25 Easy Middle Eastern Recipes To Try

Drawing inspiration from traditional recipes and infused with modern twists, each dish features an array of nourishing legumes, seasonal vegetables, and aromatic herbs. From sumptuous soups to hearty mains and fresh salads, this collection offers something to tantalize every palate. Middle Eastern cuisine boasts a cornucopia of herbs, exotic spices, and wholesome ingredients from the Eastern Mediterranean’s sun-soaked shores to Turkey’s bustling spice markets. Discover the art of mezze with savory dips and appetizers like creamy hummus and smoky baba ganoush, perfect for sharing amongst friends and family. Indulge in wholesome plant-based protein from stews, soups, salads, and rice dishes brimming with chickpeas, lentils, and seasonal vegetables. Whether you’re craving the zesty tang of salads or stuffed vegetables, this list showcases the vibrant colors and wholesome ingredients that define Middle Eastern cuisine. Like other recipes from the region – like falafel, hummus, and spinach stew – mujadara relies on legumes such as lentils for nutritious plant protein and spices such as cumin and coriander for a beautiful fragrant flavor.

2. Lentil tabbouleh

This lentil tabbouleh recipe is a tasty and nutritious variation of classic tabbouleh. I it’s excellent as a starter, side dish, or main dish or as part of a mezze platter with other Middle Eastern and Mediterranean recipes.

3. Tahini sauce

Tahini sauce is one of the most essential condiments for anyone wanting more veggies. With Tahini, or tahina (طحينة in Arabic) as the main ingredient, you will enjoy a rich, nutty flavor and a creamy texture. Tahini sauce is perfect for drizzling veggie-packed meals like hummus, falafel, roasted vegetables, salads, grain bowls, and flatbreads.

4. Whole roasted cauliflower

Whole roasted cauliflower is a gorgeous and delicious centerpiece meal or side dish recipe inspired by Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern cuisines. It’s one of the best ways to enhance the flavor of the cauliflower as it gets browned and flavorful outside while maintaining a succulent, juicy inside. You’ll love muhammara because it connects you to distant cultures where food has been central to local communities for millennia.

6. Mutabal

Mutabal—sometimes spelled moutabal—is a tasty Middle Eastern dip with a beautiful smoky flavor. The secret to making the best mutabal is how you cook the eggplant. For the most incredible smoky flavor, you’ve got to char the eggplant skin until it turns black and falls off the eggplant.

7. Mediterranean bowl

This Mediterranean bowl takes inspiration from Middle-Eastern staples such as hummus, crisp seasonal veggies, warm pita bread, olives, soft white cheese, and tahini. With simple storebought or homemade ingredients, you can make an authentic Mediterranean feast that is easy, healthy, and delicious. Hummus is a wonderfully versatile recipe that pairs with pasta and in mezze platters with other Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern dishes.

9. Shirazi salad

Shirazi salad (also known as Salad-e Shirazi) takes its name from the city of Shiraz in Southwestern Iran, where this recipe is considered a national dish. They serve it yearly, mainly as an appetizer or a side dish.

10. Spinach stew

Spinach stew is famous in many countries, especially in Eastern Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cooking. Our recipes is inspired by the Palestinian “Sabanekh bil hummus”, an excellent combination of fresh spinach, tender chickpeas, and fragrant spices. This spinach stew is excellent with rice or warm pita bread for a meat-free lunch or dinner. Unlike most cauliflower soup recipes that use butter, cheese, or cream, we use creamy-dreamy tahini to give character and substance to this delicious recipe.

12. Pita bread with dukkah

Pita bread is an Arabic flatbread (Khubz) similar to naan bread. It originated in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisines and is now famous worldwide. Making pita at home is more accessible than one might think. Our simple recipe uses only basic ingredients: all-purpose flour, water, olive oil, salt, sugar, and fresh or dry yeast.

13. Turkish lentil soup

Turkish lentil soup, or Mercimek çorbası, is a staple of Turkish cuisine. It comprises red lentils simmered in a tasty broth with veggies and warm spices. Our creamy red lentil soup is easy to make in 30 minutes and one pot. Serve it with roasted chickpeas for a high-protein vegetarian meal.

14. Falafel

Falafels are deep-fried balls (we also do them in the air fryer) made out of soaked chickpeas, broad beans, or a combination of both. They come from the Middle-Eastern cuisine and are especially popular in Lebanon and Egypt. Fattoush salad is a great way to enjoy the flavors of those wonderful eastern Mediterranean countries. It’s perfect for a light lunch or a side dish for any meal.

16. Baba Ghanoush

Baba ganoush is an eggplant-based Levantine spread and dip with a pleasant smoky flavor and creamy-dreamy texture. It’s easy to make with simple, healthy ingredients; it has a pleasant smoky taste, a mellow eggplant flavor, and an irresistible creamy texture with a silky mouthfeel.

17. Chickpea fritters

Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern flavors inspire chickpea fritters, which go well with anything from those regions. It’s a large platter with many small dishes. Chickpea fritters are similar to falafel, so they go well in a mezze platter with yogurt tahini sauce, roasted eggplant, and pita bread. It’s easy to make, and you can serve it as a starter, side, or main dish with warm pita bread and other Middle Eastern and Mediterranean recipes.

19. Stuffed bell peppers

Stuffed bell peppers are a popular dish in most Mediterranean countries, from Italy to Turkey, Spain to North Africa’s coasts. Our pepper recipe is strongly inspired by Mediterranean, Levantine, and Middle Eastern flavors, especially from our lentil mujaddara.

20. Tahini salad

Tahini salad is a healthy Middle Eastern-inspired dish with fresh vegetables and herbs, such as tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, and parsley, tossed in a creamy tahini sauce. This salad recipe is quick and easy to make. You can customize it to your taste and serve it as a side or main dish with warm pita bread, falafel, hummus, and more.

21. Dukkah

Dukkah or Duqqa is an Egyptian nuts and spice blend that can be used as a dip for pita bread and olive oil or sprinkled on hummus, veggies, soups, and other dishes. We sprinkle dukkah on hummus, red pepper hummus, muhammara, sautéed green beans, chickpea stew, cauliflower soup, and many more Mediterranean recipes.

22. Cauliflower lentil salad

Cauliflower lentil salad is a delicious and easy Middle-Eastern-inspired recipe to add to your lentil salad repertoire. Packed with bold flavors and wholesome ingredients, this salad, paired with some pita bread, is excellent for a quick lunch or a vegetarian dinner.

23. Lentil hummus

Lentil hummus is a 5-minute recipe using canned or cooked lentils. Its preparation is similar to that of classic hummus. Like our red pepper hummus and hummus without tahini, this is a delicious variation you can make when you want to change up your hummus game.

24. Fatteh (pita, yogurt, and hummus)

Fatteh (also known as fatta, fette, fattah, or fetté) is an Egyptian and southern Levantine dish popular in Egypt, Syria, Palestine, Lebanon, Israel, and Jordan. Fatteh is sometimes made with chicken and rice and other times with ground beef or lamb. Here, we will show you how to make a vegetarian version without meat.

25. Lentil patties

You’ll love the Middle-Eastern-inspired flavor of these patties with cooked lentils, spices, fresh herbs, and garlic. Like our zucchini fritters, they are excellent as a main course, or appetizer served with pita bread and your favorite mezze spreads.

Middle-Eastern recipe basics

Tabbouleh Yogurt tahini dressing How to cook lentils How to cook chickpeas

How to Cook Chickpeas

Dukkah

Yogurt Tahini Sauce

How to Cook Lentils

40 Chickpea Recipes (easy meals)

40 Easy Meatless Meals

45 Easy Vegetarian Dinner Recipes

25+ Lentil Recipes (easy meals)

Our aim is to help you and your family eat more veggies through delicious recipes with simple ingredients. Easy right? Comment * Name Email Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Notify me when Louise or Nico reply to my comment.

Δ Our aim is to help you and your family eat more veggies through delicious recipes with simple ingredients.