Middle Eastern cuisine is a delicious and diverse culinary tradition that offers a variety of vegetarian dishes by default, making it very easy to order at a restaurant or follow a recipe at home. And with an emphasis on fresh ingredients, bold spices and complex flavor combinations, Middle Eastern cuisine has something to offer everyone – whether you’re a seasoned vegetarian or just looking to eat a more plant-based diet.
Here are 12 of our favorite vegan Middle Eastern recipes:
Tofu Shawarma Skewers
A shawarma is a sandwich traditionally made with thin slices of meat (usually chicken or lamb) marinated in a mixture of spices and grilled on a spit. The meat is then wrapped in pita bread with various toppings and sauces. This dish is so fun to veganize, and some restaurants even offer vegan meat on a spit to recreate the traditional experience. This recipe uses a shawarma marinade so you can enjoy shawarma tofu at home.
falafel
A classic vegan dish made from chickpeas or fava beans mixed with herbs and spices, formed into balls or patties and deep fried. Falafel is often wrapped in a pita or served on a plate with vegetables and sauce.
fatach
Fattoush is a fresh, tangy salad of mixed greens, tomatoes, cucumbers and radishes dressed with a lemon juice and sumac vinaigrette. This recipe includes pomegranate.
what
A traditional Levantine dish, kibbeh is made with bulgur wheat, minced onion, and beef or lamb. The mixture is formed into balls or patties and can be served raw, fried or baked. The classic dish can easily be veganized by subbing your favorite vegan ground meat for the beef, as in this recipe.
Stuffed Grape Leaves (Warak Enab)
Warak Enab is commonly found in countries such as Lebanon, Syria, Turkey and Greece. It is often served as an appetizer but can also be a main course. Grape leaves are traditionally filled with a mixture of rice, herbs and sometimes meat. The leaves are wrapped around the filling and cooked, usually by boiling or steaming. Warak enab can be served hot or cold and is often accompanied by yogurt, tomato sauce or tahini.
Baba Ganoush
Baba Ganoush is a dip made with fried eggplant, tahini, olive oil, lemon juice and garlic. This delicious dish goes well with hummus and is often served with pita bread.
hummus
Hummus is a classic dip made with chickpeas, tahini, olive oil, lemon juice and garlic. In fact, it’s every new vegan’s ritual to put hummus on almost everything! Hummus is often served as an appetizer or a snack with pita bread or vegetables but works great as a spread for sandwiches. There are tons of variations. This recipe uses roasted red peppers to give the hummus an extra kick.
Makloba
Makloba, also known as mahlubeh or “overturned rice,” is a one-pot dish made with rice, chicken, and vegetables such as eggplant, tomatoes, and onions. The ingredients are layered in a pot and cooked together. This delicious and naturally gluten-free dish is one of the national dishes of Palestine.
Muhammad
Muhammara is a popular dip that originated in Syria. It is made with roasted red peppers, walnuts, breadcrumbs, olive oil, pomegranate molasses, garlic, and a mixture of spices, such as cumin and Aleppo pepper. It can be served as a dip for pita bread or raw vegetables, or used as a spread on sandwiches or crackers. The sweetness of pomegranate molasses and the nuttiness of walnuts combine with smoky roasted red peppers to create a complex and delicious flavor.
tabouli
Tabouli is a popular salad made with parsley, tomatoes, onions and bulgur wheat with lemon juice and olive oil.
Baklava
Similar to the Greek baklava, baklava is a sweet, flaky pastry Lebanese dessert made with layers of filo dough, chopped almonds, and rose water/orange blossom sugar syrup. This yummy dessert is often served with tea or coffee.
the barn
Koshari (also spelled “koushari” and “koshari”) is the national dish of Egypt made with brown lentils, rice, spicy tomato sauce, pasta, and crispy onions. Like many Middle Eastern staples, kosher is vegetarian by default, which makes it easy to find and follow a recipe. It transforms a classic recipe to make the dish healthy as well as delicious.
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These are just a few of the many Middle Eastern recipes that are either already vegetarian or can easily be made vegetarian. Looking for more spice in your life? Check out our list of plant-based spices that everyone needs in their cabinet!