Middle Eastern food is full of delicious dishes encompassing various grains, legumes, and vegetables, making it the perfect cuisine for Lent.
Although people are probably most familiar with Arabic dishes such as hummus and falafel, there are many other vegetarian-friendly dishes that are a staple of Middle Eastern food.
Here are some of our favorite dishes that many Jordanian Christians will be cooking in their homes during Lent this year.
Maftool
Maftool is the epitome of comfort food: a couscous dish cooked with flavorful spices and chickpeas, carrots, and zucchini in a warm onion-filled broth.
Eggplant Fatteh
A classic Middle Eastern dish made of fried pita bread and eggplant covered with a garlicky yogurt sauce, pine nuts, and chopped parsley.
(Eggplant Fatteh; Photo credit: Surf Restaurant)
Meat-less Stuffed Zucchini
One of the most common dishes in every Jordanian household is stuffed zucchini (known as koosa mahshi in Arabic); it can be stuffed with rice and meat or only rice for a vegetarian dish, and cooked in a rich tomato broth.
(Stuffed Zucchini; Photo credit: Beit Sitti Instagram)
Moutabal (Eggplant Dip)
Roasted eggplants combined with fresh lemon juice, raw garlic, chopped parsley, and creamy tahini make a delicious, smoky dip that is perfect to eat with warm pita bread. If you'd like to try it at home, check out this easy 5 step recipe by the wonderful Beit Sitti, Jordan's premier cooking and dining spot.
(Moutabal; Photo credit: Welcome to Jordan website)
Mujadara
This vegan pilaf dish is made with three key ingredients: lentils, crispy caramelized onions, and rice or coarse bulgur, and it is usually paired with a cucumber and tomato salad.
You can watch this great video by Beit Sitti and follow their way of cooking Mujadara.
Vegetarian Stuffed Grape Leaves
Vegetarian grape leaves, also commonly known as dolmades, are stuffed with a flavorful mixture of rice, onions, peppers, and chickpeas, and flavored with lots of local olive oil and lemon juice, making it the perfect appetizer dish at any meal.
(Vegetarian Stuffed Grape Leaves; Photo credit: Oak Tree Kitchen Jo Instagram )
Fattoush Salad
Fattoush is fresh salad made with tomatoes, cucumbers, radishes, herbs, and crispy pita bread: a light vegan favorite for many Jordanians.
