List of Middle Eastern & Meza Recipes

NOTE: I am moving recipes from my old Cat’s Kitchen site to this site, and have many to move; please be patient.

These recipes are primarily from Israel, Lebanon, Syria and Turkey and have much in common with recipes from Greece and other Balkan countries. They include abundant use of spices, herbs, nuts, olive oil, and yogurt. I also include a few Persian recipes.

(Photo from Wikimedia Commons)

See also:

• Lamb Menu
• Mediterranean Menu (Greek, Italian, Spanish)
• See below for Middle-Eastern Meza (Dips, Salads, Appetizers & Sauces)

Appetizer, Bread, Condiment, and Dip Recipes:

• Baba Ghanoush (Eggplant Dip)
• Bissara (Fava Bean Dip)
• Hummus (Garbanzo Dip)
• Lavash (or Lavosh): Armenian or Turkish Flatbread
• Lebneh (Lebanese Yogurt Sauce)
• Pita (Middle Eastern Flatbread)
• R’ghayaf: Moroccan Semolina Flatbread (2 versions)
• Spinach Pie (Lebanese)
• Tabouli (Tabbouleh)
• Tsatziki (Cucumber Dip)

Main Course & Sides

• Basic Braised Lamb Shank or Leg of Lamb
• Basic Roast Leg of Lamb with Herbs
• Bulgur Pilaf
• Cabbage Rolls Stuffed with Lamb & Bulgur
• Cabbage Rolls Stuffed with Chickpeas & Bulgur (Syrian)
• Chicken Sauté with Middle Eastern Flavors
• Chicken, Roasted with Persian Sweet & Sour Stuffing
• Falafel (chickpea and/or fava)
• Ful Mudammes (or Foul Medammes)
• Kafta: Middle-Eastern Burgers, Ovals or Sausages
• Lamb Chops with Mint Gremolata
• Lamb & Cucumber Souvlaki, with Feta Sauce
• Lamb Roast with Garlic & Rosemary, and Optional Mint Sauce
• Lamb Slow-Roast with Cumin & Coriander Spice Rub, and Spicy Yogurt-Mint Sauce
• Lebanese Favas
• Moroccan-Style Lamb Pilaf
• Spinach Pie (Lebanese)
• Tabouli with Grilled Lamb and Chick Peas

Dessert & Treat Recipes

• Orange Semolina Cake

Meza

Meza is like a Middle Eastern Smorgasbord, or buffet.  But of course, the flavors are distinctly Mediterranean.  In addition to these recipes, other Meza sides include pita, hummus and other dips, olives, wedges of fresh lemon or lime, grilled meats (chicken, fish, lamb or beef), sausage, and other middle-Eastern preparations).

Beverages:

• Lassi: Sweet or Salty (Ayran) Turkish Yogurt Beverage
• Dahi, an East-Indian Yogurt Beverage

Accompaniments, Appetizers, Breads, Dips, Salads, Sauces

• Baba Ghanoush (Eggplant Dip)
• Bissara (Fava Bean Dip)
• Black-Eyed Pea Salad
• Bulgur Pilaf
• Cabbage Rolls Stuffed with Chickpeas & Bulgur
• Chicken Sauté with Middle Eastern Flavors
• Falafel (chickpeas and/or favas)
• Favas, Lebanese Style
• Fresh Favas, Sauteed
• Ful Mudammes (or Foul Medammes)
• Greek Salad Pita Sandwich
• Greens Salad, with Chickpeas
• Horiatiki (Greek Village Salad and Dressing)
• Hummus (Hommos; Garbanzo Dip)
• Kafta (Lebanese Lamb Burgers/Sausages)
• Lamb & Cucumber Souvlaki, with Feta Sauce
• Lebneh (Yogurt sauce)
• Stuffed Grape Leaves (Dolmades) with Rice and Herb; see also Grape Leaves (About)
• Pita (Middle Eastern Flatbread)
• Spanakopita (Greek Spinach Pie)
• Spinach Pie (Lebanese)
• Tabouli (tabbouleh): 2 versions
• Tabouli with Grilled Lamb and Chick Peas
• Taratour Sauce (Tangy Sesame Tahini)
• Tsatziki (Cucumber Dip)
• Yogurt & Garlic Dressing
• Other Sites:
• Roasted Beet Huhammara, an alternative to Hummus (Fine Cooking)
• Shredded Romaine & Cucumber Salad with Yogurt Dressing (Fine Cooking)
•  Snap Peas with Turkish Tarator Sauce (Fine Cooking)
• Epicurious Middle Eastern recipes
• Sprouted Buckwheat (Kaska) Tabouli

Related sites: 1. Epicurious Middle Eastern recipes (1)

Meza Menu Ideas

Use these menus to get ideas for your own meza:

• Al Amir (Portland, OR)
• The Middle East Club (Boston, MA)
• The Cedars of Lebanon (Salt Lake City, UT)

References:

1. Epicurious Middle Eastern recipes