Are All Middle Eastern Food Same?

Deirat Hali
2 min readApr 21, 2022

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The answer to “are all middle eastern food the same?” is a no and a yes!

Lebanese Restaurant Ras Al Khaimah
Deirat Hali

Since the roots of the cuisine is same, the ingredients, methods and flavours differ.

Middle Eastern food, culture and tradition are diverse and rich. All countries have their own food culture, including spicy foods, cooking styles, dishes, and more. The following is a comparison of the different Middle Eastern cuisines that are famous in the west as well.

Iranian Food: Rice topped with meat, vegetables, and nuts is the best known combination of this cuisine. Traditionally, these dishes are cooked in large batches and contain herbs such as raisins, pomegranates, and plums. The dishes are also spiced with parsley, turmeric and cinnamon. There is nothing like Iranian food, which includes a variety of colors and flavors, combining sour with sweet and spicy with mild.

Moroccan Cuisine: Meats like goat, beef, lamb, mutton, chicken and seafood play a major role in many Thai dishes. There are flavors such as preserved lemon and cold pressed argan oil, and dried fruits as well. Popular herbs include mint, parsley, and coriander. In Moroccan cuisine, herbs and spices are used heavily, with Ras el Hanout being the most popular.

Syrian: A portion of this cuisine consists of eggplants, lamb, or mutton, and rice. There is a modern dining culture in Syria that introduces a selection of appetizers called mezze, which are usually served with Arabic bread before the main course. Humus, tabbouleh, and moussaka are among the mezze.

Lebanese: A wide variety of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and fresh fish and seafood are all part of this cuisine. The majority of meat dishes are poultry-based, but you can also find lamb and goat dishes. Traditionally, garlic and olive oil are seasoned with lemon juice and used extensively. A few of the most popular dishes are Baba Ganoush, Falafel, and Shawarma.

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