Middle East

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 …

Situated in the heart of the Middle East, bordering Syria and Israel, lies Lebanon. Known for its rich archeology, dating back to prehistoric times, as well as its vibrant, diverse culture, Lebanon is a small country that packs a big punch. Lebanese cuisine is known around the world and is eponymous with Middle Eastern cooking. …

Adana kebab is one of the most popular types of kebab in the world, let alone in Turkey where the dish originates. Kebabs are an essential character in Turkish cuisine. Every city in Turkey has their own unique recipe for kebabs, the most popular includes beef kofta, iskender, doner, chicken shish and marinated lamb shish …

Feteer Meshaltet is a flaky Egyptian layered pastry with butter in between the layers. It is popularly known as “Egyptian layered pastry”. Feteer Meshaltet can be enjoyed with both sweet and savory fillings such as cheese, coconut, chocolate, sausages, ground beef and many more. Feteer Meshaltet is traditionally given as a gift to visitors and …

Fesikh, sometimes spelled Fseekh, is a type of mullet dish that is eaten as it is in Arab countries, especially Egypt, on Eid al-Fitr and after the month of Ramadan. It is known for having a very pungent smell and for the fact that it can be deadly if not prepared correctly. Alternatively, Fesikh is …

Afghanistan is a landlocked country located in the centre of the Asia, bordering on and often considered to be part of the Middle East. Historical landmarks, cultural heritage attractions and incredible landscapes are part of Afghanistan’s appeal to tourists. Most Popular Afghan Dishes The cuisine of Afghanistan is one of the least well-known throughout the …

Lahmacun (pronounced LA-ha-MA-chewn) is also known as ‘Turkish Pizza’ or ‘Armenian Pizza’. It is actually significantly different from a traditional Italian pizza, with no cheese to be found in the dish. Lahmacun is made using a round, thin dough topped with minced meat, vegetables and an array of spices. The thin crust is one of …

Just at the intersection of where East meets the West, Turkey’s cuisine is a reflection of its melting pot of cultures. It is largely inherited from the Ottoman Empire cuisine which in itself was a fusion of Central Asian, Middle Eastern, Eastern European, Armenian, Balkanian and Mediterranean cuisines. Most Popular Turkish Dishes Turkish food varies …

Sujuk is a delicious dry, spiced sausage consumed in countries throughout the Middle East. It is typically made of either beef, lamb or horse meat. Whilst most commonly associated with Lebanon and Turkey, it is revered in Egypt, Syria, Palestine, Israel and Iraq too. Sujuk, also known as sucuk, soudjouk or sudzhuk, is most popularly …

It’s thick. It’s red-golden. It’s delightfully sweet. And it might just kill you if you consume more than one teaspoon. We’re talking about mad honey – a psychedelic liquid that will have you tripping with just one spoonful. It’s hard to believe something as harmless as honey could pack so much power within. Don’t fall …

Egyptian food sets a precedent for much of the Middle East and is home to some bountiful regional culinary delights that have to be tried. Typically, Egyptian food combines vegetables, beans, legume, lentils, onions, pasta, rice and cumin with Mediterranean influences. All notable characteristics of Egypt’s mouth-watering national dishes. Meat in Egypt is often quite expensive so is rarely …