Classic Food Pairings and Combinations from the Arab World

posted on: Jul 21, 2020

By: Joyce Behrens/Arab America Contributing Writer

Food pairings are very common in Arab cuisine. There are combinations that complement the textures and flavors. People don’t realize how elaborate and unique Arab cuisine is. For example, did you know that tahini sauce on a beautiful piece of white fish is a match made in heaven? Although, there is a twist. Check out the classic food pairings of the Arab world.

Labneh with veggies and pita bread

Labneh is one of the staple snack dips in the MENA region. A similar concept to hummus, but the ingredients are different. Labneh resembles cream cheese when it comes to the texture—it’s a type of soft cheese. To add another dimension of flavor, you can sprinkle some zaatar, or drizzle olive oil on the top before you dig in. When it comes to labneh food pairings for snacking, pita bread, as well as some veggies, go hand in hand. Pita bread takes on the consistency of labneh the same way as hummus. It’s something you can dip into, as well as a vehicle component to spread on and enjoy. For small vegetables, examples are tomatoes, cucumbers, and even baby carrots. It’s just a good, healthy snack to have when you want to munch on something light.

Shawarma and French Fries

When it comes to delicious street food, shawarma tops the list. Vendors have the meat, mostly chicken and beef, on a vertical spit that rotates with a heated source beside it. The meat is then shaved off in small pieces. When it comes to assembling the food in the pita bread, selections include a choice of protein with vegetables, pickles, and also french fries, both as a side dish and inside your shawarma—specifically when it’s chicken. French fries act as the starch of a meal. Think about the components of a standard meal. You have your choice of protein, a side of vegetables, and a portion of starch. Chicken shawarma supplies all of the daily components inside of warm pita bread. With beef, french fries come as a side dish. Regardless, if fries act as an accompaniment or part of the inside mixture, they are a classic pairing when enjoying shawarma.

White Fish and Tahini Sauce

Now, the Arab culinary world has more than just mezze platters and snack-sized portions. There are also meal size dishes. In terms of seafood, white fish fillet and tahini are a classic combination, particularly in Lebanon. The tahini sauce starts off with minced garlic, lemon juice and tahini paste. The tahini paste is made from sesame seeds. When accompanied with the flavors of garlic and lemon, it is a burst of tart and nutty flavors. Consistency wise, this sauce is thick—it gives another dimension of flavor and texture. The fish fillet has a natural lightness to it. In other words, it is a delicate fish. When it comes to the presentation, the tahini sauce covers the entire fillet, not just drizzled on top. The white fish then soaks up all the flavor to be delicious.

Lamb and Yogurt

One of the most popular proteins in the Arab world is lamb. This is a versatile meat for a number of different cooking techniques. For instance, lamb is found as stewed meat or sliced chops. A classic combination of lamb is to be paired with a yogurt sauce. Several Arab countries have their own recipes and interpretations of this pairing. Mullah Robe, which is stewed lamb and yogurt, originated in the North African region, specifically Sudan. In Syria, Shakriya is a warm yogurt soup dish, topped off with chunks of lamb as well as pine nuts for additional texture. Yogurt acts as a creamy element to the cooked, marinated lamb meat. Usually, yogurt is bland on its own. However, some recipes add fresh, chopped herbs, such as mint or dill, to the yogurt same in order to complement the gamey lamb.

.

Check out our blog here!