Middle Eastern cuisine has exploded onto the UK's food scene in recent years. Hummus is now so ubiquitous that its price is used to measure the rate of inflation for goods, while falafel, dukkah and harissa have become as common in supermarkets as bread and beans. We have fallen head-over-heels in love with the comforting, warming, fragrant flavours found across the region, which mix the best of the Mediterranean with local ingredients and spices to create something we can't get enough of.
Thanks to food writers and chefs like Yotam Ottolenghi, we're cooking more and more Middle Eastern food at home than ever before. But visiting the region is one of the best ways to experience the vast breadth of flavours the Middle East has to offer. Read on for our travel guides, recipes and features that celebrate Middle Eastern cuisine in all its glory (and don't forget to check out our full collection of Middle Eastern recipes here).
Israel's food scene is one of the most diverse in the Middle East, taking influences from the many different Jewish communities from around the world that decide to make it their home. Take a look at the top foodie spots in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, see what some of the UK's top chefs thought of the country's foodie offering during a trip there, or try cooking one of Israel's most beloved street food dishes.
The small country of Oman might not be one of the Middle East's most well-known countries, but in the city of Muscat there are some mouth-watering dishes to be found. Slow-cooked goat, beautiful little date-based sweets and enchanting souqs (marketplaces) full of aromatic spices await – take a look at our video guide for a deeper insight.
Syria was tragically thrown into civil war in 2011, with the conflict still ongoing today. But that didn't stop a pair of winemaking brothers from establishing a vineyard near the Lebanese border. Read the incredible story of Syria's only vineyard, and how mortar fire, near-impossible logistics and the constant threat of danger didn't stop the wine becoming world-renowned.
For many of us, Turkish food means kebabs – but there's so much more to discover from this culturally and culinarily rich country. Take a look at our guide to all things Turkish, then try one of our many Turkish recipes at home.
