Egypt, Iran, Syria, Israel, and more. Some of the oldest cultures in the world offer equal depth in their people's food. Use of chiles combined with bitter spices and floral herbs create a complex assortment of cuisines.

The Middle East includes Arab, Iranian, Israeli, Kurdish, and Turkish cuisines. Some common ingredients among these include sesame seeds, pitas, honey, sumac, barley, mint, parsley, chickpeas, garlic, yogurt, pomegranates, eggplant, and dates. Some of our favorite Middle Eastern dishes are kebabs, shawarma (meat cooked on a rotating spit – think gyros), dolma (stuffed vegetables), and falafel. Two of our favorite spice blends from this area of the world are Syrian Za'atar and Israeli Za’atar, combinations of dried thyme and sumac, a delicious blend to serve with oil and bread or to sprinkle on your favorite Middle Eastern dish.

The possibilities are endless. Just wait until you experience the aromas in your kitchen using these ingredients and cookbooks!