Frequent travelers or tourists enjoy the food world over. And if you are one of them, you will surely agree that Middle Eastern food is both exceptional and delicious. That dripping and juicy Shawarma or the elegant-looking Hummus or the tasty falafel. Whatever it may be they are very tempting and it’s a joy to eat these top tasty foods from the Middle East.
Top Tasty Foods and their ingredients
So let see what are top tasty foods that you find everywhere in the Middle East and lets’ just get an idea how they are prepared. What are the ingredients, I am only sharing a few details here; you can make them at home even if you are not in the Middle East. And if you are in U.K., you are lucky as you can order and get discounted deals through the taste card discount codes.
- Shawarma
A blend of meat (Chicken, Lamb, beef) with fresh salads like carrot, capsicum, cabbage submerged and pickled in vinegar with Tahini sauce splat on the Pita bread. Rolled and served with Tahini Sauce and pickled salad.
Just to have an idea, try the chicken shawarma. It is mostly prepared by marinating the chicken. You can cook the chicken or roast it on the vertical rotisserie also as you like it at home.
And to serve it cut open the pita bread, butter it with tahini sauce, and add heaps of meat layers and the salad. Some add hummus (another traditional Arabic dish), some don’t. I would suggest doing it, it adds that extra flavour to this Arab cuisine.
This is number one out of the top tasty foods from the Middle East.
- Hummus
Have you heard of hummus? If you aren’t aware, hummus is a delightful spread or dip made from chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, and spices. It’s normally eaten in the Middle East and the Mediterranean but you can definitely find it all over the different continents. You can buy now canned hummus also, but it is far better to try making it at home.
Soak and cook the chickpeas. Allow extra time for soaking overnight, if you are using dry chickpeas. Cook for 2 hours, peel the chickpeas, puree the chickpeas in a food processor, add the rest, and keep blending, Transfer to a serving bowl. Garnish it with parsley (if you like), red pepper, and add Olive Oil.
You can eat it simply or with Pita bread (Khubz).
I put this at number 2 out of the top tasty foods from the Middle East.
- Falafel
You could arguably say that Falafel is a common Middle Eastern “fast food” that comprises a mixture of chickpeas, fresh herbs, and spices that are molded into small patties or balls.
How to make these delicious falafels
A straight forward recipe that shall delight you and make you understand how simple it is to make falafels at home as well.
- Soak dried chickpeas overnight and ensure that they are soft
- Add herbs, spices, garlic, flour, and little water
- Form balls, and keep them in a refrigerator to firm up
- Fry until deep golden brown texture appears and they get super crispy
You can have it as a bite or they are often served in sandwich form with a plentiful drizzle of tahini and loads of salad along with slices of roasted or fried eggplant.
So try this at number 3 from the top tasty foods from the Middle East.
- Fatayer
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Not everybody’s piece of cake, as they are just like making a covered or open pizza with fillings. So it takes time to get them readied. So what basically is a fatayer? Fatayer is meat pie that can alternatively be stuffed with spinach, Labneh, cheese such as Feta or Akkawi. It is part of Lebanese cuisine that is also eaten in Iraq, Turkey, Syria, Egypt, Lebanon, Palestine, the Gulf States, and Jordan.
How to prepare Cheese Fatayer
It is just like making the pizza dough with a filling of cheese. Bake it in a preheated oven at the required temperature (180°C) for about 20 minutes. And serve it hot. You can make it in a boat shape or round or square as you like it. For details, I would suggest go online and see the detailed recipe.
At number 4, this really stands out from the top tasty foods from the Middle East.
- Shakshuka
Traditional Shakshuka is originally from Tunisia, a North African country. But is quite popular in the Middle East and elsewhere like Palestine, Egypt, and many other places.
Easy to make, this shakshuka dish is made with eggs that are poached in a rumbling mixture of tomatoes, bell peppers, onions, and garlic. Adding a few spices and some fresh herbs completes this great one-skillet treat.
The fire-roasted tomatoes crushed and mixed with egg are a pleasure to eat. A light saucy and perfectly textured delight for the breakfast especially. Adding tomato paste will add intense flavour. You can fry or even bake for a tastier result.
Give yourself a Treat
No doubt as pandemic comes under control, you are bound to travel. These all dishes are classic in their own rite. You will enjoy every bite with these savoury servings. There are other special Middle Eastern dishes like Baba Ganoush, Taboula, Muttabaq, Grilled Halloumi, and Fattoush which are also a joy. So whenever you visit the Middle East, give yourself a treat and don’t forget to try these all Middle Eastern favorites.
