Curious about the cuisines of the Middle East? Read our guides and essays to deepen your knowledge of Middle Eastern food history, cooking techniques, ingredients, and more.
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A Time of Plenty: Celebrating Nowruz in America
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Ka’ak, and the Case for the Ancient Arabic Origins of the Bagel
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A Visit to Dubai's Fish Souk
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Serious Entertaining: A Middle Eastern-Inspired Feast
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A Guide to the Wide World of Hummus, According to Reem Kassis
Palestinian Food 101: Recipes to Get You Started
Overhead view of a plate of labneh with za'atar pita chips surrounded by a grocery store container of labneh, a bowl of zatar, and a plate of pita chips
All About Labaneh
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15 Armenian Recipes to Introduce You to the Vibrant Cuisine
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Your Complete Guide to Stocking an Armenian Pantry
Persian Cuisine Guide
Persian Food 101: Recipes to Get You Started at Home
Essential ingredients of a Persian Pantry
How to Stock a Persian Pantry
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Baklava and Beyond: 12 Turkish Sweets You Should Know
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How to Stock a Turkish Pantry: Flavorful Ingredients Worth Seeking Out
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A Tasting Tour of Sunnyside's Top-Notch Turkish and Lebanese Food
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Destination, Jersey: The Wonderful Turkish Food of Paterson, NJ
Overhead view of hummus b'tahini
Hummus B'Tahini
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Ka'ak al Quds (Jerusalem Sesame Bread)
Manasf on green marbled top
Mansaf (Palestinian Spiced Lamb With Rice and Yogurt Sauce)
Finished bowl of maftool
Maftool (Palestinian Wheat Pearls in a Vegetable, Chickpea, and Chicken Stew)
Overhead view of hummus fatteh
This Classic Middle Eastern Recipe Turns Hummus Into a Celebratory Meal
Overhead view of Qudsiyeh
Hummus for Breakfast? Yes, Please
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The Simple Chickpea and Fava Bean Dish Our Editors Adore
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These Creamy Chickpeas Are a Street-Food Favorite
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Fattoush Is a Showstopping Salad That's Easy Enough for Weeknights
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Break Your Fast During Ramadan with this Savory Persian Lamb and Wheat Berry Porridge
Side view of Faloodeh
Fāloodeh (Persian Frozen Noodle and Rose Water Sorbet)
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Fesenjān (Persian Pomegranate and Walnut Meat Braise)
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Kashk-o-Bādemjān (Persian Braised Eggplant With Kashk)
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Māst-o-Khiār (Persian Yogurt with Cucumber)
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Khoresh-é-Bādemjan (Persian Meat and Eggplant Stew)
Overhead view of intricately decorated Sholeh Zard
Sholeh-Zard (Persian Saffron Rice Pudding)
Overhead view of kotlets with tomatoes and french fries
Kotlet (Persian Ground Meat and Potato Patties)
Overhead view of Shirazi salad with bread
Sālād-é-Shirāzi (Persian Cucumber and Tomato Salad)
Overhead view of labaneh on a plate drizzled with olive oil, sprinkled with salt and pepper, and served with pita bread.
Homemade Labaneh (Labneh)
Overhead view of Basbousa Bel Ashta
Basbousa Bel Ashta (Semolina Cake With Ashta Cream Filling)
Overhead view of a half of dish of Egyptian fatta
Egyptian Fatta
Egyptian Bissara
Egyptian Bissara (Split Fava Bean Dip)
Halal cart-style chicken and rice
Serious Eats' Halal Cart-Style Chicken and Rice With White Sauce 
A small bowl of toum, Lebanese garlic sauce, with a spoon next to it.
Traditional Toum (Lebanese Garlic Sauce) Recipe
Dipping pita bread into baba ganoush in a small bowl, drizzled with olive oil.
The Best Baba Ganoush Recipe
A stack of pitas on a wooden surface
Homemade Pita Bread Recipe
Overhead shot of a bowl of chicken and lentil stew topped with fried onions and tomatoes
Chicken and Lentil Stew With Tomatoes and Onions Recipe
Maqlubeh plated on a white dish with a bowl of sauce and a small salad next to it
Maqlubeh (Palestinian "Upside Down" Meat, Vegetables, and Rice)
Plated msakhan.
Msakhan (Palestinian Flatbreads With Onion, Sumac, and Spiced Roast Chicken)
Taboon breads in a cast-iron skillet on river pebbles and spread out across a white linen.
Taboon (Palestinian Flatbread)
Shurabet el eid in a white bowl
Shurabet el Eid (Holiday Soup) Recipe
North African Tuna Rice Salad
North African Tuna and Rice Salad
Labaniyeh bil Ruz in a black bowl with toasted pine nuts
Labaniyeh bil Ruz (Garlicky Yogurt and Rice Porridge) Recipe
Overhead view of Qidreh with a side plate of yogurt
Qidreh (Palestinian Bone-In Lamb With Spiced Rice)
Overhead view of kafta in baking dish next to a bowl of rice.
Kafta bi Bandora (Palestinian Ground Meat Patties in Tomato Sauce)
Overhead view of finished dawali
Dawali (Palestinian Stuffed Grape Leaves)
Hashweh with chicken served with a bowl of yogurt and farmers salad.
Hashweh (Palestinian Spiced Rice and Meat)
Overhead shot of Salata falahiyeh in a patterned blue bowl with crisp pita
Salata Falahiyeh (Palestinian or Farmers Salad)
Plated pita bread stuffed with falafels, tahini, tomatoes, cucumber, pickles, and shredded cabbage
Homemade Falafel
Overhead closeup of a square bowl of hummus, garnished with a large parsley sprig.
8 Ways to Use Tahini
Side view of holding Sabich
Sabich Sandwiches (Pitas With Eggplant, Eggs, Hummus, and Tahini)
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Zhug (Yemenite Hot Sauce With Cilantro and Parsley) Recipe
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Kanafeh (Middle Eastern Cheese and Phyllo Dessert) Recipe