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Arab Food Ingredients

Warbat: The Popular Cream-Filled Pastry of the Middle East

Sometimes the translation of Arabic words to English doesn’t work out so well. Take the popular dessert called Warbat, pronounced warr-bot. Most people might envision a warrior bat, angry and ready to fight. In reality, warbat refers to a buttery, flaky and rich turnover filled with a mildly sweet custard. This pastry is then drizzled in fragrant lemon and rose syrup then sprinkled with pistachios. While this pastry is popular in Jordan, Lebanon, and Palestine, there are many variations sold throughout the middle east. Some contain walnuts, others pistachios, some contain a semolina-based custard, and still, others have a pure dairy custard. 

The History of Zaatar And a Zaatar Cheesy Delight Recipe

Contributing writer Menal Elmaliki shares what is Zataar, the famous Middle Eastern spice, as well as its history and its importance in the region. Zatar is as popular in the region as ketchup is in America to those who aren’t from the region. What’s special about zatar is the thyme that it is used for, a wild thyme that grows in the Mediterranean and middle eastern region used in their cuisine, spread on bread and eaten with olive oil. Zatar traces back to biblical times and has a reputation being brain food.

Vegetarian Arab Cuisine–9 Vegetarian Dishes

Have you worried about having vegetarian or vegan options at a restaurant with family or friends? Arab food actually has an impressive array of options for a vegetarian diet. Despite many popular arab foods including meat, there are traditional meals that are perfectly hearty and healthy without it. You will still be stuffed to the brim after grabbing seconds and thirds at any Arab household or restaurant.

Knafeh: The Iconic Dessert of the Arab World

By: Blanche Shaheen / Arab America Contributing Writer Ask any Arab from any continent, what their favorite dessert is, and they will most likely respond: Kanafeh. This iconic pastry, spelled a myriad of ways, from knafeh to knafuh to kanafeh, is undoubtedly the most popular dessert among Arabs the world over. This layered confection consists … Continued

Check Out This Cookbook! “Middle Eastern Sweets” by Salma Hage

By: Khelil Bouarrouj / Arab America Contributing Writer Salma Hage, the Lebanese British author of the new cookbook “Middle Eastern Sweets,” readily concedes that a collection of recipes dedicated to sugary desserts, pastries, creams, and treats might appear, at first, out-of-touch with our health-obsessed culture where added sugar has been thoroughly demonized. Hage is herself … Continued

Staying Connected to Our Culture: Wholesale Distributors of Arab Food Products

By: Noah Robertson/Arab America Contributing Writer There are many Arab grocery stores throughout the U.S., but many of them are just small businesses. Without a large network of wholesale-distributors, it would be difficult to provide authentic Arab food products. These wholesalers/distributors/importers provide a steady flow of Arab food products to local Arab stores and major … Continued

Grape Leaves: Delicious AND Super Healthy

By: Noah Robertson/Arab America Contributing Writer By now, much of the U.S. knows of grape leaves because of the distinctive stuffed grape leaves (dolmas) sold throughout the country. Less well known outside of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean communities are the leaves themselves and their uses outside of stuffing. Even less well known, even within the … Continued

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