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List of 10 Must-Try Traditional Middle East Dishes for Every Food Lover to Try!

Published

2 months ago

March 16, 2025

RDA

List of 10 Must-Try Traditional Middle East Dishes for Every Food Lover to Try!

Food and drink in Gulf Arabian cuisine are a sensory overload with tastes and aromas that run deep with meaning and traditions behind them. Slow-cooked stews, grilled kebabs, creamy dips and perfumed rice dishes like every bite is a traditional and hospitable story.

Mix in the influence of Persian and Levantine flavors and you have Gulf cuisine cooked to perfection in just the right amounts with spices, herbs and fresh ingredients in an authentic Arabian way. Every food lover must try these dishes whether you adore the tenderness of the Thareed or the smoky goodness of Baba Ghanoush, you will be happy that you did!

List of Top 10 Traditional Middle East Dishes:

Dish	Popular in	About The Dish
Thareed	UAE, Qatar, Bahrain	A hearty stew made with slow-cooked meat (lamb or chicken), vegetables and served over crispy or soaked bread.
Shami Kebab	Iran, Iraq, Gulf region	Minced meat (usually lamb or beef) mixed with spices, herbs and onions, shaped into patties and grilled or fried.
Hummus	Lebanon, Middle East	A creamy dip made from blended chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice and garlic served with pita bread.
Falafel	Egypt, Levant, Gulf	Deep-fried balls or patties made from ground chickpeas or fava beans, spiced with garlic and herbs.
Shawarma	Middle East, Gulf	Slow-roasted marinated meat (chicken, lamb or beef) shaved off a rotating spit and served in pita with toppings.
Tabbouleh	Lebanon, Middle East	A refreshing salad made with finely chopped parsley, tomatoes, onions, bulgur and dressed with lemon and olive oil.
Baba Ghanoush	Levant, Gulf	A smoky eggplant dip blended with tahini, garlic and lemon juice served as a side dish or appetizer.
Kebab	Iran, Turkey, Gulf region	Skewered and grilled meat (lamb, chicken, or beef) seasoned with spices and sometimes served with rice or bread.
Dolma	Turkey, Iraq, Gulf	Grape leaves stuffed with a mixture of rice, herbs, and sometimes meat, cooked in a flavorful broth.
Moussaka	Greece, Middle East	A layered dish of eggplant, minced meat, tomatoes, and creamy béchamel sauce, baked to perfection.

Related Topics:featured Top 10 Middle east Food Traditional Middle East Dishes

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