212 middle eastern recipes

Lebanese stuffed grape leaves filled with spiced lamb and rice seasoned with allspice and cinnamon, rolled tight and simmered over lemon slices. A traditional Middle Eastern appetizer.

Mediterranean lentil soup simmers lentils with allspice, cumin, and cinnamon, finished with a pureed raw garlic-oil emulsion and fresh lemon juice. Authentic Middle Eastern stew with deep warm spice.

Falafel golden domes fry chickpea-herb patties to crispy perfection, stuffed into pita with tomato, lemon, and drizzles of tahini sauce. The Middle Eastern street-food classic done right at home.

Scheherazade casserole: the classic Moosewood vegetarian bake of bulgur, ground soybeans, tomatoes, cumin and feta cheese. Middle Eastern-spiced, protein-rich and a co-op cookbook hall of famer.

Falafel sandwiches with split pea and chickpea flour fritters stuffed into pita pockets with tomatoes, onions, pickles, and your choice of homemade hummus or tahini sauce. A vegan Middle Eastern lunch.

Fried eggplant and yellow squash drizzled with taratour (Lebanese tahini-lemon sauce), served with pita wedges. A Middle Eastern appetizer with crispy, golden vegetables and creamy sauce.

Sarnapur is a creamy yogurt and Swiss chard soup with walnuts, rice, cilantro, and fresh mint. A traditional Middle Eastern soup served hot or cold.

Grilled polenta cake with orange blossom yogurt, fresh strawberries, and pistachios. A sophisticated Middle Eastern-inspired dessert built from pantry staples and summer fruit.

Silky Middle Eastern milk pudding with slivered almonds, cardamom, and saffron. Elegant chilled dessert (firnee) garnished with bright green pistachios.

Middle Eastern halvah cake made with tahini, semolina, and warm spices, soaked in a citrusy orange-lemon syrup. Dense, fragrant, and not overly sweet.

Tangy brown lentil soup brightened with vinegar and fragrant with coriander and garlic. Vegan, budget-friendly, and on the table in under an hour. A Middle Eastern kitchen staple.

Basbousa bil loz (Egyptian almond basbousa) cooks toasted semolina and almonds with butter, then thickens with lemon-scented sugar syrup. A stovetop Middle Eastern dessert.

Middle Eastern fried pastries filled with spiced almond-cinnamon filling and dipped in sugar syrup. Crispy finger-shaped cookies that freeze beautifully.

Layers of buttery shredded kadayif dough sandwich rich cream filling, then get soaked with lemon syrup for this indulgent Middle Eastern dessert.

Sauteed eggplant, green peppers, and carrots seasoned with cinnamon, fresh parsley, and dill. A light vegetarian side dish with Middle Eastern flair.

Kobeba samakeyah are Lebanese fish-filled bulgur croquettes seasoned with cumin and cilantro, deep-fried golden, and served with homemade tahini sauce. A Middle Eastern classic.