Middle Eastern Food: Most Popular Articles

Hummus 101
Everything you ever wanted to know about hummus but was afraid to ask! Learn the history of hummus and search a collection of hummus recipes.

How to Make Hummus
Recipe for hummus, a very popular Middle Eastern dip that is used as an appetizer and served with pita bread. Learn how to make hummus the easy way, while still being authentic!

Falafel Recipe
Falafel is a worldwide recognized Middle Eastern food. Learn how to make authentic falafel from this classic recipe.

Pita Bread Recipe
Pita bread is a staple in Middle Eastern food. This pita bread recipe is simple, quick and makes perfect pita bread everytime! Learn how to make pita bread the easy way!

Tahini Recipe
Recipe for tahini, a Middle Eastern paste made of sesame seeds and olive oil. Tahini is served in popular Middle Eastern dishes like hummus.

Kabob 101
Explore how to make the perfect kabobs everytime with different kabob recipes, meats, vegetables, and skewers.

Hummus without Tahini
Recipe for hummus without tahini, the perfect hummus recipe for those who don't like tahini.

Tabouleh Recipe
Recipe for tabouleh, a popular Middle Eastern salad containing many vegetables, olive oil and spices. It is a great vegetarian salad that can be eaten as an appetizer, side dish or main course.

Chicken Shawarma
Learn how to make chicken shawarma, just like at your favorite Middle Eastern restaurants!

Turkish Delight Recipe
Recipe for Turkish Delight, a sweet candy from Turkey. Turkish Delight was featured in the book "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe".

Tahini Sauce Recipe
Recipe for tahini sauce, a sauce used for sandwiches, marinades and dips.

Roasted Garlic Hummus Recipe
This roasted garlic hummus recipe is perfect for those who don't care for the tahini taste in hummus. The garlic adds a rich flavor that really compliments the chickpeas.

How to Make Basic White Rice
White rice is so important in Middle Eastern cuisine. Although this is a very basic recipe, many beginner cooks or those who don't cook at all may not know how to make white rice. Learn how to make white rice in this super easy recipe.

Shawarma 101
Tips for making the popular shawarma sandwich.

Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
Recipe for a spicier version of hummus made with roasted red peppers. Roasted red pepper hummus make an excellent appetizer.

Mid East Recipes for Beginners
New to cooking or Middle Eastern cooking? Try out these easy Middle Eastern recipes for beginners.

Mutton
A look into what mutton is and how it is used in cooking.

Beef Shish Kebab
Recipe for beef shish kebab with a marinade that will make the meat as tender as the vegetables! Learn how to make the besy beef shish kebab with this recipe.

Falafel 101
Tips and recipes for making falafel.

How to Make Naan - Flatbread
Recipe for naan, a flatbread found throughout the Middle East and India. Naan is easy to make at home and this recipe for naan is perfect for any skill level.

Harissa Recipe
Harissa is a hot red pepper paste used in North African cooking. It is added to many recipes for increased flavor. This harissa recipe is easy, with an ingredients that are simple to find.

Black Bean Hummus
Recipe for black bean hummus, a tasty alternative to traditional hummus.

Basic Coucous
Learn how to make coucous. This recipe for couscous is very basic and foolproof!

Shrimp Kabob
This shrimp kabob recipe is perfect for beginners. It requires very few ingredients, but is bursting with flavor. Shrimp kabobs are very easy to make, but the taste will make your guests think you have working all day!

How to De-Seed a Pomegranate
Learn how to de-seed a pomegranate.

Easy Falafel
This recipe for falafel and cuts down on preparation time. Perfect for those who want an easier version of falafel.

Sun Dried Tomato Hummus
Recipe for sun dreid tomato hummus, a delicious variation of traditional Middle Eastern hummus.

Hummus with Yogurt
This easy hummus recipe replace most of the traditional tahini with yogurt. This is a great alternative for those who are watching their weight.

Ancient Egyptian Recipes
Learn what the ancient Egyptians ate and how to make the same foods at home! Many ancient Egyptian recipes are still served today!

Spinach Hummus
Recipe for spinach hummus, a healthy variation of traditional Middle Eastern hummus.

Grilled Chicken Breast Recipe
This is a great recipe for grilled chicken breasts! If you are tired of bland chciken, try this recipe for your next BBQ.

Shish Taouk - Chicken Kebobs
Recipe for shish taouk, grilled chicken on skewers.

Kofta - Ground Beef Kabobs
Recipe for kofta, a spiced ground beef kabob. Also known as kufta or kefta.

Whole Wheat Pita Bread
Whole wheat pita bread is perfect for those looking to add more wheat to their diet. This recipes contains both white and wheat flour and is so simple to make!

Spinach and Feta Hummus
Recipe for spinach and feta hummus, a variation of traditional Middle Eastern hummus.

What is Halal Food?
An introduction to halal foods and halal ingredients.

Yogurt Garlic Sauce
Recipe for yogurt garlic sauce that is often used for shawarma or for meats. It makes an excellent alternative for mayonaise.

Peanut Butter Hummus
Peanut butter hummus is a kids' favorite. High in protein, peanut butter hummus is great for dipping veggies.

French Fries Recipe
Learn how to make french fries. French fries are often served with shawarma or in other wraps in the Middle East. This french fries recipe is super easy!

Kalamata Olive Hummus
Olives are the perfect ingredient to add to hummus. The flavors of this kalamata olive hummus recipe really compliment each other, making a delicious variation of traditional Middle Eastern hummus.

Beef Shawrma
Recipe for beef shawarma. Shawarma is very difficult to replicate without a shawarma cone, but this recipe comes close.

Popular Middle Eastern Foods
A lisitng of the most popular Middle Eastern foods with their recipes.

Easy Kibbeh
Easy recipe for kibbeh, a lebanese food containing ground meat or lamb with spices. Kibbeh is very popular among westerners.

Baba Ghannouj Recipe
Recipe for baba ghannouj, a Middle Eastern dip made from eggplant.

Halva
This recipe for halva comes from Iran. There are many variations, such as Jewish halva or greek halva. It is a sweet pastry served with tea or coffee. Learn how to make authentic halva.

Turkish Coffee
Learn how to make Turkish coffee with this simple recipe. Turkish coffee is very popular worldwide for its uniques way of preparation and tase.

Baked Falafel
Deep fried falafel not in your diet? Try it baked! Baked falafel is still crunchy on the outside and delicious on the inside!

Appetizers with Hummus
8 of the best appetizers that contain hummus. These hummus appetizer recipes are super easy!

Fattoush - Bread Salad
Fattoush is salad made up of vegetables and pieces of toasted pita bread. The recipe can be changed according to taste. This fattoush recipe is a popular variation.

Spicy Lamb Kabob
If you are looking for a kabob with a kick, this is it! Lamb is marinaded in a spicy blend of herbs, creating a flavorful lamb kabob.

Onion Rings
You have seen onions rings in Middle Eastern cooking served with shawarma, done kebabs, and other "fast foods". Learn how to make easy, authentic onions rings at home with this easy onion ring recipe!

Cooking with Prawns
When looking for a tasty seafood dish, you can never go wrong with prawns. Check these tips for buying prawns, how to remove the shell and devein, and some fabulous prawn recipes!

Shopping Online
A few ingredients in Middle Eastern food may be hard to find for some, but there are Middle Eastern food stores online to shop from. This highlights the best online Middle Eastern food stores.

Baklawa
Baklava, or baklawa in many Middle Eastern countries, is a delicious pastry that is known worldwide. There are many variations to baklava, depending on where in the Middle East you are, but this is by far the most popular.

Best Boxed Falafel Mixes
There are many different types of falfel mixes on the market and some just aren't as good as others. Find out which past my test for the best trasting boxed falafel.

Falafel Pita Sandwich
Recipe for a falafel stuffed pita sandwich with veggies.

Chicken Pita Sandwich
Recipe for chicken pita sandwich. A grilled chicken pita is the ultimate lung food or fast dinner recipe!

Pita Bread Pizza
Learn how to make the most delicious pizza appetizers or snacks using pita bread!

Stuffed Green Peppers
Recipe for stuffed green peppers. This recipe calls for ground beef, rice, and spices. Don't forget the green peppers of course!

How to Devein Shrimp
Learn how to devein shrimp the simple and easy way! Here you will find a simple way to devein shrimp to prepare for delicious recipes.

What is a Shish Kabob
You may heay shish kabob quite fewquently when learning about Middle Eastern cooking. Find out what it is here.

Lavash
Recipe for lavash, a thin, soft flatbread popular in Turkey, Iran, and other Middle Eastern countries.

Hummus Nutritional Info
Set aside your normal chip dip, and try hummus! Hummus is a healthier alternative. Learn the health benefits of eating hummus!

Ghoraibi - Butter Cookies
These butter cookies hail from Lebanon. They are sweet, but the sweetness is cut by balanced almond topping. They are sometimes served at wedding because of their white color.

Hookah 101
Learn more about the hookah, a type of water pipe smoking that hails from the Middle East.

Lebanese Rice
Recipe for the lebanese style of preparing rice.

How to Keep Garlic Fresh
Learn the proper way to store garlic and keep it fresh.

Pita bread
pita bread

Hummus
Hummus

Labneh
Labneh is a soft cheese made from yogurt. It is commonly served in the Middle East. It is also known as laban.

Picking Ripe Watermelon
Watermelon is one of the most populat summer foods. When shopping for watermelon at the supermarket, how can you tell if the melon is ripe? Follow these tips for picking the best watermelon.

Tomato Basil Hummus
Tomato basil hummus is a bold, exciting flavor of hummus that has a Mediterranean influence. Perfect with piping hot pita!

Shashlik
Recipe for chicken shashlik, a type of kebab.

Grilled Prawns with Dip Sauce
Prawns are delicious when grilled. Try this great grilled prawn recipe with a tasty dip to accompany.

Fun Ways to Eat PIta Bread
Pita bread is a staple in the Middle East and there are many ways to eat it. Explore the different ways to eat pita bread in this list.

Basbousa - Semolina Cakes
Basbousa are small cakes that are covered with syrup. The are perfect with coffee or tea. This basbousa recipe is very easy.

Chelo Kebab Recipe
Chelo kebabs are the national dish of Iran. These kebabs are made with different types of meat. In this chelo kebab recipe, ground beef or lamb can be used.

Buying a Tagine
A buyers guide for purchasing tagines. A tagine is a cooking instrument used in Moroccan and other North African recipes.

Ful Medames
Ful Medames is a common breakfast dish in Egypt. It is served with an egg and [link url=http://mideastfood.about.com/od/breadsrice/r/pitabreadrecipe.htm]pita bread[/link]. It makes a very hearty breakfast! Ful Medames is a national dish of Egypt. This recipe is thousand of years old.

The Perfect Hard Boiled Egg
Foolproof recipe for hardboiled eggs. Learn how to make hardboiled eggs without cracking the shell or making the yolk green.

Tagine
You may come across recipes that call for cooking with a tagine. Learn what it is and how you can use it in your cooking.

Remove Garlic Odor
A quick tip on how to remove the garlic smell on your hands after chopping it. Garlic has a very persistant odor that can be difficult to remove from hands.

Commonly Used Spices
A list of the most common spices and herbs used in Middle eastern Cooking and quick tips about each spice.

Orange Blossom Water
Learn more about orange blossom water, an ingredient found in Middle Eastern cooking.

Grilled Vegetables
Learn how to master grilling vegetables like eggplant, zucchini, squash and onions in this tempting Middle Eastern side dish recipe.

Grilled Corn on the Cob
Forget boiling fresh corn on the cob and fire up the grill! Grilled corn on the cob is the perfect side dish for any BBQ main course.

Falafel Hot Sauce
Recipe for falafel hot sauce. Falafel hot sauce can be drizzled into a falafel pita sandwich or used for dipping.

Cooking Oils 101
There are so many cooking oils on the shelves, it may be hard to determine what type of oil you really need to be cooking with. Learn more about cooking oils.

Chicken Tagine
You will never experience a flavor better than a tagine. This chicken tagine recipe is perfect for beginners!

Umm Ali Recipe
Umm Ali, also called Om Ali, is an Egyptian version od bread pudding. Made with puff pastry and a few other key ingredients, this dessert is heavenly.

Shawarma Sauces
Learn what types of sauces that can be used on shawarma, a Middle Eastern fast food that is much like a gyro.

McFalafel
McDonald's chains in Egypt have a falafel version of the Big Mac. It's kind of like an east meets west sandwich. The McFalafel is actually pretty tasty and easy to make at home.

Moutabel - Spicy Eggplant Dip
Recipe for moutabel, a a spicy Lebanese dip made from eggplant.

Tabouleh
Tabbouleh

Grilled Eggplant
Recipe for grilled eggplant. Grilled eggplant is an excellent side dish to any meal!

Growing Your Own Herbs
Middle Eastern food contains many herbs that can easily be grown at home. Here you will find easy tips for growing your own herbs to be used in the kitchen.

5 Hummus Recipes for Kids
Try these great hummus recipes - perfect for your children!

Intro to Middle Eastern Food
Discover Middle Eastern history and traditions through it's food. This article teaches the basics of Middle Eastern culture and cuisine. Learn what countries are considered "Middle Eastern".

Za'atar Recipe - Spice Mixture
Za'atar is a Middle Eastern spice mixture used in many meats and even vegetables. Learn how to make your own za'atar with this simple recipe.

Cinnamon Tea
Cinnamon tea is a wonderful treat to have with certain deserts like apple cobbler or apple pie. This recipe for cinnamon tea is super easy.

Lamb and Beef Kubideh Recipe
This kubideh recipe is a blend of both ground beef and lamb. It is easy to make and has a really good flavor.

Samak Kebab (Fish Kebab)
Samak kebabs, or fish kebabs are a delicious type of kebab. Fish grills really well and this samak kebab recipe has a tasty marinade.

Bread Bowls
You have seen them in your favorite restaurants - bowls made from bread and filled with piping hot stews and soups. Here you will find how to make your very own bread bowls - the easy way!

Salad-e Shirazi
Salad-e shirazi is a summertime favorite in Iran. Finely chopped tomatoes and cucumbers mixed with spices and lime juice make salad-e shirazi a hit.

Bechamel Recipe
Bechamel is a cream sauce used in many types of dishes. It is the base for many cheese sauces. Learn how to make the perfect bechamel.

Couscous 101
Learn more about the types of couscous and recipes for great couscous dishes. Couscous is a staple in many Middle Eastern countries.

Kubideh Kabob Recipe
Recipe for kubideh kakbob, or a ground lamb kebob. This is a favorite dish in Iran.

Calories in Hummus
HUmmus is a fantastic dip meade from chickpeas. Learn how many calories are in traditional hummus with tahini.

Moutabel
Moutabel

How to Make a Kebab Bar
Offer a kebab bar at your next party or cookout! Discover how to make an at-home kebab bar that is sure to impress and delight your friends and family.

Pita Chips
These pita chips are perfect for dipping! Try them with dips like hummus and bab ghannouj, or with salads like tabouleh. Ot eat pita chips by themselves!

Sfouf - Almond Cake
Sfouf is a sweet almond cake from Lebanon. This sfouf recipe is easy and delicious!

Making the Perfect Pita Bread
Want to make the perfect pita bread? Learn how in this step by step guide featuring detailed photographs. Pita bread is a staple in Middle eastern diets.

Falafel
Falafel

Tumeric Profile
Discover the flavor of tumeric, a spice commonly used in Middle Eastern foods.

Lamb Shish Kebabs
Lamb shish kebabs are easy to make and are very tender, This recipe for lamb shish kebab is easy, requires few ingredients, and is perfect for dipping.

Eggplant Recipes
Eggplant is one of the most versatile vegetables and can me made a variety of ways. Check out great eggplant recipes, tips for cooking with eggplant, and tips for selection and storage.

Israeli Salad
Recipe for an Israeli salad, a famous vegetable salad from Israel. Israel has very good vegetables and the assortment makes it unique.

Bulghur Wheat
Bulghur wheat is a popular ingredient is dishes like tabouleh, but do you know what it is? Learn more about bulghur here.

Kebabs
Kebabs

Arabic Food Translations
When cooking Middle Eastern food, you may come across arabic words. This handy food traslation guide will help you!

Ghee - Clarified Butter
Ghee is an ingredient in many Middle Eastern dishes. It is also called clarified butter. Ghee can be quite expensive in the stores; making it in your own kitchen is easy and inexpensive.

Feta Cheese Dip
Recipe for feta cheese dip, a great Middle Eastern dip that is served as a snack or appetizer.

Tarator Sauce
Learn how to make tarator sauce with this easy recipe.

Chelo Rice Recipe
Chelo is rice that is light and fluffy, and is served over a meat or sauce. This recipe for chelo is easy and will produce rice like you have never had before!

Spinach Fatayer
Spinach triangles are small triangular pies stuffed with spinach and other ingredients. They are perfect served as appetizers.

Vegetarian Grape Leaves
A vegetarian version of the popular dish, stuffed grape leaves.Stuffed grape leaves are also called dolmas, warak einab, or stuffed vine leaves.This vegetarian recipe calls for meatless ground beef, rice and spices.

Stuffed Grape Leaves
Recipe stuffed grape leaves, an appetizer. Grape leaves are stuffed with meat, spices, and vegetables. Grape leaves are also popular in Greek cooking.

Koshari - Ehyptian Chili
Koshari is considered to be a fast food in the Middle East, especially in Egypt. It is almost like a chili. This koshari recipe is easy and inexpensive to make.

Red Bell Pepper Hummus Recipe
Try this red pepper hummus recipe for your next snack. The red peppers make a sensational addition to this traditional hummus recipe.

Recipes with Chickpea
Learn more about chickpeas, a popular ingredient in Middle Eastern cooking, including recipes that contain chickpeas.

Kisir - Spicy Tabbouleh
Recipe for kisir, a turkish, spicier version of tabbouleh.

Easy Stuffed Grape Leaves
This recipe for stuffed grape leaves is easy and requires very few ingredients.

Mujadarra - Rice and Lentils
Recipe for mujadarra, a lentils and rice side dish with tons of flavor.

Sigara Boregi - Turkish Cigar
Sigara boregi is a Turkish cigar shaped pastry made with feta cheese and phyllo dough. This fried pastry is perfect with coffee, but can be eaten as an appetizer or side dish.

Bamia - Meat and Okra Stew
Bamia a stew with lamb or beef cubes and okra in a tomato sauce base. This recipe for bamia is very simple. You can make it vegetarian by omitting the meat.

Turkish Delight
Turkish Delight

Ramadan Recipes
Food plays a big part in the celebration of Ramadan. Features are several Ramadan recipes and meal ideas.

Easy Roast Leg of Lamb
This really simple roast leg of lamb recipe is perfect for those who have never cooked a leg of lamb. You don't need many ingredients, but the taste is amazing!

What is Falafel?
What is falafel? Discover what falafel is and how to make it at home!

Chocolate Baklava
This chocolate baklava is a tasty variation of a classic dessert. Light and flaky phyllo combined with sweet chocolate and syrup will get your mouth watering. It is sure to be a crowd pleaser!

Cacik Recipe
Cacik is a yogurt and cucumber dip/sauce. It can be eaten with kebabs or alone.

Lemon Chicken
What makes this recipe Middle Eastern is the spices used. Not to be confused with lemon pepper chicken, this recipe for lemon is savory and just so good. The spices used make it more of a Moroccan dish.

Middle Eastern Food - Recipes
An index of Recipes for the Middle Eastern Food guide site.

Baba Ghannouj
Baba Ghannouj

Simit - Seasme Seed Rings
Simit is a fastfood bread sold in the streets of Turkey by vendors. It is often eaten as a breakfast food with jam or yogurt. Simis is also great by itself![br][br]Simit is light and flaky, baked to a gold color, and topped with sesame seeds.

How to Roast Garlic
Save time and money by roasting garlic in your own kitchen! LEarn how to roast garlic in these easy, quick steps.

How to Learn Arabic
There are many ways to learn Arabic. Traditional classrooms and online classes are one of the easiest ways to learn the arabic language. Here you will find methods to learning Arabic and reviews of online classes and courses.

Easy Macaroni Bechamel
This is probably the most delicious pasta dish on the planet. Macaroni bechamel is very popular in Egypt and is exactly what the name says it is: macaroni in a bechamel sauce. [br][br]Some people like to use elbow noodles for this recipe, however, I like to use ziti or rigatoni. This is a very easy and simplified version of an Egyptian favorite.