Recipes | I've Been Cooking

Luqaimat

Luqaimat are golden, crisp-on-the-outside, pillowy-on-the-inside Middle Eastern sweet dumplings, lightly perfumed with cardamom, saffron, and rose water, then drizzled with date syrup and sprinkled with sesame seeds.

🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia$$

Granat Soup

A fragrant, savory-sour pomegranate and beef soup from the Caucasus region, enriched with red lentils and rice, brightened by fresh herbs, and finished with a walnut crunch.

🇸🇱 Sierra Leone$$

Deyay Meshwi

Deyay Meshwi is a Gulf-style grilled chicken marinated in yogurt, lemon, garlic, and warm spices like turmeric, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, cardamom, and saffron, then charred over high heat and finished with ghee. Bright parsley and sumac make it perfect with rice or warm pita.

🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates$$

Kaaba

A rich, cube-styled black cocoa cake inspired by Middle Eastern flavors, built with medjool dates, tahini, honey, and black sesame. Moist, gently spiced, and finished with a silky cocoa glaze and toasted nuts for texture.

🇬🇲 Gambia$$

Ful bi Limun

Ful bi Limun is a bright, garlicky fava bean dip/salad finished with lemon, olive oil, cumin, and herbs. It’s a classic Middle Eastern mezze that’s hearty, zesty, and perfect with warm pita. Optional tahini adds creaminess and sesame depth.

🇸🇸 South Sudan$

Machboos Dajaj

Machboos Dajaj is a fragrant Gulf Arab chicken-and-rice dish simmered with tomatoes, black lime, and warm spices like baharat, cardamom, and cinnamon, then finished with saffron and ghee. It’s a comforting, celebratory one-pot meal with bright, tangy, and smoky notes.

🇶🇦 Qatar$$

Qatari Luqaimat bil Fustuq

Qatari Luqaimat bil Fustuq are crisp, airy dumplings scented with cardamom and saffron, fried golden and drenched in rose-kissed date syrup, then finished with crushed pistachios. A festive Gulf dessert, perfect for sharing after an evening meal.

🇶🇦 Qatar$$$

Knefeh

A luxurious Middle Eastern dessert of creamy cheese custard layered with buttery semolina, soaked in fragrant rose and orange-blossom syrup, and topped with crushed pistachios.

🇱🇧 Lebanon$$

Pakhlava

A rich, layered nut-and-honey dessert made with delicate phyllo, fragrant spices, and a glossy lemon-honey syrup. Crisp on top, tender within, and deeply aromatic with cinnamon, cardamom, and vanilla.

🇦🇲 Armenia$$$

Om Ali

Om Ali is a classic Egyptian bread-pudding-style dessert made with flaky puff pastry soaked in sweetened milk and cream, scented with cinnamon and vanilla. Studded with almonds, pistachios, raisins, and coconut, it bakes up rich, cozy, and irresistibly golden on top.

🇪🇬 Egypt$$

I've been...

Luqaimat

Granat Soup

Deyay Meshwi

Kaaba

Ful bi Limun

Machboos Dajaj

Qatari Luqaimat bil Fustuq

Knefeh

Pakhlava

Om Ali

I've been...

Luqaimat

Granat Soup

Deyay Meshwi

Kaaba

Ful bi Limun

Machboos Dajaj

Qatari Luqaimat bil Fustuq

Knefeh

Pakhlava

Om Ali