10 KINDS OF MIDDLE-EASTERN HERBS WITH 10 RECIPES!

10 KINDS OF MIDDLE-EASTERN HERBS WITH 10 RECIPES!

1. Parsley, of-course! Check out the recipe for the most delicious Lebanese salad, Tabbouleh. Recipe here. Bulgur can be replaced with quinoa or couscous.

2. Mint:often used in salads or as a tea herb. My favorite is with Greek yogurt. Click here for a Lebanese yogurt salad. If you don't add the cucumbers, you can turn it into a sauce that can be added to any salad.

3. Spinach: at the beginning of winter every mother prepares these insanely delicious and tender spinach Fatayer. They are so aromatic and addictive. A healthy treat for the kids. Recipe here

4. Za'atar: a herb that is a combination of thyme and oregano. The za'atar topping that is written in the recipe can be used as a seasoning. Arabs add it to salads, to greek yogurt and even to tomato sauce of the pizza. One of the most famous Za'atar recipes is Manakeesh. Recipe here  .

Sumac can be replaced with a squeeze of lemon. 

5. Vine leaves: well known for the Dolma. Each country has its own filling. My favorite is the Palestinian one which is based on ground meat, rice and lotssssss of lemon. Yum! It takes some time to prepare it, but it's TOTALLY worth the effort! I promise! Recipe here

If you can't find fresh vine years you can buy pickled one. Just make sure to wash them well.

6. Tangy Arugala: used mainly in salads. Recipe here 

7. Mulukhiyah: Some believe that this herb works as a sexual stimulant. Depending on the region, it is minced or roughly cut. Served with rice and lemon. A very light meal, even with the rice. Recipe here

8. Khobbeizeh or Mallow: a herb that naturally grows in the gardens. Known for its health benefits. It's served with pita and lemon. Recipe here

9. And what's better than ending with a dessert and a hot drink (see #10). Middle-Eastern desserts are known for their sugar syrup. This syrup gets its taste either from rose water or a few leaves of Rose Geranium. One of the dessert is Baklava that is originated in Turkey. It's a crispy filo dough filled with pistachios and cinnamon. It can't get any better than that, right? Recipe here 

10. Finally, for the hot drink, Middle Eastern people use a blend of herbs in order to make tea. The blend may contain mint, rosemary, lemongrass, melissa, basil, sage and so on. Recipe here for mint tea.