46 Eid al-Fitr recipes to celebrate the end of Ramadan
From biryani to baklava, the dishes that celebrate the end of Ramadan vary greatly between households. Here are some of our favourite Eid al-Fitr recipes.
Whole-lemon and labne cheesecake with honey and thyme syrup
Begin this recipe two days ahead.
Native ad body.
Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%
Baklava rolls with pistachio, orange and cardamom
This baklava recipe is a tangy twist on a Middle Eastern dessert classic.
Barbecued lamb in baharat and yoghurt
Barbecued lamb leftovers are perfect for wraps and salads to serve on Boxing Day. Begin this recipe a day ahead.
Paul Farag’s grilled prawns, corn, saffron pine nut milk
If you have a little bit of time on your hands and you're raring to dress up your usual prawn salad routine, this is the recipe for you.
Native ad body.
Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%
Turkish eggs with samoon
Though somewhat labour intensive, we promise that baking your own traditional Iraqi bread makes this meal even more delicious.
Baked sardines with zhoug
Choose any fish you'd like because this zesty zhoug will complement them all.
Falafel with cauliflower hummus and burnt paprika butter
Though making a cauliflower hummus as an accompaniment may seem a little burdensome, we promise that it's well worth the effort.
Native ad body.
Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%
Spiced eggplant and chickpea fatteh
This fragrant and savoury Middle Eastern breakfast dish is just what you need to shake up your morning routine.
Fried cauliflower in baharat and tahini sauce
When done right, whole-roasted cauliflower is a textural dream: soft creamy middle with a golden outer crunch.
Paul Farag’s halawet el jibn and candied pine nuts
Mozarella in a dessert may make you baulk, but we guarantee that this sticky Syrian sweet will leave you reaching for more.
Native ad body.
Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%
Paul Farag’s shawarma-spiced chicken with toum
Though you need to start this recipe a day ahead, it truly is minimal effort. Brined overnight, the chicken is moist and tender, elevated by the shawarma spice rub. This dish is a true show stopper.
Paul Farag’s coconut basbousa and fenugreek custard
Fans of coconut and custard will love this take on the traditional Egyptian basbousa pudding by Aalia's Paul Farag.
(1).jpg?resize=380%2C304)
First verdict: Aalia, Sydney
This beautiful Martin Place restaurant – by the team behind Nour – has a refined, shareable menu featuring an all-star cast of Middle Eastern dishes, ideas and flavours. It’s a new winner for Sydney’s CBD.
Native ad body.
Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%
Nomad Melbourne, the long-awaited follow-up to the Sydney original, is finally open on Flinders Lane
“Opening a restaurant over Facetime is not an easy thing to do.”
Baklava
Sweet and laced with spice, this Middle Eastern filo favourite is also an alleged aphrodisiac.
Gerard’s Bistro
A rich, multi-layered menu that draws from Lebanese, Sephardic and Ashkenazi traditions, and is boosted with an arsenal of techniques.
Native ad body.
Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%
Nomad
Nomad has never been an intimate venue, but the food is deeply familiar and personal.
Propeller
Don't let the café-esque aesthetic fool you. Propeller is an operation of substance.
Watch: how to make bolani with Farida Ayubi of Parwana Afghan Kitchen
All along the Silk Road you'll find spin-offs of the stuffed-and-fried flatbread formula. In Afghan cuisine, it's the bolani that has top billing.
Native ad body.
Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%
Shakshuka
We'd happily eat these baked eggs for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
Parwana Afghan Kitchen’s morgh degee
The Adelaide restaurant shares the recipe for this celebratory dish of braised chicken with yoghurt and spices.
Rice, pasta, lentils, canned tomatoes: koshari is made for self-isolation cooking
Rice and lentils served with a spiced tomato sauce and a pile of crisp onion: no wonder this Egyptian comfort food dish is so well loved.
Native ad body.
Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%
Just in: Brisbane’s Gerard’s Bar to reboot with a Middle Eastern-inspired menu
Tapas are out. Mezze and man’oushe are in.
Faloodeh
A textural, refreshing Persian dessert.
Big occasion chicken feasts
These chook-based recipes are sure to inspire the menu at your next dinner party.
Native ad body.
Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%
Beetroot, chickpea and za’atar salad
Roasted beetroot. Tender chickpeas. The zing of za'atar. It's a combination that just works.
A step by step guide to making this cranberry, pistachio and almond nougat
Sweet sticky nougat isn't difficult to make, but timing is essential to its success.
Now open: Shwarmama, a standing-room only kebab and falafel joint by Ester’s head chef
Mat Lindsay has gone in with the owners of Paramount Coffee Project, and they're serving the Middle Eastern snacks from morning till night. Your late-night kebab just got a whole lot better.
Native ad body.
Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%
The history of Middle Eastern food in Australia
The history of Middle Eastern food in this country is a history of people, movement and spices smuggled in suitcases.
A guide to Middle Eastern sweets
Know your baklawa from your basma with our guide to Middle Eastern sweets.
Turkish-style bread with lamb, spices and pine nuts
Inspired by lahmacun (Turkish-style pizzas), this spiced-lamb and flatbread number will fill your kitchen with the smells of just-baked bread.
Native ad body.
Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%
Hana Assafiri: how I eat
The Melbourne chef and founder of Moroccan Soup Bar chef and Speed Date a Muslim on the power of shared food... and her chickpea bake.
Charlie Carrington’s Yemenite pickled cabbage and chickpea salad
When life gives you cabbages, make pickles. These Yemen-style pickled leaves work well with the fresh, chopped vegetables and nutty chickpeas.
How to make hummus
They say hummus takes mere minutes to make but years to perfect. Get the jump on it with these hard-won tips from Kepos & Co’s Michael Rantissi.
Native ad body.
Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%
Greg Malouf’s freekeh with pumpkin and mushrooms
A simple vegetable dish that somehow has everything you could want: sweetness, savoury elements and comfort.
Eggplant lines
Miznon chef Eyal Shani is at his finest in this simple eggplant recipe with an unusual presentation.
Miznon’s whole roasted cabbage cake
Cabbage cake? Yes, you read that right. And it's nothing short of magnificent.
Native ad body.
Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%
Greg Malouf’s baharat lamb shoulder with onions and moghrabieh
"Lamb rubbed with spices and cooked slowly is quite a traditional preparation in the Middle East,” says Greg Malouf. “Served with moghrabieh, giant couscous, this is a great dish to put in the middle of the table with some yoghurt and away you go.”
Rumi’s prawn börek
“Filled pastries have a very long history in the Middle East,” says Joseph Abboud. “The original, sanbosag or sanbusaj, became samosa in India, sambousek in Lebanon and sambusa in Ethiopia, to name a few. Börek, which are a great snack, are another.”
Roasted pumpkin with zhoug
Zhoug is a hot green sauce from Yemen that’s often added to soups and stews for a fresh and fiery finish. Here we’ve paired it with sweet roasted pumpkin for a no-fuss side that’s a winner with chicken.
Native ad body.
Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%
Torshi and makdous
Pickled vegetables and oil-cured eggplant make a winning starter that's easy to prepare ahead.
Greg Malouf’s burrata with broad bean and chickpea stew
Greg Malouf's take on ful medames, with the addition of creamy burrata.
Toum with quick za’atar flatbread and haloumi
Not familiar with toum? Don't worry - one scoop of this dip and you won't be able to forget its luxurious texture and heady garlic notes.
Native ad body.
Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%
Our favourite dishes: June 2018
In honour of our first-ever Middle Eastern issue, we share our favourite plates inspired by the region's cuisine, from Israeli breakfast plates to shawerma-stuffed pita.
Maha
REVIEW Maha is Melbourne’s buzziest Middle Eastern restaurant: a cave-like space splashed in copper and gold that attracts celebrities and celebrating diners in equal measure. Underpinning the atmosphere is the excellent service (credit to the sommeliers for making great wine matches with labels from Chile to Israel) and Shane Delia’s modern take on Middle Eastern […]
Carrot and almond hummus
This carrot and almond hummus is perfect for entertaining. Add grilled chicken and a herb salad to turn it into a delicious lunch.
Native ad body.
Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%
Lamb köfte with green tahini yoghurt
This flatbread is quick and easy - the perfect vehicle for the herb-powered green tahini yoghurt, chilli-spiked lamb köfte and fresh herb salad.
The Apo
REVIEW The Apo is settling into a pleasant groove. This heritage-listed former apothecary is as striking as ever, ancient brick walls offset by cool cement floors, moody lighting and flashes of royal blue, but the service is now pinpoint sharp. That personable touch is needed when negotiating a share-plate menu that reads like Morse code, […]
Eastern Mediterranean restaurant Barzaari to open in Marrickville, Sydney
From joints of meat roasted over charcoal to sandpit-fired coffee, Marrickville makes way for a new eastern Mediterranean restaurant.
Native ad body.
Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%
Gourmet Institute 2016: Ben Williamson
Part of our Gourmet Institute series for 2016 is chef Ben Williamson, a master of modern Middle Eastern cuisine.
Za’atar roast chicken with pilaf, pomegranate and nuts
This fragrant chicken dish is made to serve in the centre of the table for guests to help themselves. We’ve made the za’atar fresh for a more intense thyme flavour.
Ten ways with couscous
Give couscous the limelight for little while, here are 10 different ways to use it.
Native ad body.
Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%
Middle Eastern desserts
15 recipes that prove there's more to Middle Eastern sweets than baklava.
Lamb loin chops with smoky eggplant, and farro and tomato salad
Emma Knowles recipe for lamb loin chops with smoky eggplant, and farro and tomato salad.
Lebanese-style snapper
Michael Bacash recipe for Lebanese-style snapper.
Native ad body.
Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%
Quick meals with burghul
The hero of the classic Middle-Eastern tabbouleh, this grain gives true grit to soups and pilafs.
Lamb kofta wraps with parsley and onion salad
Recipe for lamb kofta wraps with parsley and onion salad.
Fragrant pumpkin rice with quail
Quail and pumpkin pair well in this Middle Eastern-style dish – they both have a little sweetness, and the gaminess of the quail works well with the earthiness of Kent pumpkin.
Native ad body.
Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%
Beef tartare with baharat spice, hummus and lemon sauce
Brigitte Hafner's recipe for beef tartare with baharat spice, hummus and lemon sauce.
Date and preserved lemon chutney
Brigitte Hafner recipe for date and preserved lemon chutney.
Spiced lamb with warm carrot and freekeh salad
Fast recipe for spiced lamb with warm carrot and freekeh salad.
Native ad body.
Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%
Prawn briouats
These crunchy deep-fried king prawn pastries are best when dipped in a cucumber and mint yoghurt.
Chickpea soup with sumac and yoghurt
Recipe for Middle Eastern-style chickpea soup with sumac and yoghurt.
Parwana Afghan Kitchen’s dogh
A must-have recipe for this salty, tangy yoghurt drink.
Native ad body.
Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%
Parwana Afghan Kitchen’s lamb koftas
The Adelaide eatery's version of these meatball favourites.
Middle Eastern Scotch eggs with tahini yoghurt
Recipe for Middle Eastern Scotch eggs with tahini yoghurt.
Grilled eggplant salad with lentils and sesame yoghurt
Australian Gourmet Traveller fast recipe for grilled eggplant salad with lentils and sesame yoghurt.
Native ad body.
Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%
Sumac-crusted chicken with fattoush
Australian Gourmet Traveller fast recipe for sumac-crusted chicken with fattoush.
Spiced lamb with eggplant salad
Australian Gourmet Traveller fast recipe for spiced lamb with eggplant salad.
Fragrant chicken with sumac onions
The list of spices here may seem overwhelming, but rest assured they combine to create the most fragrant chicken you'll come across.
Native ad body.
Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%
Sumac lamb cutlets with beetroot hummus
Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for sumac lamb cutlets with beetroot hummus.
Spiced lamb with cracked wheat and green olive salad
Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for spiced lamb with cracked wheat and green olive salad.
Spiced prawns with chickpeas and fennel salad
Australian Gourmet Traveller fast recipe for spiced prawns with chickpeas and fennel salad.
Native ad body.
Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%
Silverbeet and feta kibbeh with kasundi
Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for silverbeet and feta kibbeh with kasundi from Berta, Hobart.
Eight-hour lamb shoulder with pearl couscous and labne
The ultimate Sunday roast.
Chicken, quince, lemon and almond tagine
Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for chicken, quince, lemon and almond tagine.
Native ad body.
Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%
Fattoush
Australian Gourmet Traveller fast recipe for fattoush salad
Grilled calamari with zhoug
The spicy zhoug is the perfect complement to the grilled calamari.
Lamb kibbeh nayeh with pomegranate and herb salad
Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for lamb kibbeh nayeh with pomegranate and herb salad.
Native ad body.
Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%
Merguez sausages with harissa and couscous
Australian Gourmet Traveller fast recipe for merguez sausages with harissa and couscous.
Watermelon with rosewater, labne, mint and pomegranate molasses
Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for watermelon with rosewater, labne, mint and pomegranate molasses by Joseph Abboud from Rumi, Melbourne.
Baby snapper with cabbage, mint and caraway salad
Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for baby snapper with cabbage, mint and caraway salad by Joseph Abboud from Rumi, Melbourne.
Native ad body.
Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%
Tomato, shanklish and tarragon
Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for tomato, shanklish and tarragon by Joseph Abboud from Rumi, Melbourne.
Barbecued quail with pickled-grape salsa
Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for barbecued quail with pickled-grape salsa by Joseph Abboud from Rumi, Melbourne.
Burnt eggplant with garlic yoghurt and Spanish onion
Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for burnt eggplant with garlic yoghurt and Spanish onion by Joseph Abboud from Rumi, Melbourne.
Native ad body.
Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%
Grilled aged Scotch fillet with zhoug butter and tahini cream
Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for grilled aged Scotch fillet with zhoug butter and tahini cream by Mr Carsisi in Melbourne.
Lamb cutlets with za’atar, toum and caramelised shallots
Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for lamb cutlets with za'atar, toum and caramelised shallots.
Pide rolls with roast lamb and beetroot
Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for pide rolls with roast lamb and beetroot.
Native ad body.
Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%
Barbecued sumac prawns with yoghurt flatbread
Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for barbecued sumac prawns with yoghurt flatbread.
Ancient grain salad, goat’s curd, pomegranate, crisp fried shallots
Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for ancient grain salad, goat’s curd, pomegranate, crisp fried shallots.
Spicy lamb cigars in brik pastry
Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for spicy lamb cigars in brik pastry.
Native ad body.
Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%
Spiced lamb and pine nut köfte with pita
A fast and flavourful take on a classic.
Kebabs with zucchini tzatziki and za’atar
Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for kebabs with zucchini tzatziki and za’atar.
Sumac and mint-grilled lamb chops with quinoa fattoush
Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for sumac and mint-grilled lamb chops with quinoa fattoush.
Native ad body.
Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%
Iranian-style lamb shoulder with cranberry and pistachio spiced rice
Our recipe for Iranian-style lamb shoulder with cranberry and pistachio spiced rice.
Pumpkin fatteh
Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for pumpkin fatteh.
Roast root vegetables with sumac dressing
Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for roast root vegetables with sumac dressing.
Native ad body.
Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%
Lentil and asparagus salad with egg and sumac
Australian Gourmet Traveller fast recipe for lentil and asparagus salad with egg and sumac.
Middle Eastern fruit cakes with orange-blossom meringue
Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for Middle Eastern fruit cakes with orange-blossom meringue.