Food and Dessert of the Middle East

By: Ayah Rizk and Jana Safieddine

The Middle East is a very ethnic region, especially in terms of the various foods and desserts that are eaten there. Ranging from West Asia to Africa, the Middle East covers a multitude of countries with a similar style of living and cooking.

Below is a description of some of the most common Middle Eastern dishes and our rating of them.

Hummus is a dish that originated from the Middle East, and is enjoyed deeply across the region. It is a blend of chickpeas with tahini, lemon juice, garlic, ground cumin, salt, and topped with olive oil. It is generally served with pita bread or chips, or various vegetables. Ayah’s rating: 7/10; Jana’s rating:10/10

Shawarma is a dish that originated in the Levant region (Lebanon, Syria, and Palestine). It consists of either meat or chicken, as well as either tahini or garlic sauce. Though it is generally prepared in a sandwich, it is also eaten in a salad. Ayah’s rating: 9/10; Jana’s rating: 15/10

Falafel is a dish made with dried chickpeas, mixed with a variety of spices, parsley, and garlic. It is usually dipped in lemon tahini sauce, or eaten in a sandwich with hummus and vegetables. Ayah’s rating: 5/10; Jana’s rating: 7/10

Stuffed Grape Leaves are leaves from a grape vine that are traditionally stuffed with rice, meat, and tomatoes. It is enjoyed in many countries such as Turkey, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Greece, and many others. Ayah’s rating: 10/10; Jana’s rating:10/10

Tabbouleh is a Middle Eastern take on salad that includes, chopped parsley, tomatoes, cucumbers, lemon, and bulgur. It originated and is primarily eaten in Levant area, though people all throughout the Middle East still enjoy it. Ayah’s rating: 10/10; Jana’s rating:10/10

Fattoush is a type of salad that originated in northern Lebanon. The salad contains lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, radishes, peppers, green onions, parsley, mint, and is topped with pomegranate molasses and pita chips. Ayah’s rating: 6/10; Jana’s rating: 12:10

Taouk are chicken skewers that originated in Turkey, and are a staple in Lebanon, Syria and Egypt, as well as other middle eastern countries. The chicken is marinated with yogurt, lemon juice, and mixed in with so many seasonings. Ayah’s rating: 8/10; Jana’s rating: 12/10

Knafeh is shredded Kataifi dough with sweet cheese (or custard) in the center and lots of syrup. It Originated in Nablus, Palestine. Kataifi is the same ingredient used in Dubai chocolate bars. Ayah’s rating: 9/10; Jana’s rating: 10/10

Baklava or Baklawa is one of the most common desserts in the Middle east. Generally a Phyllo dough base, with many variations of fillings, but popularly filled with pistachios or walnuts inside. It is very sweet, due to the heavy amounts of syrup used.

Ayah’s rating: 3/10; Jana’s rating:10/10

Maamoul or “Holiday cookie”, is a dessert mostly eaten on Eid, a religious holiday for Muslims, or on Easter. The cookie is similar to shortbread but has semolina, and is stuffed with dates or nuts, and has fun designs on the top! The origin of the cookie is thought to have been in Ancient Egypt, however it is more popular in the Levant region. The cookie is also known as “kahk” in Egypt and exceptionally has no filling when made there. Ayah’s rating: 9/10; Jana’s rating: 7/10

Atayef is a dessert that originated in the Levantine. This dessert is a fried pancake-like dessert that can be filled with many different fillings, such as ashta (heavy cream, corn starch, and sugar), Nutella, nuts, or cheese, and is topped with simple syrup. Ayah’s rating: 9/10; Jana’s rating: 10/10

Shaabiyat is A middle eastern dessert made with phyllo dough, and filled with custard (made with heavy cream, whole milk, sugar, cornstarch, rose water, orange blossom water, butter, pistachios). Ayah’s rating: 5/10; Jana’s rating: 10/10