Burnt Eggplant and Bell Pepper Dip

This roasted eggplant and red bell pepper dip is rich and bright with distinct smoky notes.

Baba ganoush (eggplant dip)

If there's no hummus in my fridge, I'm making baba ganoush. This tasty eggplant dip is very easy to make and goes well with flatbread, on a sandwich or as a side dip. 

Middle Eastern Falafel Crisps with Spicy Red Lentil Dip

These falafel-inspired chickpea crisps are a delicious and creative appetizer or snack to serve guests! The accompanying spicy red lentil dip is the perfect complement.

Ful Medames (Egyptian Breakfast Fava Beans With Tahini)

Hummus is fine, but the real power legume of the Middle East is the fava bean. Ful medames is the Egyptian breakfast dish of favas stewed with tahini and seasoned with garlic, cumin, and lemon. This creamy, comforting version is much like what you'll find around the streets of Cairo.

Marinated Fava Beans

Fava beans are sweet, tender, and pleasantly starchy. When they're coated with a slick of olive oil, vinegar and garlic bits, the contrast between the sharp dressing and the mild greenness of the beans is really wonderful.

Egyptian Fatta

Egyptian celebrations aren’t complete without this crowd-pleasing dish of toasted pita, fragrant rice, and slow-cooked beef drizzled in a garlic-vinegar sauce.

Hummus Masabacha (Hummus With Whole Chickpeas)

Hummus masabacha is a popular variant of the Middle Eastern chickpea spread in which most or all of the chickpeas are left whole and tossed with the tahini sauce, instead of being puréed into it. There are endless variations on it, but at its heart, it's as easy as can be, and lots more interesting than your average hummus spread.

Spicy Ful Medames (Fava Beans) With Olive Oil and Chile

Ful medames, stewed fava beans, is a staple dish all over the Levant. Some versions are mild mannered and comforting. This one, loaded with olive oil, lemon, garlic, cumin, and a kick of chile powder, is anything but. Serve it as a bean stew or mash up the beans and use it as a high octane dip.

Homemade Falafel

Here's a recipe for falafel that's crisp on the outside and light and fluffy on the inside, while still very moist and packed with herb and spice flavor.

Mediterranean Flavors: White Bean Spread with Za'atar

Just because I like my white bean spread simple doesn't mean I like it boring. My favorite seasoning is za'atar, a blend of dried herbs (usually thyme, sometimes with others), sesame seeds, and spices like sumac.