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.

Chickpea, Shrimp, and Chorizo Pita Sandwiches

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Fried Eggplant Sandwich With Eggplant Mayo

After discovering how delicious eggplant-based mayonnaise is (or more accurately, after my wife confirmed it to me), I put two and two together and decided to make a fried eggplant sandwich smothered in rich tomato sauce, and drizzled with a mayonnaise made out of itself. Whoa, meta.

Anchovy, Basil, and Tomato Sandwiches With Aioli

Rustic Italian bread slathered with garlic aioli and layered with fresh basil, sliced tomatoes, and a sprinkling of capers all make for a great match with anchovy fillets—almost like a Provencal BLT of sorts with the salty anchovies subbing in for the bacon, and basil in place of the lettuce.

Make-Ahead Bulgur Pita Pockets with Spiced Chickpeas, Carrots, and Tahini

Heaps of fresh parsley, paprika, and coriander add tons of bright flavor to this hearty bulgur dish, stuffed into a pita and held together with some lemony tahini.

Hummus with Lamb

Take plain hummus to another level with this classic variation found in the Middle East that tops it with tasty minced lamb.

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. 

Grilled Pimento Cheese, Ham, and Homemade Pickles Sandwich

NOTES: I prefer to use piquillo peppers because they are sharper, sweeter, and more flavorful than canned or jarred pimento peppers, but if you prefer pimentos, substitute them here. For best results, use a sturdy loaf of bread, such as...

Hummus Kawarma (Lamb) with Lemon Sauce from 'Jerusalem'

Here's a tahini-rich recipe for hummus along with two variations, Musabaha (warm chickpea topping) and Kawarma (fried chopped lamb). For the most show-stopping of hummus dishes, take the extra time and prepare the Kawarma. Freshly chopped lamb neck meat is marinated in warm spices, za'atar, vinegar, mint, and parsley before it's fried in butter.

Spicy Salami Sandwich With Olive Tapenade and Goat Cheese

For this sandwich, a rich homemade tapenade is spread into an herby focaccia roll, then followed by some spicy salami, peppery arugula, a roasted red bell pepper, and a sprinkling of crumbled goat cheese. Although the ingredients in this sandwich are all very strongly flavored, each remains distinct with every bite.