Arab cuisine: recipes for meat dishes, pastries and sweets

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

In Arabic cuisine, the culinary traditions of the inhabitants of several eastern states are intertwined. The main place in it is occupied by dishes from rice, poultry, veal, goat meat, beef, vegetables, fresh and canned fruits. Muslims also enjoy eating eggs, dairy products and fish. From spices they prefer cinnamon, garlic, black and red pepper. In today's article you will find some interesting recipes for traditional Arabic treats.

Main Features

Arab cuisine was formed taking into account the religious beliefs of the inhabitants of this region. Therefore, there are no pork dishes on the menu of the local population. Instead, beef, lamb and poultry are successfully used here. The meat is fried, boiled, stewed or baked in the oven.

Arabs love hearty and tasty food. Therefore, their traditional lunch consists of soups with rice, beans, vermicelli, peas or capers. Local culinary specialists flavor their masterpieces with greatthe amount of spices. Cinnamon, garlic, olives, onions, aromatic herbs and a mixture of ground peppers are especially popular with Arabs. Various pilafs, stew or fried meat are served here as second courses. Most traditional Arabic recipes call for a hot sauce made from mustard, dried herbs and red pepper.

Heat treatment of products occurs with a minimum addition of fat. Often, Arab cooks fry meat on a dry, very hot frying pan. In this case, the proteins contained in it come into contact with the hot surface of the dish and curl up, forming a crust that prevents the juice from flowing out.

The so-called burgul is especially popular with the local population. It is a corn or wheat porridge, poured with sour milk. For holidays, burgul is covered with small pieces of meat or seasoned with fat.

Various fruits are no less in demand among residents of Arab countries. Dates are especially loved by the Muslim population. They are valued in the East in the same way as cereals. They are eaten not only fresh, dried or dried. These fruits are used to make a special paste, which is then mixed with barley flour.

Basbusa

This classic Arabic pastry is a semolina-based pie soaked in sweet syrup. To create it you will need:

• 2 cups semolina.
• 1 tbsp l. vanilla sugar.
• 100 g softened butter.
• ½ cup each of sugar and flaked coconut.
• 1 hourl. baking powder.
• 1 glass of fresh yogurt.

All this is necessary for kneading the dough. To make a sweet impregnation, you will need:

• 1 glass of filtered water.
• 1 tbsp l. lemon juice.
• ½ cup cane sugar.
• 1 tbsp l. rose water.
• Almonds (for decoration).

In a deep container, combine semolina, coconut, baking powder, regular and vanilla sugar. All this is poured with kefir and melted butter, and then mixed well. The resulting dough is put in the refrigerator for two hours, and then laid out in a greased form, leveled. Covered with almonds and sent to the oven. The product is baked at 150 degrees until fully cooked. The browned basbousa is cooled a little, poured over with syrup made from sugar, lemon juice, plain and rose water, and left to soak.

Meat omelet

Fans of hearty breakfasts will surely enjoy the recipe of Arabic cuisine described below. To repeat it at home, you will need:

• 4 selected eggs.
• 350g beef.
• 120 ml pasteurized milk.
• 100 g chives.
• 40g butter.
• 10g flour.
• S alt.

The washed beef is ground twice in a meat grinder and combined with beaten eggs with milk, s alt, flour and chopped green onions. All this is poured into a frying pan, greased with meltedbutter and baked in a preheated oven. This omelet is usually served with french fries or stewed rice as a side dish.

Shakshuka

A dish with such an intriguing name is nothing more than scrambled eggs cooked in an oriental way. Since the shakshuka recipe involves the use of a certain set of ingredients, check in advance if you have on hand:

• 3 selected eggs.
• 4 tomatoes.
• Green or red chili pod.
• A clove of garlic.
• S alt, ground black pepper and olive oil.

The shakshuka recipe is extremely simple, so any novice cook can easily reproduce it. You need to start the process with the processing of spices. Garlic and chili pepper are crushed in a mortar and fried in olive oil. As soon as they are browned, circles of tomatoes are added to them and continue to cook until the juice that stands out has completely evaporated. After a few minutes, all this is s alted, peppered, poured with eggs, mixed slightly, covered with a lid and brought to full readiness.

Baklava

This is a traditional Arabic delicacy that is very popular with big and small sweet tooth. To make authentic Lebanese baklava you will need:

• 10 filo sheets.
• 50g brown sugar.
• 250g chopped almonds.
• 100 g melted butter (+ 2 tbsp for stuffing).
• Liquid honey.

Sheets are smeared with meltedbutter and stacked on top of each other. The resulting workpiece is cut into squares with a side of about seven centimeters. Each is filled with a filling made from brown sugar, almonds, and a couple tablespoons of butter. The edges of the squares are neatly fastened together so that a kind of pyramid is formed from them. All this is transferred to a baking sheet and baked at 190 degrees until golden brown. Hot browned baklava is poured with liquid honey.

Pilaf with lamb

This delicious and hearty dish is an interesting combination of rice, meat, spices, nuts and vegetables. It is ideal not only for an ordinary lunch, but also for a dinner party. To surprise your family and friends with a real Arabic pilaf, you will need:

• 500g basmati rice.
• 1 kg lamb.
• 1, 2 liters of distilled water.
• 4 small onions.
• 4 tomatoes.
• 50g each of pine nuts, raisins and roasted almonds.
• 1 tbsp each l. ground cumin and tomato paste.
• 5g cinnamon.
• 1 tsp each chilli and ground cardamom.
• S alt and refined oil.

The washed meat is cut into cubes, put in a saucepan, poured with water and boiled under a lid over low heat. Not earlier than an hour later, chopped onions fried with tomatoes, spices and tomato paste are added to the boiling broth. Almost immediately, washed and sorted rice is poured into a common pan. All this is simmered over low heat until the cereal is ready. Before serving, raisins and nuts are added to each serving of pilaf.

Spicy beef in tomato sauce

According to the method described below, a very tasty Arabic stew is obtained. It goes well with many cereal or pasta side dishes and is perfect for a family dinner. To make Spicy Oriental Goulash, you will need:

• 800g fresh beef tenderloin.
• 350 ml natural yogurt.
• A glass of filtered water.
• 2 small onions.
• 2 ripe tomatoes.
• 1 tbsp each l. curry and tomato paste.
• 1 tsp hot ground red pepper.
• S alt, refined oil, parsley, cinnamon and cloves.

The washed and dried meat is cut into thin strips and fried in a greased frying pan. After a few minutes, chopped onions, s alt, tomatoes and spices are added there. Almost immediately, all this is mixed with tomato paste, poured with water and yogurt, and then brought to a boil and simmered over low heat until fully cooked.

Arabian chicken

This gourmet dish is in keeping with the best traditions of Oriental cooking. It has a pleasant, moderately spicy taste and delicate aroma. To serve one of the most popular dishes of Arabic cuisine for a family dinner, you will need:

• 500g white chicken meat.
• 50g wheat flour.
• 2 selected eggs.
• 3 small onions.
• 60g butter.
• 1 tsp lemon juice.
• A clove of garlic.
• 200 ml of water.
• S alt, refined oil, herbs and spices.

Washed chicken fillet cut into mediumpieces and put in a deep bowl. A marinade made from water, s alt, spices, lemon juice, crushed garlic and herbs is also poured there. After a couple of hours, each piece of meat is rolled in flour, immersed in a batter consisting of sautéed onions and beaten, lightly s alted eggs. Then the chicken is fried in a pan and transferred to a deep form. Pour the rest of the batter on top. Bake the dish at 160 degrees for about fifteen minutes.

Arabian coffee

This drink is very popular among the inhabitants of the entire planet. It is prepared in special Turks. Roasted grains ground in a mortar are used as raw materials. To brew a similar drink, you will need:

• 500 ml boiled water.
• 4 tsp natural ground coffee.
• 4 tsp cane sugar.
• ½ tsp powdered cinnamon.
• 2-3 cardamom pods.
• ½ tsp vanilla.

Sugar is poured into a slightly warmed Turku and brought to a brown hue. Then add water to it and wait until it boils. A mixture of ground coffee, vanillin, cardamom and cinnamon is poured into a container with a bubbling liquid. All this is warmed up, not allowing to boil, and removed from the stove.

Meat in nut breading

For lovers of unusual food combinations, we recommend that you pay attention to the recipe for Arabic cuisine described below. To reproduce it in your own kitchen, you will need:

• 600 g meat tenderloin.
• 2 selected chicken eggs.
• 20gbutter.
• 50g hard cheese.
• 100g shelled walnuts.
• 200 ml pasteurized milk.
• Lemon.
• Small onion.
• 2 garlic cloves.
• Breadcrumbs, s alt, refined oil and spices.

Washed and dried meat is cut into portions, beaten and put in a bowl. Then it is poured with a marinade made from beaten eggs, milk, cheese chips, crushed garlic, lemon juice, butter and onion half rings. Not earlier than a couple of hours later, each piece is rolled in a mixture of breadcrumbs and chopped nuts, and then sent to a hot greased frying pan and fried over moderate heat.

Arabian lamb with prunes

This interesting dish is equally suitable for adults and little gourmets. It goes well with boiled rice and can be a good option for a family dinner. To prepare it, you will need:

• 700 grams of lamb.
• 150 g prunes.
• Large onion.
• 1, 5 tbsp. l. soft butter.
• 1 tbsp l. wheat flour (no slide).
• 1 tsp fine sugar.
• Cinnamon, water, s alt and ground pepper.

Washed and dried meat is cut into not too thin strips and fried together with onion half rings. After some time, all this is crushed with flour, s alted, sprinkled with spices and poured with hot water. The lamb is stewed over low heat until tender. Shortly before the completion of the process inSugar and soaked pitted prunes are added to a common frying pan.

Pilaf with dried bananas

Arab cuisine is very unusual and multifaceted. It contains a lot of interesting and delicious dishes, such as meat pilaf with dried bananas. To feed your family this dinner, you will need:

• 600g fresh veal.
• A small onion and red onion.
• 2 large carrots.
• Glass of rice.
• 100 g dried bananas.
• 2 glasses of water.
• 5 garlic cloves.
• Refined oil, s alt and seasonings.

The washed veal is cut into small pieces, briefly marinated in spices and fried in a greased frying pan. After some time, onion half rings are added to it, previously aged in a mixture of pink and white pepper. Ten minutes later, a carrot cut into strips is sent there. After her, rice is poured into a common bowl and filled with water. All this is s alted, supplemented with garlic and slices of dried banana, covered with a lid and simmered over low heat until fully cooked.

Cheese pies

Arab cuisine is famous not only for meat and sweet dishes, but also for various pastries. Yeast pies with cheese filling are especially popular among the local population. To prepare them you will need:

• 3 cups of wheat flour.
• 1 tsp each baking powder and sugar.
• ¼ cup each of vegetable oil and natural yogurt.
• 1 tbsp l. fast acting dry yeast.
• ½ cup warm water.
• 150 g each of cheese and cheddar.
• 3 tbsp. l. chopped greens.
• Egg (for brushing).

Yeast is dissolved in sweetened warm water and allowed to infuse a little. After some time, yogurt, butter, baking powder and flour are added to them. The resulting dough is covered with a clean napkin and removed to the side. As soon as it doubles in size, small pieces are plucked from it, rolled out, filled with a filling consisting of two types of cheese and chopped greens, neat boats are formed and greased with a beaten egg. Bake products at 200 degrees until lightly browned.