7 Middle-Eastern Foods that are Perfect for Vegans
SOURCE: STEP FEED
BY: RAZAN MNEIMNEH
As if being vegan in a world saturated with junk food isn’t hard enough, try doing it in an Arab country where vegan restaurants and grocery shops are almost imaginary.
Being an Arab vegan does have its advantages though, and they are pretty much summed up in two words: “Lebanese meze.”
While lots of meze dishes contain cheese or meat, there’s a wide array of delicious, mouth-watering options that are completely vegan.
Do not go through this list on an empty stomach… consider yourself warned.
1. Hummus
The star of the show will forever be the golden dip called hummus. The chickpea-based dish is the perfect spread and can be used with almost anything, from veggie dips to sandwich bases.
Many vegans substitute mayo with hummus and find that it’s an ideal replacement. The mouth-watering dish, which can now be found in various flavors at grocery stores worldwide, is also a dream base for multiple recipes and combinations.
We’ll just let the picture do the talking.
2. Falafel
Falafel usually comes in the form of a deep-fried ball or patty, consisting of either ground chickpeas or fava beans, with a combination of spices.
It’s popular for being a cheap street-food option, usually wrapped up in bread with lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, and tahini.
After discovering how versatile and fulfilling it is as a vegan option, Falafel spread worldwide and is now even used as a vegan alternative for foods like meatloaf and sloppy joes in the United States.
3. Fattoush
Another Middle-Eastern classic is none other than Fattoush, a salad made from toasted or fried pieces of bread, combined with mixed greens and other vegetables chopped into large pieces.
Fattoush is undoubtedly one of the healthiest vegan options on the Arabic food menu, rich in fibers and minerals.
4. Tabbouleh
Tabbouleh is a salad consisting of finely chopped tomatoes, mint, onions, burghoul, and of course, lots and lots of parsley.
The more popular this dish became, the more people started experimenting with adding different ingredients like quinoa.
5. Batata Harra
Batata Harra is a staple dish when it comes to Lebanese meze. The basic recipe consists of cubed potatoes served with red peppers, coriander, chili, and garlic, fried together in olive oil.
But people have also experimented with this dish, adding various toppings like cherry tomatoes and pomegranate. Simple, easy, and delicious!
6. Baba Ghannouj
Cooked eggplants are mixed with tahini, olive oil, some seasonings, and topped with pomegranate seeds.
Traditionally, the eggplant is either grilled or baked to reveal a smoky sour taste. Like hummus, it can be served as a dip with vegetable sticks and bread.
7. Mana’eesh Zaatar
Sure, mana’eesh are supposed to be breakfast food, but one of the very few advantages of being an adult is that you get to decide what to eat whenever you want.
So go ahead, indulge in a classic manou’she at 11 P.M., we won’t judge.
