I’m so excited to share these 30 Middle Eastern recipes with you today. They come from all over the region and they’re packed with bold, gutsy flavors.
Parsley, garlic, tahini, and chickpeas make plenty of appearances. You’ll see familiar favorites like hummus and falafel, plus a few lesser known gems like shakshuka, zhoug, and koshari. I really hope you try the more adventurous ones because they’re incredibly delicious, and so many are made with really good for you ingredients.
1. Pistachio Baklava
Making good baklava is an art form, especially when it has 30 – yes, 30, and no, that’s not a typo – layers. This baklava is flaky, crispy, and supremely buttery.
The green pistachios add a lovely touch of color to this traditional dessert, and the syrup made of orange blossom water adds an unmatchable sweetness. Despite the 30 layers, the recipe only requires nine ingredients, and you can have the whole pan of baklava baked and cooling in less than 2 hours.
2. Shakshuka
Shakshuka began in North Africa and went on to become a beloved staple all over the Middle East. It’s gluten free, totally vegetarian friendly, and somehow always right for whatever time of day you’re eating it.
Eggs poach in a fiery, garlicky bath of chili powder, paprika, tomato paste, parsley, cayenne, and cumin. Scooping everything up with thick, crusty bread puts it over the top.
3. Israeli Couscous
I’ll just say it: if you haven’t tried Israeli couscous smothered in butter and Parmesan cheese, you haven’t really experienced couscous. The butter makes it soft and creamy, and the cheese just makes everything better. It has that classic earthy flavor, but a touch of lemon mellows it out beautifully.
4. Koshari
Egypt’s national dish had me intrigued and a little hesitant, but I had to give it a try. I was so pleasantly surprised.
Rice, lentils, garbanzo beans, tomato sauce, and macaroni all come together in one bowl. I know it sounds like a lot (and maybe a bit unexpected), but it turns out to be just the right amount of everything.
5. Lebanese Tahini Sauce
If you’re making shawarma, you’ll want this tahini sauce right next to it. All you do is whisk together tahini paste, salt, garlic cloves, and lemon juice, then slowly stream in water until the consistency is exactly how you like it. It couldn’t be easier.
6. Lebanese Cucumber Yogurt Sauce
Seven ingredients and five minutes flat make this sauce a lazy cook’s absolute dream. Just stir together yogurt, olive oil, garlic, salt, cucumbers, and a splash of water, then scoop it right up with pita bread. It’s usually used more as a condiment than a dip, but honestly, both ways taste amazing.
7. Lebanese Rice
This side dish is pure simplicity: rice, vermicelli, and olive oil, just three ingredients. It’s light but filling, and you can zhuzh it up easily with cinnamon, almonds, parsley, or a pinch of salt. You’ll have it on the table in about 15 minutes, ready to cozy up to whatever protein or main you’re serving.
8. Middle Eastern Roasted Vegetable Rice
If you’re searching for the perfect vegan dish for any meal, this herby rice leaves boxed mixes in the dust. Start with two cups of basmati rice, then toss in sliced eggplant, carrots, chickpeas, cilantro, pine nuts, and your spices. It takes a bit of time, but the nutrition alone makes it worth it, and the taste seals the deal.
9. Turkish Sumac Onions
This is basically a raw onion salad, and I am completely obsessed with it. Toss your chopped and peeled onions with red pepper flakes, salt, and sumac, then mix in pomegranate molasses, olive oil, lemon juice, and parsley. It’s meant as a garnish, sandwich topper, or side dish, but I could happily eat a big bowl all on its own.
10. Middle Eastern Chicken Kebabs
On a Middle Eastern menu, chicken kebabs aren’t loaded up with vegetables between every piece of meat. Instead, they’re packed from end to end with chicken, with just a few slices of red onion tucked in for flavor. The real secret, though, isn’t in all that meat.
11. Fattoush Salad with Pita Bread
I am all about salads that are crunchy and zesty, so fattoush is basically my dream come true. Radishes, green onions, lettuce, crispy pita croutons, and cucumbers bring all the crunch, while a homemade lime vinaigrette delivers that sharp, zingy kick. It might just be my favorite salad ever.
12. Turkish Breakfast
A Turkish breakfast spread is one of the prettiest, most colorful plates I’ve ever seen. It walks that sweet and savory line like a total pro.
There’s no strict checklist, but you can usually count on a mix of meats, vegetables, cheeses, and fresh fruit. Every bite feels balanced and generous.
13. Middle Eastern Chickpea Salad
Chickpea salad is another hearty, dense bowl that can stand proudly as a meal on its own. A drizzle of Greek yogurt on top makes it even better.
It’s vegan friendly, low calorie, and ready in just 10 minutes. The dressing has a gentle, subtle zest that’s much milder than most lemon vinaigrettes.
14. Falafel Salad
I love falafel, but turning it into a salad is even better. This bowl brings together parsley, cilantro, chickpeas, tomatoes, and bulgur wheat for something hearty and satisfying.
A tangy tahini dressing ties it all together. It takes about 40 minutes and makes enough to feed at least four.
15. Lavash
Lavash takes a little patience, but it is so worth the effort. It’s like an incredibly thin, light tortilla that wraps up everything perfectly. The best part is how versatile it is to cook: throw it in the oven, on a pizza stone, in a hot pan, or on a griddle.
16. Middle Eastern Yogurt Drink
This salty, tart drink, often called Ayran, is pure refreshment. All you need is sparkling water, yogurt, and salt. Somehow those three simple ingredients taste absolutely fantastic together, making it the most perfect cooler on a hot summer day.
17. Israeli Salad
Israeli salad is so chunky and dense it’s almost more like a salsa than a traditional salad. I love that you can pull it together in about 15 minutes.
It’s made with sweet Persian cucumbers, onions, parsley, tomatoes, lemon juice, and olive oil. Kosher, vegan friendly, and totally refreshing.
18. Chicken Shawarma
Whether you cook it on the grill or in the oven, chicken shawarma is a low carb, high protein powerhouse absolutely exploding with spice and flavor. It really shines next to a scoop of homemade toum or tahini sauce and a crisp side salad.
19. Middle Eastern Flatbread with Tahini Sauce
Let’s be real: this is pizza on a flatbread. It might go by a fancier name, but it is absolutely delicious pizza on a flatbread, and somehow it’s incredible even without tomato sauce. As a bonus, it’s actually pretty healthy, so you can feel great about every bite.
20. Middle Eastern Chicken and Rice
One pot chicken and rice is a classic meal in Lebanon, with endless ways to make it. This version is fairly straightforward but still incredibly tasty.
It’s got everything you need for a complete meal and it’s wonderfully spiced. I honestly can’t decide if the aroma or the flavor is better, both are pretty fantastic. Enjoy it on its own or with a side salad.
21. Zhoug
Zhoug is a spicy, cilantro based sauce that brings some serious heat. You can make it in five minutes and then use it on practically everything.
Want even more of a kick? Swap out the jalapeños for hotter peppers and buckle up.
22. Ghraybeh (Middle Eastern Shortbread Cookies)
These simple butter cookies are crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, and require only four ingredients to make (five if you want to top them in powdered sugar). They’re also just sweet enough to be perfect for dessert, but aren’t so sweet that they give you a sugar rush.
They taste great when paired with hot tea. Did you like the recipe?
23. Lebanese Chickpea Stew
This wholesome, comforting stew is another vegan friendly winner that comes together in just half an hour. It’s low in calories, has a good hit of fiber, and serves up potassium, calcium, and vitamins A and C. The spices are bold and your kitchen will smell incredible. Za’atar might be a little tricky to find locally, but Amazon usually has it.
24. Persian Saffron Rice
This baked rice looks almost like a single, sweet cake layer, especially after you finish it with rosewater and a shower of tiny, adorable red barberries. Once you slice in, more barberries appear tucked between the rice layers. The flavor is light and delicate, the perfect backdrop for that tangy, sour pop.
25. Lebanese Beef Kofta Meatballs with Tahini Sauce
If you’re on the hunt for a Paleo friendly, Whole30 compliant snack, these Lebanese meatballs are exactly what you need. They’re loaded with herbs and spices: parsley, mint, onions, coriander, cinnamon, ginger, red pepper flakes, garlic, and more. Dunk them in tahini sauce, or plate them with rice, couscous, or tabbouleh for a full meal.
26. Middle Eastern Roasted Vegetables with Tahini Drizzle
This recipe is your best friend when you have a fridge full of veggies that need to be used. While it calls for specific ones, you can absolutely use whatever you have on hand.
Just cut everything into roughly the same size, drizzle with olive oil, salt, and pepper, and roast until golden. Finish with a generous tahini drizzle.
27. Hummus
I adore hummus, but finding a recipe that nails both flavor and the exact texture I crave has always been a struggle. This one, though, is the real deal.
It’s impossibly smooth, creamy, and luxurious, with a captivating blend of nuts, garlic, and citrus. And it looks beautiful, too.
28. Falafel Sandwich With Tabbouleh Salad and Pita Bread
Stuffed with spicy, herby falafel, arugula, and tabbouleh salad, then drenched in lemon juice and tahini sauce, this is hands down the best falafel sandwich I’ve ever eaten. It’s cool and refreshing, almost like a salad wrapped up in a cozy pita blanket. Pure yum.
29. Tahini Salad
This light, tasty salad keeps things beautifully simple with just tomatoes, cucumbers, and parsley. The dressing is equally minimal: tahini paste, lemon juice, water, salt, and pepper.
Don’t let the short ingredient list fool you, it’s delicious. Serve it solo, on pita, or as a topping for another dish.
30. Middle Eastern Lentil Soup
This thick, soothing lentil soup is exactly what I want on a chilly night. It’s loaded with fiber, protein, zinc, potassium, vitamin B, and calcium, basically a superhero in soup form. Garlic and allspice lead the way, while a squeeze of lemon juice brings that signature Middle Eastern brightness.