From humble hummus to falafels, comforting tagines and luscious desserts, Middle Eastern cuisine is often defined by the concept of mezze.
In fact, Middle Eastern covers a wide range of cuisines from Moroccan to Iranian, Turkish and Lebanese and is generally characterised by fragrant and copious spices, nuts, olive oil and creamy elements.
For those wanting to recreate a Middle Eastern feast at home, we have three tried and true recipes sure to put the wow in your next family dinner or special event:
It was on the streets of Jerusalem, at a stall open from 5am-10am and run by a 15-year-old boy, that Charlie Carrington and his Dad ate the best hummus of their lives.
Food and travel are Charlie’s passions – he loves immersing himself in different cultures, learning new techniques and cuisines, which he then translates onto the plate at his South Yarra restaurant Atlas Dining. This Melbourne restaurant changes its menu and cuisine every few months to take diners on a global journey, making it one of the most unique restaurants in Australia.
"The hummus was mind-blowingly fresh, served hot with onion cut into ‘spoons’ for scooping, pickled cucumber and bread. My signature hummus is inspired by that experience but has a heavier hand with the tahini. It’s simple, cheap, comforting and a must-have addition for any Israeli mezze,” Charlie explains.
Leaving school at 15 to become a Chef, by the time Charlie was 21 he’d worked for Gordon Ramsay, along with some of Australia’s best – think Vue de Monde, Marque and Firedoor. He also spent eight months travelling across 15 countries and from this adventure came the inspiration for his own restaurant, Atlas Dining.
Try this hummus with crackers and flatbread as a starter or simply enjoy it as a snack with a drink while watching a movie.
From Cairns restaurant Rocco, Chef Joe Tayao delivers our Middle Eastern main of barramundi with corn, preserved lemon and ras el hanout – literally translated as ‘head of shop’, this Arabic phrase really means ‘top shelf’ and that’s what this spice is.
A vibrant earthy mix of spices including cinnamon, cumin, coriander, allspice, black pepper and ginger, ras el hanout is an excellent addition to lamb and roast chicken as well as fish – in this recipe it is used as a coating and butter for tender barramundi fillets, sitting on top of a delicious corn purée.
Those looking for a Tropical NQ holiday can soak up panoramic views of the Coral Sea and dine on a feast of Middle Eastern delights from the highest rooftop bar in Cairns at Rocco on the Esplanade. Picture yourself sipping a herb-infused Insta-worthy cocktail while admiring the 270-degree vistas with earthy-toned surrounds and Middle Eastern prints setting a warm ambience to get lost in the oasis of greenery and sweeping views.
In recent years Persian love cakes have had a big moment in the sun leading to Chef and author Greg Malouf being amused by the idea of creating his very own Lebanese love cake. Utilising some of the definitive flavours of his childhood – cardamom, rose and lemon – he has pulled out all stops on the glamour front with this spectacular dessert.
"The cake itself is a moist lemon-scented white chocolate sponge inspired by a recipe from American baker Rose Levy Beranbaum. It's pretty straightforward to make, which is pleasing, given there are several other component parts to achieve as well. There's a lemon mousseline icing and Italian meringue for decorating. We added mini meringue kisses as an additional decoration, but you could buy or omit these if it's a step too far,” Greg says.
"We're not going to pretend this cake isn't a bit of a labour of love, as well as a love song to Lebanon, but we think the results speak for themselves. It's visually stunning and, crucially, tastes divine.”
For more Middle Eastern tempting recipes, click here.
