The food of the Mediterranean and the Middle East boasts delicious fare like falafel, several types of hummus, Baba Ghanoush, maqluba, knafeh -- recipes you will make on repeat.
Maqluba
Chef Ajay Thakur's wonderful recipe for this prize Middle Eastern dish will set up your weekend.
It's a traditional pot of rice, meat and fried vegetables, garnished with nuts, served upside-down like a savoury biryani cake, with creamy labneh, a kind of raita. This version uses boneless chicken.
Please find the recipe here: Maqluba
Chicken Falafel
Ever wondered what happens when falafel meets chicken kebab?
Chef Gunjit Singh Chawlal experiments by adding minced chicken to the classic ground chickpea mix, creating a desi Middle Eastern fusion he proudly calls Chicken Falafel.
Please find the recipe here: Chicken Falafel
Turkish Potato Gozleme
Gözlemes are the Turkish cousins of our kulchas or baida rotis, only bigger, fatter thinner, and often filled with luscious cheese like the golden-yellow kaşar or creamy beyaz panir (the Turkish white paneer cheese).
This version, with a hearty potato stuffing, is inspired by the many gözlemes Zelda Pande enjoyed during her travels across Turkey.
Please find the recipe here: Turkish Potato Gozleme
Cold Mezze Platter
Vindhya Karwa guides you to making this spread. It features falafel, hummus, a beetroot and peanut salad, tahini sauce, labneh, smoky Baba Ganoush, all to be nibbled with pita.
Please find the recipe here: Cold Mezze Platter
Zaffran Milk Cake
Chef Ajay Thakur is back with the preparation for a Middle Eastern indulgence -- soft, moist, the cake is soaked in saffron-infused milk and melts in your mouth with every bite.
Please find the recipe here: Zaffran Milk Cake
Cheese Rakakat
Crispy rolls filled with cheese and spices, these Lebanese-type spring rolls showcase the cheese they are stuffed with.
Recipe courtesy Chef Farah Mohamed.
Please find this recipe here: Cheese Rakakat
Falafels
A very popular street food of the region it is made from soaked, ground chickpeas, herbs, onion, garlic and other basic seasonings.
Bethica Das has a recipe for this chickpea fritter.
Please find the recipe here: Falafels
Fattoush Salad
Fattoush is a much-loved salad from Lebanon and Syria, packed with all sorts of veggies and herbs that turns roasted or even day-old pita into something delicious.
Zelda Pande's take on this classic is best enjoyed freshly tossed at the table -- if you wait too long, the pita loses its crispness.
Please find the recipe here: Fattoush Salad
Chicken Shawarma
MasterChef contestant Amir Manoly takes the classic cuts of thigh and drumstick of the chicken and marinates with a fragrant blend of Middle Eastern and Indian spices and roasts the pieces in the oven to get excellent results. It is eaten wrapped in flatbread.
Please find the recipe here: Chicken Shawarma
Apricot Muhalabiya
A Middle Eastern dessert, Muhalabiya is similar to the Italian panna cotta but without the gelatine. It's served chilled with a garnish of dry fruits and nuts.
Please find the recipe here: Apricot Muhalabiya
Mini Mango Knafeh
Nadiya Sarguroh presents a fresh take on a popular Middle Eastern dessert.
Stuffed with cheese and topped with chopped pistachios, her baby aam knafehs are baked until crisp and golden brown.
Please find the recipe here: Mini Mango Knafeh