Middle Eastern cuisine is one of the most flavourful and varied in the world. If you're looking to spice up your cooking repertoire (or you want to know what to order at MAHA Restaurant), look no further than these 10 must-try Middle Eastern dishes.

From fragrant rice dishes and hearty stews to delicious sweets and snacks, there's something for everyone on this list. And the best part? All of these recipes can be easily made at home with ingredients that are readily available at your local grocery store. So what are you waiting for? Start cooking!

1. Hummus

Hummus is a rich and creamy dip or spread made from cooked, mashed chickpeas or other beans, blended with tahini, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and spices. It's a staple of Middle Eastern cuisine and can be enjoyed in many different ways. Serve it as a dip with fresh vegetables or pita bread, or use it as a sandwich or wraps filling. You can even eat it straight up with a spoon!

2. Baba Ganoush

Baba Ganoush is another popular dip or spread made from roasted eggplant, tahini, olive oil, garlic, and lemon juice. It has a similar flavour and consistency to hummus but is slightly smokier due to the addition of roasted eggplant. Serve baba ganoush like you would hummus - with fresh vegetables, pita bread, or as a sandwich or wrap filling.

3. Falafel

Falafel are fried balls or patties made from ground chickpeas or fava beans and spices such as cumin, coriander, and garlic. They are often served in pita sandwiches with chopped vegetables and tahini sauce but can also be enjoyed on their own as a snack or appetiser.

4. Shakshuka

Shakshuka is a dish of eggs poached in a tomato and pepper-based sauce. It's typically seasoned with cumin, paprika, chili peppers, and garlic and can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Shakshuka is usually served in skillets or casseroles so that each person can enjoy their own personal portion.

5. Kofta

Kofta are grilled or roasted meatballs typically made from lamb or beef but can also be made from chicken or fish. They are often served as part of a main dish alongside rice or potatoes and vegetables but can also be skewered and served as appetisers or snacks.

6. Fattoush

Fattoush is a chopped salad made from fresh vegetables such as tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, and herbs such as mint and parsley. It is typically seasoned with sumac (a tart dried fruit) and lemon juice and finished with pieces of toasted pita bread known as "croutons".

7. Tabbouleh

Tabbouleh is another chopped salad similar to fattoush but with a heavier emphasis on fresh herbs such as parsley, mint, and bulgur wheat, which gives the salad its characteristic chewiness. Like fattoush, it is usually seasoned with sumac (or lemon juice) and olive oil but does not contain any croutons/toasted bread pieces.

8. Manakeesh

Manakeesh is a type of flatbread that can either be savoury or sweet depending on how its toppings are prepared. For savoury manakeesh, toppings such as cheese, za'atar (a blend of thyme, sesame seeds and sumac), olive oil and/or ground lamb are added to the dough before baking - whereas for sweet manakeesh, honey, sugar, cinnamon and/or nuts are used instead.

9. Dolma

Dolma refers to any stuffed vegetable dish where the vegetable "shells" are typically stuffed with rice, meat and/or spices. Common examples of dolma include stuffed grape leaves (known as "yaprak dolma" in Turkish cuisine), stuffed bell peppers, and stuffed eggplants. Dolma can be served hot or cold.

10. Baklava

Baklava is a rich dessert made from layers of phyllo dough filled with ground nuts such as pistachios, walnuts or almonds. The dough layers are held together with syrup (typically honey-flavoured) or melted butter. Baklava originates from Turkish cuisine but is now enjoyed in many different countries throughout the Middle East.

Hungry yet?

Middle Eastern cuisine offers something for everyone - whether you're looking for flavourful dips and spreads; hearty stews; crunchy salads; grilled meats; or delicious desserts! With so many different options to choose from, you're sure to find several dishes that become new favourites in your kitchen repertoire. So, what are you waiting for? Start cooking today!