I’ve gathered 30 incredible Middle Eastern recipes that I turn to again and again, each one carrying a little taste of Iran, Turkey, Lebanon, Cyprus, Egypt, and beyond. The region each dish comes from gives it a distinct personality, but almost all of them share a love for bold, lively flavors. I’m talking loads of fresh parsley, garlic, silky tahini, and plenty of chickpeas, the kind of ingredients that make your whole kitchen smell like a dream.
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. Middle Eastern Chicken and Rice
One pot chicken and rice is a weeknight staple in Lebanon, and you’ll find countless ways to make it. This version keeps things pretty straightforward, but don’t mistake simple for bland, it’s deeply tasty and has everything you need in one pan. It’s loaded with warm spice, and I can’t decide if it smells better than it tastes or the other
3. Middle Eastern Flatbread with Tahini Sauce
This is pizza on a flatbread. It may have a jazzy, health-conscious name, but it’s absolutely delicious pizza on a flatbread.
It’s incredible, even without any tomato sauce. As a bonus, it’s actually pretty healthy.
4. Hummus
I adore hummus, but I’ve always struggled to land on one with both the flavor and the texture I crave, until now. This version is a total winner: impossibly smooth, creamy, and downright luxurious.
The taste is this captivating swirl of nuttiness, garlic, and bright citrus. And yes, it’s gorgeous to look at, too.
5. Falafel Salad
Falafel on its own is wonderful, but a falafel salad? Even better.
This bowl is packed with a hearty, satisfying tangle of parsley, cilantro, chickpeas, tomatoes, and bulgur wheat, all tossed in a tangy tahini dressing. In about 40 minutes you’ll have enough to feed at least four hungry people.
6. Middle Eastern Yogurt Drink
More commonly known as “Aryan,” this drink is salty and tart. All you need to make it is sparkling water, yogurt, and salt.
Somehow, those three ingredients taste fantastic together. It’s the perfect refreshing drink for a hot summer’s day.
7. Lebanese Chickpea Stew
Cozy and wholesome, this Lebanese chickpea stew comes together in just 30 minutes and happens to be completely vegan. It’s low calorie, offers a nice hit of fiber, and brings potassium, calcium, and vitamins A and C to the table.
It’s spicy and smells absolutely incredible. Za’atar might be the one ingredient you need to hunt down, but if your local store doesn’t carry it, Amazon has you covered.
8. Middle Eastern Lentil Soup
This lentil soup is thick, soothing, and exactly what I want when I’m curled up on a chilly evening. It’s loaded with fiber and protein, plus a boost of zinc, potassium, vitamin B, and calcium, basically a super soup if there ever was one. Garlic and allspice lead the flavor parade, while a good squeeze of lemon juice brings that unmistakable Middle Eastern brightness.
9. Middle Eastern Chicken Kebabs
On a Middle Eastern menu, ordering chicken kebabs means you’re getting skewers packed end to end with juicy chicken, not loaded up with veggies. A few slices of red onion slip in between for a bit of flavor. But here’s the thing, the real magic goes beyond just the meat.
10. Middle Eastern Roasted Vegetables with Tahini Drizzle
Although this recipe calls for specific vegetables, you can use whatever veggies you’d like. In fact, this is an excellent dish for making if you end up with a lot of leftover veggies that are about to go bad. Cut them all into roughly the same size, and drizzle them with olive oil and salt and pepper.
11. Middle Eastern Chickpea Salad
Chickpea salad is another hearty, chunky number that totally works as a meal on its own. Add a dollop of creamy Greek yogurt on top and it gets even better.
It’s naturally vegan, low calorie, and ready in just 10 minutes. The dressing has a gentle zip that’s far mellower than your typical sharp lemon vinaigrette.
12. Chicken Shawarma
Whether you fire up the grill or crank the oven, chicken shawarma is a low carb, high protein dream that’s absolutely bursting with warm spices. The flavor is next level, especially when you pair it with a swipe of creamy toum or tahini sauce and a simple side salad.
13. Lebanese Tahini Sauce
If you’re going to whip up shawarma, you might as well have a quick tahini sauce recipe too. This one is all about whisking together tahini paste, salt, crushed garlic cloves, and fresh lemon juice, then streaming in water until it’s just the texture you love. Easy peasy.
14. Lebanese Rice
For a quick side dish with only three ingredients, you really can’t beat Lebanese rice. All you need is rice, vermicelli, and a good drizzle of olive oil.
It’s light yet satisfying, and you can jazz it up with a pinch of cinnamon, some almonds, parsley, or a sprinkle of salt. In about 15 minutes, you’ve got a versatile base that plays nicely with just about any protein or main course.
15. Shakshuka
Shakshuka may have North African roots, but it’s become a beloved staple all over the Middle East. It’s gluten free, totally vegetarian, and I’d happily eat it for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
This garlicky, spicy egg dish brings serious heat with chili powder, paprika, tomato paste, parsley, cayenne, and cumin. Scoop it up with a thick, crusty piece of bread and you’ve got a meal that truly sings.
16. Fattoush Salad with Pita Bread
I’m a big fan of salads that bring the crunch and a hit of zing, so fattoush salad is my forever favorite. Radishes, green onions, crisp lettuce, crunchy pita croutons, and cucumbers deliver all that glorious texture. Then a homemade lime vinaigrette swoops in with the most irresistible zesty kick.
17. Lavash
Making lavash from scratch takes a little patience, but trust me, it’s so worth it. Think of it as an ultra thin, airy tortilla that wraps up just about anything beautifully. Even better, you can cook it however suits you: slide it into the oven, onto a pizza stone, into a hot pan, or right on a griddle.
18. Tahini Salad
Sometimes the simplest things are the most delicious, and this tahini salad proves it. Just three ingredients: tomatoes, cucumbers, and parsley.
The dressing is equally unfussy with tahini paste, lemon juice, water, salt, and pepper. Serve it solo, spooned over pita, or as a fresh topping on your favorite sandwich or plate.
19. 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?Click on a star to rate it!
20. Zhoug
This spicy, cilantro-based sauce has a lot of heat to it. You can make it in 5 minutes, and you can use it on practically anything. Swap out the jalapenos for hotter peppers to add even more of a bite.
21. Turkish Breakfast
I’m a total sucker for a Turkish breakfast spread. It’s one of the most gorgeous, colorful, and well rounded morning plates I’ve ever laid eyes on.
There’s no strict list of must haves, but you can usually count on a mix of meats, fresh veggies, cheeses, and fruit. Somehow it dances right along that sweet and savory line every single time.
22. Persian Saffron Rice
This baked Persian saffron rice is so pretty it almost looks like a delicate little cake, especially with that shower of rosewater and dozens of ruby red barberries on top. Slice into it and you’ll discover a secret thin layer of barberries tucked between the rice. The flavor is light and fragrant, and the bright sour pop of the barberries really comes through.
23. Chicken Musakhan
If Musakhan hasn’t crossed your plate yet, you’re in for something special. Picture bone in chicken roasted until perfectly tender and coated in a dreamy blend of warm spices, including 7 spice and sumac, both easy to find in well stocked supermarkets. Pile it onto warm, fluffy flatbread and prepare to fall hard.
24. Falafel Sandwich With Tabbouleh Salad and Pita Bread
This is hands down the best falafel sandwich I’ve ever sunk my teeth into. Spicy, herby falafel is crammed into pita with peppery arugula and tabbouleh, then drenched in lemon juice and tahini sauce.
Every bite is refreshing and cool, like a salad that’s been tucked neatly into bread. So, so yummy.
25. Koshari
Koshari is Egypt’s national dish, so despite a little hesitation, I knew I had to give it a go. And wow, was I happily surprised.
It brings together rice, lentils, garbanzo beans, tomato sauce, and macaroni, I know, it sounds like a lot, maybe even a strange combo. But honestly? It has exactly the right amount of everything going on.
26. Lebanese Cucumber Yogurt Sauce
With just seven ingredients and five minutes of your time, this Lebanese cucumber yogurt sauce is a lazy cook’s best friend. Stir together yogurt, olive oil, garlic, salt, chopped cucumbers, and a splash of water, then scoop it up with warm pita for an instant appetizer. It’s traditionally more of a condiment than a dip, but honestly, I’ll eat it either way.
27. Turkish Sumac Onions
Basically, this is just a raw onion salad, and I love it. Throw your chopped and peeled onions in a bowl and add some red pepper flakes, salt, and sumac.
Mix them well. Then add pomegranate molasses, olive oil, lemon juice, and parsley to the mix. It’s meant as a garnish, sandwich topping, or side dish, but I could eat it by itself all day long.
28. Lebanese Beef Kofta Meatballs with Tahini Sauce
These Lebanese beef kofta meatballs are a total snack hero if you’re following Paleo or Whole 30 guidelines. They’re packed with an army of herbs and spices: parsley, mint, onion, coriander, cinnamon, ginger, red pepper flakes, garlic… the list goes on. Dunk them in tahini sauce, or tuck them alongside rice, couscous, or a bright tabbouleh for a full meal.
29. Turkish Shepherd’s Salad (çoban salatasi)
This Turkish shepherd’s salad is more like a chunky salsa than a traditional leafy salad, and honestly, I can’t get enough of it. It’s dense, loaded with good stuff, and comes together in about 15 minutes. You’ll find sweet Persian cucumbers, shallots, parsley, juicy tomatoes, a squeeze of lemon, and a gloss of olive oil in every bite.
30. Middle Eastern Roasted Vegetable Rice
If you’re looking for the perfect vegan dish for any meal, Zatarain’s has nothing on this herby rice. Start with two cups of basmati rice.
Then slice up all your veggies and extras – eggplant, carrots, chickpeas, cilantro, and pine nuts – and mix them in along with your spices. It takes some time to make, but the nutrition value alone is worth it, and that’s not even taking into account its terrific taste.