It's hard to imagine a cuisine more focused on shared, communal small plates than Middle Eastern cooking. And what goes better with summer grilling than a selection of small Middle Eastern dips?
Middle Eastern dips start with classic garlic hummus but go far, far beyond it. With a base centered around vegetables or dairy products, augmented by a selection of strong, herbaceous flavors, Middle Eastern dips can elevate any meat-and-potatoes meal to a true feast.
And as they are mostly vegetarian and often vegan, they allow those of us who avoid animal products to build a composed, varied and exciting meal with just a few simple dishes.
So grab a stack of lavosh crackers, pita breads, or your favorite sourdough loaf, make a few of these Middle Eastern dips and discover the cuisine of a diverse and delicious region.
Once you have all your Middle Eastern dips gathered, you need this handy guide for how to make the ultimate Middle Eastern appetizer platter!
My Lebanese baba ganoush recipe with pomegranate seeds and pine nuts is an elegant, modern version of an authentic middle eastern recipe.
Many people know baba ghanouj, but the undisputed king of Moroccan eggplant salads is the zaalouk. This customizable recipe is a blueprint for delicious eggplant dips and salads that will make you fall in love with this vegetable.
The classic tahini baba ghanoush is a must-try Middle Eastern appetizer, but what if you're allergic to sesame seeds and, therefore, tahini? Then this baba ghanoush with yogurt is for you. Trust me, you won't even notice the tahini is missing.
Hummus is one of those dishes that have become completely ubiquitous with Middle Eastern small plates. Therefore, it made perfect sense that smooth garlic hummus will be on my list of dips - though I think Middle Eastern dips go so much beyond hummus!
This green Yemenite hot sauce will spice up your baba ghanosh, hummus, or any meat dish you want to serve. Just pile it on in the middle of your favorite dip and discover a world of heat.
This lovely babaganoush dip is made with zucchini instead of eggplant, perfect for when there is a glut! Perfect for grazing platters and scooping up with lavosh bread.
This Greek tzatziki sauce is made with grated cucumber, chopped dill, olive oil, Greek yogurt, lemon juice, and spices.
This Vegan Tzatziki is just as good as the original and you won't believe that it's dairy-free. It's rich, creamy, tangy, and so darn easy to make — just blend, chill and serve!
This Turkish Muhammara Dip is made with juicy bell peppers, walnuts and spices. It is so easy to make and is sure to become your favorite appetizer for a crowd. It's naturally Vegan, easily Gluten-Free and loaded with good-for-you ingredients.
Thick, creamy, tangy, and smooth labneh with a head of roasted garlic? You can't go wrong with this delicious savory spread!
This dip is the perfect trifecta: creamy, chunky and spicy all at the same time. Give black eyed pea hummus a try before discounting this lesser known Middle Eastern dip!
This Garlic Yogurt Dip is made with just a few ingredients and can be put together in just 5 minutes. Fresh, creamy, flavorful, and perfect to enjoy with veggies, fries or, kebabs.
This Assyrian purslane dip is prepared with yogurt, purslane, and garlic. It’s creamy, nutritious, and amazingly delicious!
You need only three ingredients to make this Lebanese inspired makdous with ajvar. And you can serve this mezze within 20 minutes of time!
This Turkish Shepherd Salad Dip is made with fresh tomatoes, cucumbers and red onions and a light and flavorful lemony dressing. Perfect for dipping naan, pitas or taboon bread.
Toum is both a sauce, a condiment, and a dip, loaded with pungent raw garlic, which gives it both its kick and the necessary emulsifiers to keep it stable. It's perfect for grilled meat and kebabs.
This paprika hummus is creamy, smoky, and packed with flavours! It is a nice variation to the classic ones.
Turkish Chilli Sauce is a perfect dip for grilled meat, chicken or fish. It is quick and easy to make and full of flavour. You can adjust the amount of chilli in it to suit your taste.
Raita is a basic Indian yogurt-based condiment that's served as a palate-cleanser with spicy or heavy foods.
An easy keto hummus comes together quickly with roasted cauliflower, garlic, tahini, and lemon juice. It has all the traditional flavors with only a fraction of the carbs!
Ful Medames (Fava Bean Dip) is a warm, healthy dip mixing mashed fava beans, olive oil, cumin, garlic and lemon juice topped with parsley, diced tomatoes and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and served with pita bread. For extra spice try adding jalapeños, hot sauce or chili peppers.
This authentic Turkish Ezme (Acili Ezme) is all done in 15 minutes and super healthy loaded with veggies and not much else. A delicious spicy sauce, salad, dip and meze that you will want to have with everything!
This Buttery Turkish Hummus uses butter in place of tahini and is super creamy. It's made with just four ingredients and it will quickly become your new favorite hummus recipe!
Made with onions, spinach and garlic, this delicious Borani Esfenaj (Persian Yogurt Spinach Dip) makes a great snack or appetizer.
Egyptian feta spread combines feta cheese, fresh herbs and tomatoes with some olive oil. It is a perfect dip for pita chips or spread it over warm pita wedges.
This Hummus with Beef recipe is a simple, authentic and popular Lebanese dish. Hummus with beef is a perfect appetizer, side dish or even a low carb meal by itself!
White Bean Hummus Recipe with Za’atar and Sweet Paprika – a must-have, deliciously smooth and creamy, perfectly spiced variation of everyone’s favorite classic hummus recipe. Still totally vegan and dairy-free.
Borani Karoo is an Afghani squash salad with a flavour-packed sauce and tangy yoghurt dressing. It’s a taste and textural sensation and super easy to make at home.
Low Carb Roasted Kabocha Hummus made with tahini and lemon juice this keto hummus is packed with a rich, nutty and lemony flavour.
This dip is sort of, kind of, but not really like a Middle Eastern version of French Onion Dip. The sweetness of the cooked carrots, the crunch of the pistachios and the punch of garlic all blend together to make a brilliant dip that will impress with very little effort.
Vegan labneh is a dairy-free alternative to middle eastern cheese made from yogurt. This healthy vegan dip is loaded with olives, oil, veggies, and topped with herbs and za’atar spice.
This lemon and herb green tahini sauce is perfect for adding some zip to your meal! Break out of your usual appetizer routine and make green tahini as a dip for crudités or toasts.
These three Middle Eastern inspired appetizers all feature wine, and they're all the better for it! Recipes for easy springtime Middle Eastern entertaining with wine will make your al fresco dining routine even nicer.
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