Loading ...Our Middle Eastern Shopping List
SOURCE: DIGITAL DAY BOOK
Our Middle Eastern Shopping List: If you or your parents are from the Middle East, or if you live or have lived in the Middle East, you will know that cooking traditional Middle Eastern meals is an important aspect of life. Understandably so, because the Middle Eastern cuisine is rich in both taste and nutrients, and arguably offers us with the best meals out there. Just to give you a better picture of what we are talking about, here is just a tiny list of some of our Middle Eastern favorites:
- Hummus
- Falafel
- Dolma
- Tabbouleh
- Fattoush
- Kebabs
- Shawarmas
But to be able to prepare all these meals, you are required to stock your pantry with Mediterranean staples. While we find most of what we need at our local ShopRite or Target – there are still things beyond the Olive Oil and Rice, that we can only locate at designated Middle Eastern grocery stores. For that, we have our Middle Eastern Shopping List.
While our shopping varies for different visits at said stores, some items are never ignored, and are purchased on a constant basis. So, below is a list of essential items that you will need to purchase to upkeep your Middle Eastern kitchen:
Labne/Labaneh
Somewhere between Yogurt and Cheese is the Labne. Made from straining yogurt and draining its whey, Labneh is a light meal and counts as a rich source of probiotics.
Fava Beans
You need this to cook one of the oldest meals ever, and that is Fool: A hearty stew of cooked fava beans.
Tahini Sauce
How else are you going to make your homemade Hummus hold up?
Pomegranate Molasses – Debs el Remmen
Our favorite salad dressing, and our secret Fattoush ingredient.
Shanklish
Spices, aged, and dried cheese. Basically, a pungent version of Feta. This might not be everybody’s cup of tea, but we love having this every now and then.
Preserved White Cheeses
While life is great, cheese just makes it better. So we always try to stock up on a selection of Middle Eastern Arabic cheeses such as Halloumi, Akkawi, or Nabulse.
Red Pepper Paste
This is beyond essential for our meals because we just like things spicy! We can use it in everything, from sandwiches and marinades to soups and stews.
Nut Mixes
Our snack section has to have an abundance of Nut Mixes. Specifically Lebanese Nut Mixes containing Almonds, Pistachios, and Cashews.
To see what we cook with some of these ingredients check out our food section!