ras El Hanout spice mixture. Based on a recipe by Gordon Ramsay.

This version of the garlicky roasted eggplant dip does not have tahini in it as with a traditional version. While I really like an "authentic" baba ghanoush, I also enjoy the commercial Sabra brand, which uses mayo and some spices. It is slightly sweet and has a little kick. This is my rendition.

Hummus is packed with goodness, tastes delicious, and it's so easy to make. Forget about the store-bought ones that usually contain more than just a few ingredients, make it yourself, and you will be amazed by the result.

Homemade pita bread that puffs into pockets on a hot baking sheet at 500 degrees. Four basic ingredients, no fat, freezes well, and makes 6 large or 12 small pitas.

Tomatoey tabouli: a hearty Middle Eastern grain salad with bulgur and pearl barley soaked in tomato juice, finished with lemon, olive oil, parsley, and scallions.

Soft, pillowy pita bread made entirely with whole wheat flour. Watch them puff up like magic in a hot oven for authentic pocket breads perfect for stuffing.

Easy quinoa tabbouleh: ripe tomatoes, parsley, scallions, and fresh mint tossed with cooked quinoa, lemon juice, and oil. A gluten-free Middle Eastern salad meant to rest overnight.

Lamb kebabs marinated in olive oil, lemon, garlic, and ground coriander, then broiled on bamboo skewers until charred at the edges and pink in the middle. A Middle Eastern grill night classic.

Middle Eastern lamb kebabs (kofta) blend ground lamb with garlic, ginger, cumin, mint, and parsley before grilling on skewers. Serve with pita, salad, and yogurt for an authentic mezze dinner.

Rolled baklava swaps the usual diamonds for crisp phyllo logs filled with spiced walnuts, baked golden then dipped in honey-lemon syrup. The cold-syrup dip keeps every flaky roll crisp, not soggy.

Baba ghanoush blends roasted eggplant with garlic, cumin, and lime juice into a smoky Middle Eastern dip. Vegan, five-ingredient, and ready in 30 minutes. No tahini in this lighter version.

Classic Middle Eastern hummus blended from chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, and garlic. Topped with paprika-tinted olive oil and parsley for a smooth, creamy dip ready in 30 minutes.

Classic Middle Eastern hummus blended from cooked chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, four cloves of garlic, and a generous drizzle of olive oil. The pita-and-falafel sidekick that holds its own as a meal.

Mom's baklava layers buttery phyllo with a blend of ground almonds and walnuts, soaked in cinnamon-lemon honey syrup. The cool-syrup-over-hot-pastry trick keeps every flaky layer crisp.

Authentic Middle Eastern pita bread with tender pockets perfect for stuffing. This dough can be made ahead and refrigerated for up to a week of fresh-baked flatbreads.

Homemade whole wheat pita bread that puffs into perfect pockets in a 500F oven. Yeasted dough with honey, half whole wheat flour for a nuttier flavor. Twelve fresh pitas from one bowl.