7 Arab Meals You Can Cook in 30 Minutes or Less!

posted on: Sep 4, 2019

By: Amal David/Arab America Contributing Writer

Now that it is Fall and most of you are back from Summer vacations and now busy, on the go, it can be hard to put a homemade meal on the table every night. Here are 7 quick meal options to cook any time in 30 minutes or less. Each Arab dish does offer different flavors and ingredients so you’re not making the same dishes each week. Try all 7 recipes with your family this week!

1. Shortbat Adas (Lentil Soup)

• Saute on low heat 3 finely chopped onions in olive oil
• Add 5 cups of water, then two cups of washed orange lentils, found in any grocery store
• Bring to boil then (optional), add chopped potatoes and chopped carrot
• Cook for 20 minutes.
• Add spices, including cumin, and lemon to taste

2. Bataata ou Bayd (Potatoes and Eggs)

• Saute on low fire 7 medium peeled potatoes (small cubes) in olive oil (or a substitute) for approximately 10 minutes
• When potatoes are soft, mix in 4 eggs
• Add salt and pepper to taste, and one tablespoon of crushed mint
• Optional: Serve with olives and chopped tomatoes
• Scoop with Arab bread

3. Kafta Burgers (beef patties)

• Mix 1 pound of ground beef with 1/2 bunch chopped parsley, one minced onion, and salt and pepper to taste
• Form into burgers or flatten in a lightly greased tray where meat is cut in squares
• Let cook in the oven at 350 degrees for 20 minutes
• Optional: Eat in a sandwich with Arab bread

4. Sfeeha (Meat Pies)

• Combine 1 pound of ground meat with 2 chopped onions, salt, pepper and allspice to taste
• Squeeze juice from a half lemon on meat
• Spread a thin layer of meat on 20 flattened small biscuits (dough)
• Bake for 15 minutes in the oven at 350 degrees

5. Lahem Mishwee (Shish Kebab or Tawouk)

• Marinate two pounds of cubed beef, lamb, or chicken in a deep dish for two hours with salt, pepper, one tablespoon of olive oil, and an optional splash of wine
• Place skewers through pieces of meat, alternating with big chopped slices of onion, pepper, and tomatoes
• Broil slowly over hot charcoals or on the broiler of kitchen stove for about 10 minutes
• Optional: Serve with hummus, tabbouleh, and Arab bread

6. Kibbeh Nayeh (Raw Kibbeh)

• Mix 2 pounds of lean beef or lamb (or a combination of the two)
• Add 1 and 1/2 cups of soaked and squeezed fine cracked wheat (burghul)
• Then add to the mixture 1 large ground onion, salt, and pepper to taste, and 1/2 cup of cold water
• Grind or knead the meat well
• Garnish with olive oil and serve with onions and Arab bread
• Optional: Leftovers may be fried in patties or baked

7. Ghallabah (Sautéed/Stir Fry Meat and Vegetables)

• Finely chop 2 pounds of ground steak or chicken and sautée in a frying pan
• Add one chopped green pepper, half a pound of mushroom, 1 chopped medium onion, and 1 chopped tomato
• Add salt and pepper to taste
• Optional: Scoop with Arab bread or rice

Sahtain!