Middle Eastern Cuisine

Embark on a flavorful journey through the Middle East with this exquisite collection of recipes that bring the vibrant tastes and rich traditions of the region straight to your kitchen. From the fragrant allure of a perfectly spiced shawarma to the delightful sweetness of syrup-soaked baklava, these dishes promise to transport your senses to sun-drenched bazaars brimming with colorful spices and timeless stories. Discover the true heart of Middle Eastern cuisine, where every meal tells a tale.

Smoky Spiced Eggplant Dip

By Carolina Gelen

Any Romanian gathering or celebration will inevitably contain an eggplant dish, the most common ones being salată de vinete (eggplant salad — a charred eggplant dip that’s similar to baba ghanouj but uses mayonnaise instead of tahini) and zacuscă (a charred eggplant and pepper dip, similar to ajvar) This family recipe, adapted from “Pass the Plate” by Carolina Gelen (Clarkson Potter, 2024), falls somewhere between the two: The charred eggplant is sweetened with shallots, brightened with tomatoes and spiced with paprika and cumin (sometimes caraway) It’s not as heavy as the mayonnaise-laced dip and not as labor-intensive as zacuscă, making it a faster, lighter alternative to whip up on any occasion

70 min

NYT Cooking

Shakshuka Recipe (Easy & Traditional)

By @http://www.twitter.com/downshiftology

This classic, authentic shakshuka recipe is perfect for any meal of the day. It's a combination of tomatoes, onions, spices and poached eggs.

30 mindownshiftology.com

Best Shakshuka, Step-by-Step

By Claire Saffitz

Turn a few pantry and fridge staples into this good-any-time-of-day meal.

30 min

Bon Appétit

Roasted Black Bass with Orange-Flower Water

By Andy Baraghani

While fried whitefish or smoked whitefish is most commonly eaten during Nowruz, the Persian New Year, Andy Baraghani goes a little rogue.

Bon Appétit

Khoresh Gheymeh (Meat and Split Pea Stew)

By Naz Deravian

In the canon of iconic Iranian stews, khoresh gheymeh holds a top spot alongside classics like ghormeh sabzi A seemingly humble dish of gently spiced meat and split peas, khoresh gheymeh can be served as a cozy home-cooked meal or a celebratory dish; in big batches as a means of giving alms to those in need; or during religious ceremonies “Gheymeh” refers to the size of the meat, which should be cut into small pieces

120 min

NYT Cooking