Middle East

Hamine, also known as beid hamine or beid haouzi in Egypt, are long-simmered eggs that belong to the Sephardic Jewish cuisine. The eggs are allowed to simmer gradually in their broth till they attain a browned flavour. Unlike traditional hard-boiled eggs that are a little rubbery and dry, hamine eggs are soft and creamy in …

Amba is a fermented mango condiment made from firm unripe mangoes, spices and peppers placed in a jar. A salty brine is poured over the ingredients and the jar is sealed and set aside to ferment for over a week. Once it has fermented sufficiently, the amba is pureed to the desired level of chunkiness. …

Cyprus is an island country situated in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, south of the Anatolian Peninsula. The country is best known for the Limassol carnival, wreck diving, Haloumi cheese and its dessert wine (also known as Commandaria). The population of Cyprus is made up of two major ethnicities, including Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. Cypriot …

Palestine is an area in the eastern Mediterranean region, including parts of contemporary Israel, the Palestinian territories of the Gaza Strip (along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea) and the West Bank (west of the Jordan River). The area is considered a holy land in three of the world’s greatest religions: Christianity, Islam and Judaism.   …

Yemen is located in the Middle East at the Southern edge of the Arabian Peninsula. On its north is the country of Saudi Arabia and the country of Oman is located to its east. The west and south borders of Yemen are entirely coastal. The climate is dry, hot and humid. Over half of Yemen’s …

Locusts are a group of specific species of short-horned grasshoppers in the family Acrididae, consisting of a swarming phase. Of all the other species, the desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria) is perhaps the most common owing to its extensive distribution (North Africa, the Middle East, and the Indian subcontinent) and its capability to migrate over long …

Iran, also known as Persia, is a country in Western Asia in the Middle East ,bordered by countries including Iraq, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Armenia, the Caspian Sea, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, the Gulf of Oman, and the Persian Gulf. Iran, the fifth-largest country in Asia, is known for being the birthplace of one of the world’s earliest …

Ghormeh Sabzi is a traditional Iranian herb and meat stew dish. While recipes vary slightly, most recipes will consist of parsley, fenugreek, cilantro, dried Persian lime, onion, kidney beans and meat. The herbs are cooked separately from the beans and meat. Near the end of the cooking time all the ingredients are combined. Ghormeh Sabzi …

Koshary is Egypt’s national dish, consisting of chickpeas, pasta, rice and brown lentils, smothered in a spicy tomato sauce and topped with delicious crispy onions. This dish is a hearty Egyptian comfort food, served in virtually every Egyptian restaurant, home and street corner. Koshary can be served from a large platter or the individual components …

Israel is a land of the eternal sun, sandy deserts and amazing foods. Created a little over 70 years ago, it is a country of contradictions, traditional values, gastronomical values ​​and modern technologies. Israel is known for its holy places and the healing Dead Sea that awaits tourists all year round. Most Popular Israeli Foods …

Ayran is a Turkish yogurt-based drink and is prepared using yogurt, chilled or iced water, and salt. Often, ingredients like black pepper, lime juice, and herbs such as dried mint are also added to enhance the flavor. One can also find some carbonated versions of ayran. The Turkish delicacy is known by many other names …

Gaz is a type of Iranian nougat candy, originating in the Isfahan region. The main ingredients of Gaz are sugar or corn syrup, pistachio, almond kernels, rosewater and egg whites. In the United States and Europe, it is commonly referred to as Persian Nougat. Typically gaz is accompanied by tea or sherbet and is eaten …

Iraq is a country located in the Middle East, sharing a border with countries including Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Syria, Iran and Turkey. It has a very small coastline on the Persian Gulf. Interestingly, it was in Iraq that the first cooking recipe “books” were discovered. The age of these clay tablets, according to some …

Syria officially also known as the Syrian Arab Republic is located on the east coast of the Mediterranean Sea in southwestern Asia. It is land of high mountains, deserts, and fertile plains with most diverse ethnic groups including majority Turkmens, Circassians Greeks, Assyrians, Armenians, Mandaeans, Syrian Arabs and Kurds. Unfortunately Syria has most recently been known for its enduring …

Camel meat is considered to be one of the leanest red meats available. With a little bit of a sweet aftertaste, camel meat is very similar to beef in terms of flavor and texture. A camel burger also looks relatively similar to a traditional beef burger. Camel meat contains less cholesterol and is very rich …

Bastani Sonnati (or simply Bastani) is a popular Iranian ice cream made with saffron, milk, rose water, eggs, vanilla, sugar, and pistachios. It is popularly known for its usage of Salep, a flour made from the tubers of wild orchid, which gives it a chewy texture. Chunks of clotted frozen cream are often added for …

Chopan kabob is a Pashtun delicacy consisting of skewered and grilled lamb meat. The meat is marinated with onion juice, ginger, salt, garlic, and yogurt before being grilled over a traditional Afghan charcoal brazier called mankal. Generally made using the best cuts of the meat (shoulder, loin or belly), chopan kabob is seasoned with sumac …

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, located in the heart of Western Asia, is the largest country of the Middle East and one of the most influential in the region. The country has huge economic importance due to being the world’s leading oil exporter. It is also well-known for being the ancestral home to the second …