12 Best Ways to Cook With Za’atarRecipes
After visiting a za’atar farm in Lebanon and bringing home a couple bags of the tangy, herbaceous blend of dried za’atar herb, sumac, sesame seeds, and salt, I’m inspired to start using it more in my cooking. Luckily, I’m not the first to fall in love with this Middle Eastern condiment, so it isn’t hard to find tons of great recipes that use za’atar in tasty ways. Stateside, you can buy some za’atar blends made with the herb itself.
Aug 21, 2023
Ottolenghi’s Chicken Marbella Is a Modern Take on the Comfort Classic
The Comfort Food Collection
It's easy and impressive!
Jul 24, 2023
Iranian Jeweled RiceRecipes
I recently spent a few days with Najmieh Batmanglij — known to many as the “Queen of Persian Cooking” — who opened me up to the cooking of her native Iran, and in particular to a rice dish called jeweled rice, or Javaher Polow. When I took my first bite, I almost cried from a near overload in flavor, fragrance, balance and a notable infusion of love in the grains of rice, tart little barberries, and strands of candied orange peel.
Jul 2, 2023
Trader Joe’s Shawarma Chicken Hummus BowlsRecipes
Three quick ingredients make for the easiest meal ever.
Jun 30, 2023
How To Make BaklavaRecipes
Baklava is one of those desserts that has a reputation for difficulty, but is actually surprisingly easy to make.
Jun 27, 2023
How To Make Baked Falafel in the OvenRecipes
How do you take a pita pocket full of deep-fried falafel — handed to you by a street vendor and devoured on sight — and turn it into a reasonably healthy, everyday affair that you can make at home? The power of the oven. And to make these Middle Eastern baked falafel, all you need is canned chickpeas, onion, garlic, a handful of fresh herbs, and a few spices. These baked falafel have been in my lunch and dinner meal rotation for years now.
Jun 8, 2023
How To Make Pita Bread at HomeRecipes
The pitas you make at home are worlds apart from the stuff you buy in stores, and watching them puff to glorious heights in your oven or on your stovetop is culinary magic.
May 15, 2023
Before and After Your Ramadan Fast: Foods for Suhoor and IftarKitchen
During the month of Ramadan, observers of Islam fast from sunrise to sunset. Learn more about the food associated with this practice.
Feb 27, 2023
Easy Sheet Pan Chicken ShawarmaRecipes
A warm mix of spices coat this easy chicken sheet pan dinner.
Oct 4, 2022
What Is Harissa?Skills
Maybe you’ve heard of harissa, but have you ever tried it? If you love condiments and adding a kick of spice to your meals, you’ll want to check this out! Harissa is a spicy and aromatic chile paste that’s a widely used staple in North African and Middle Eastern cooking. Harissa recipes vary between countries and regions, but a standard version includes a blend of hot chile peppers (which are often smoked), garlic, olive oil and spices, like cumin, coriander, caraway and mint.
Sep 29, 2022
What Is A Meze?Skills
Last week I made a list of small bite meals around the worldA meze is a big part of the dining experience in Eastern Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and Arab countries When served with alcohol like anise-flavored liqueurs such as arak or, ouzo, raki (alcohol made from grape pomace,) or wine, a meze is a main meal. Without alcohol, this is called muqabbilat in Arabic and means “starters,” or appetizers.
Sep 28, 2022
Grilled Carrots Are the Most Underrated Side Dish You Should Be MakingRecipes
The caramelized smokiness is the perfect pairing to ultra creamy labneh.
Sep 24, 2022
How To Make TahiniRecipes
Tahini, or sesame seed paste, is a staple of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cooking. It’s perhaps most notable for its essential role in making hummus, although its uses go far beyond that iconic dip. But tahini can get pricey at the grocery store, and it’s sometimes bitter or rancid after its long wait on the shelf. The good news is you can make this pantry staple at home for a fraction of the cost — and chances are it will taste better, too!
Sep 19, 2022
Fluffy Round Challah and Dukkah Make the Perfect PairRecipes
The dukkah is optional, but highly encouraged.
Sep 15, 2022
This Israeli Couscous Salad Is a Mediterranean Diet DreamRecipes
It's lunch, dinner, and even side dish material.
Sep 10, 2022
5 Ways to Use Pomegranate MolassesSkills
Pomegranate molasses has become one of my favorite ingredients, but it’s a tricky one for many people. Perhaps you, like our assistant editor Ariel, bought a bottle to make one recipe, such as muhammara, and now you’re wondering what else to do with it. Ariel has been after me for months to write down a list of more ideas for pomegranate molasses.
Aug 19, 2022
Shawarma Pita Wraps — But Make it VeganRecipes
A plant-based take on the street-food classic.
Jul 21, 2022
Recipe: Heirloom Tomato Salad with Pomegranate-Sumac DressingRecipes
You’d think I didn’t like fresh tomatoes, the way I avoid them most of the year. Yet it’s precisely because I love tomatoes — ripe, juicy, just-plucked and not shipped-around-the-world ones — that I wait until summer. At last the season has arrived, filling my dinner plate with colorful rounds of heirloom tomatoes. Here’s one way I like to serve them: a simple salad with a sweet, tangy pomegranate and sumac dressing and a handful of fresh herbs.
May 17, 2022
For One or Many: Breakfast MezeSkills
In her tricks to help grown-ups eat breakfast, Sarah Rae suggested buying and eating food that you really like. It got me thinking about my most memorable breakfasts, and the fact that they have nothing to do with the oatmeal I usually eat – or forget to eat – each morning. So, this week, I tried something different.Some of my favorite breakfasts are those spent at the family home of an Armenian friend.
May 12, 2022
How To Make Your Own Dolmas (Stuffed Grape Leaves)Recipes
I’ve always loved dolmas – they’re such a healthy and delicious finger food to take to a picnic or to add to a collection of mezedhes spread around the table. In the past, I used to just grab a plastic container of pre-made dolmas at the grocery store. One day I looked at them and realized three things; one, these are pretty expensive. Two, I could probably make my own rather easily at a much lower cost. Three, homemade ones probably taste much better.
May 11, 2022
How To Make Preserved LemonsRecipes
I recently acquired a lot of meyer lemons from my neighbor’s tree. I can only drink so much lemonade, eat so many lemon pies, and make so much marmalade! So I decided to make preserved lemons, and it was ridiculously easy. Now I have several jars of preserved lemons that I can use in Middle Eastern recipes.Ingredients8 to 10 lemons (I used Meyer, but you can use any regular lemon)Kosher saltEquipment1 quart-sized wide mouth jar with lid1. Sterilize the jar in boiling water for 15 minutes.
Apr 2, 2022
The Herby, Spicy Tomato Salad You’re Going to Want to Serve with EverythingRecipes
This quick salad is a mainstay of the Arab table and is equally at home alongside cheese and eggs for breakfast, or a meat main for lunch or dinner.
Apr 1, 2022
This Date-Walnut Pie Is My Arab American Homage to Pecan PieRecipes
The combination of walnuts, dates, spices, and an orange blossom-scented syrup make this pie something special.
Apr 1, 2022
Avocado Mutabal: A Creamy, Smoky DipRecipes
It's rich with avocado, bright with lime juice, and perfect served with pita.
Apr 1, 2022
Khobz Arabi Is the Soft, Chewy Flatbread of Your DreamsRecipes
These pita breads rise into beautiful bubbles in your home oven.
Apr 1, 2022
Ash ReshtehRecipes
It's the perfect dish to ring in spring.
Mar 14, 2022
This Creamy Vegetable Soup Has a Smart Secret Ingredient
Mediterranean Monday
No cream necessary.
Feb 7, 2022
Muhammara Is the Spicy, Sweet, and Tangy Red Pepper Dip You Need to Know AboutRecipes
It's unlike anything you've had before.
Nov 13, 2021
This Almond Tahini Cake Tastes Like Baklava — Without All the Effort Recipes
Did we mention that it's soaked with a sweet rose syrup and topped with buttery green pistachios?
Nov 3, 2021
Preserved Lemons Are the Briny, Tart Flavor Bomb I Always Have on HandRecipes
They punch up the flavor of everything they touch, from salads to pasta to sandwiches.
Oct 30, 2021
Party on a Plate: Squash Konafi Is Salty, Sweet, Creamy, and Crunchy Recipes
This savory take on the classic Middle Eastern dessert is like nothing we've ever had — in a good way!
Oct 28, 2021
Your New Favorite Air Fryer Recipe: This Extra-Crispy FalafelRecipes
Hot, crispy, golden-brown falafel without a huge pot of oil.
Sep 18, 2021
I Serve These Roasted Parsnips Like French FriesRecipes
They're just as easy and tasty.
Jul 23, 2021
Homemade Dukkah Is a Serious Flavor BoosterRecipes
Use it to season meats, liven up salads, or sprinkle on hummus.
Jul 23, 2021
I Can't Stop Making This Creamy Tahini Ranch (It Tastes Good on Everything)Recipes
Slather it onto skewers, spread it onto toast, or toss it into salads.
Jul 12, 2021
Olive Oil-Braised Chickpeas Are Easy and Hands-Off — But Taste So Luxurious
Most Wanted
You'll turn to this technique all winter long.
Jun 28, 2021
The 15-Minute No-Cook Dinner I Make All Summer Long Recipes
It's packed with SO many good things.
Jun 4, 2021
These Decadent Cardamom-Infused Cream Rolls Are Cause for Celebration Recipes
When my parents were living in Afghanistan these cream-filled pastry horns were bought from special patisseries known as kulchah feroshees.
May 11, 2021
Making "Elephant Ears" for Eid Is a Favorite Family Tradition Recipes
Gosheh fil is a crumbly pastry dessert, dusted with cardamom and ground pistachios.
May 11, 2021
The Traditional Afghan Sweet I Make for Eid Every Year Recipes
Shirpera is a nut-filled sweet with a texture that sits somewhere between a crumbly nougat and fudge.
May 11, 2021
Mujadara Is a Powerhouse Blend of Rice, Lentils, and Deeply Caramelized OnionsRecipes
Serve it over greens, stuff into a pita, or enjoy straight from the pan.
Apr 29, 2021
10 Make-Ahead, Energy-Packed Recipes to Make for SuhoorRecipes
Here are 10 recipes that can also be made ahead, so they are ready for you before the sun rises.
Mar 31, 2021
How To Make Toum, the Lebanese Garlic Sauce You’ll Want to Eat on EverythingRecipes
It's the ultimate expression of pure garlic flavor in a light, fluffy spread.
Jan 29, 2021
The Secret to the Best Fried Eggs of My Life? A Drizzle of Smoky Herb Butter.
Mediterranean Monday
This is the most delicious way to turn eggs into dinner.
Jan 28, 2021
The Life-Changing Persian Soup I’ve Been Making for 15 Years (and Counting)
Kitchn Love Letters
I knew I loved this humble bowl of soup before I ever took my first bite.
Jan 22, 2021
These Chocolate Halawa Cookies Are Rich, Chewy, and Totally Irresistible
Quarantine Cookies
Chocolate cardamom cookies are the perfect base for earthy, slightly savory sesame halawa.
Jan 21, 2021
Sticky Date and Halva Puddings with Tahini Caramel
Cookbook Club
Best eaten warm with a spoon of crème fraîche, yogurt, or sour cream alongside.
Jan 15, 2021
Lemon Chicken with Za’atar
Cookbook Club
It’s a complete winner every time.
Jan 14, 2021
Hassan’s Easy Eggs with Za’atar and Lemon
Cookbook Club
Serve with some warm bread or pita to mop up the oil.
Jan 12, 2021
I Tried This Surprising Cacio e Pepe Upgrade and Couldn’t Believe the Results
Recipe Review
The technique shocked me, too.
Dec 8, 2020
If You Love Tahini, You Need This Roasted Butternut Squash in Your Life Recipes
To say I'm obsessed is an understatement.
Nov 18, 2020
Recipe: Honey Harissa Chicken and ChickpeasRecipes
Honey and harissa flavor this one-dish meal of saucy chickpeas and golden-brown chicken.
Oct 8, 2020
Falastin's Baby Gem Lettuce with Charred Eggplant YogurtRecipes
The cookbook recipe we can't get enough of.
Oct 7, 2020
The Refreshing, Lightly Floral Ingredient That Makes Iced Coffee So Much Better
Ingredient Intelligence
Plus three other ways to use it to amp up your drinks.
Sep 3, 2020
These 2-Ingredient Grilled Yogurt Flatbreads Cook in Just 5 MinutesRecipes
Use them as the base for a Mediterranean-inspired spread.
May 19, 2020
The $10 Spice Blend That Makes Everything It Touches Fancier (and More Delicious)Groceries
One surprise ingredient is what makes it worthy of cult status — and a permanent spot in your spice cabinet.
Apr 14, 2020
I Never Got to Meet My Mother-in-Law, but I Got to Know Her Through the Recipes She Left Behind
Kitchn Love Letters
Kate was an avid cook, who loved good food, her family, and bringing them together around a table.
Feb 13, 2020
How To Make Stuffed Grape Leaves (Dolmades)Recipes
One hot, sunny day in late June I found myself in a tiny Arab market in Jaffa, Tel Aviv, sifting through a box of cucumbers. I was with Deanna and Danya, the lovely ladies behind the popular Israeli food blog Matkonation, and we were ingredient shopping for an afternoon cooking expedition. On the menu: stuffed grape (or vine) leaves made with spiced lamb, fresh mint, dried currants, and a cooling cucumber-yogurt sauce.
Feb 3, 2020
Recipe: Warm Wheat Salad (Or, Reverse Tabbouleh)Recipes
We’re big fans of the Mediterranean and Middle Eastern parsley salad tabbouleh. We frequently make it ourselves – see our recipe here. We had a bunch of fragrant parsley last week, a gift from our aunt’s garden, and we pondered a batch. But it’s getting a little chilly for cold salads; we wanted something warm, and we still had all this locally-made goat feta.So we invented something new: reverse tabbouleh!
Feb 3, 2020
New Year’s Eve Celebration Recipe: Pine Nut-Currant Pilaf (İç Pilav)Recipes
Every holiday season we ask a few friends to join us here at The Kitchn for a series of guest posts. The topics range from favorite holiday recipes to family memories and traditions. Today’s guest: Ilke of the lovely blog Ilke’s Kitchen, writing about her family’s New Year’s Eve traditions of bingo, red underwear (indeed! read on and it will all become clear!) and a scrumptious rice pilaf. Welcome, Ilke!
Feb 3, 2020
Recipe: Spiced Oven Fries with Garlic SpreadRecipes
Fries don’t really come to mind when you think about eating healthy, but these are baked in the oven and served with a light yet creamy garlic dip. Plus, they’re loaded with big flavor from a spice that’s having a moment right now. I recently tried a similar dish at a Lebanese restaurant in Chicago’s Albany Park neighborhood.
Feb 3, 2020
How To Make Fattoush (Middle Eastern Bread Salad) at HomeRecipes
Fattoush is the panzanella you need to know by heart.
Feb 3, 2020
Baba Ghanoush (Eggplant Dip)Recipes
For a long time, the idea of eggplant made me slightly queasy. It was a weird vegetable — kind of soft, kind of bitter, unpredictably textured. I just couldn’t wrap my head around it. So I avoided it for years. What I needed was a gateway to eggplant, an ambassador from the other side. Baba ghanoush, Papa Eggplant, as my Greek friend calls it, was what I needed. Ever since I was introduced to baba ghanoush, that smooth, creamy, smoky eggplant dip, I’ve been hooked.
Feb 3, 2020
It’s Time to Fall in Love with FattoushPeople
It was love at first bite.
Feb 3, 2020
Recipe: Palestinian Red Lentil and Squash Soup with Za’atar CroutonsRecipes
Around the World in 30 Soups: This month we’re collaborating with chefs, cookbook authors, and our own Kitchn crew to share a globetrotting adventure in soups from countries and cuisines around the world. Today’s stop: Palestine. Yasmin Khan’s deep research and cookbooks on the Middle East have become new favorites for many of us here, so we turned to her work on Palestine cooking and were really struck by the flavors and spice of this za’atar-flavored soup.
Feb 3, 2020
Recipe: Turkish-Style Shepherd’s PieRecipes
I have a bit of a love affair with shepherd’s pie, and I always make extra mashed potatoes just in case the spirit strikes me. Leftover mashed potatoes, after all, are a great start to any shepherd’s pie; they’re able to soak up that yumminess from the bubbling stew below, and easy enough to doctor up with a few fresh herbs and some warm cream if need be.
Feb 3, 2020
Recipe: Ortine’s Mediterranean PlatterRecipes
We are really excited about this recipe from Sarah Peck, the head chef at charming Brooklyn eatery Ortine. We just did a kitchen tour of Ortine, and Sarah gave us this recipe to share with you. The thing is, though, it’s really five recipes!These recipes make up a popular dish at Ortine, a bright and delicious Mediterranean platter.
Feb 3, 2020
Recipe: Mediterranean Breakfast PitasRecipes
It’s easy to become rigid about what flavors are appropriate at breakfast time. Although cinnamon is delicious, it’s not the only spice on the morning market. Bringing your favorite Mediterranean-flavored sandwich from lunch to breakfast is as easy as putting an egg on it. This protein-packed combination of egg and hummus is a surefire way to start your day on the right note. Wrap it in a piece of foil, and you’re out the door with a portable breakfast.
Feb 3, 2020