Foo - Anyone recommend some Middle Eastern/Pakastani dishes for the new comer?

Mexican food is starting to get pretty tame for me (Lengua ala Mexicana - yawn) I'd like to try some middle eastern food but have no idea what to get? Can you break it down for me?

Dolmas (stuffed grape leaves) - great appetizer.
Tabouli Salad - either ya like it or ya don't. Mostly parsely.
Cous Cous - like rice only better. :)
Lots of kabob type dishes.

Those are first things that spring to mind.

Dolmas (stuffed grape leaves) - great appetizer.

Not bad, fill it with some type of cheese and it's pretty good.

Not bad, fill it with some type of cheese and it's pretty good.
Yuck! Never heard of them stuffed with cheese, and that doesn't sound very middle eastern.

Normally its some kind of sticky rice and herbs.

Yuck! Never heard of them stuffed with cheese, and that doesn't sound very middle eastern.

Normally its some kind of sticky rice and herbs.

Oh, I had something like that at a wedding, except there was cheese and something else in it.

You also mentioned Pakistani....I don't know Pakistani food, but I'd guess its similar to Indian as they are neighbors and were once one people (not that long ago).

So for Indian food......
Chicken/Lamb/Beef Vindaloo
Chicken/Lamb/Beef Biryani
Nan (bread....usually made with different flavors/spices)
Eggplant dishes

yeah, no cheese and you could use grape leaves or cabbage leaves


Also, mousaka. And I really like the simple rice, lentils and herbs

yeah, no cheese and you could use grape leaves or cabbage leaves


Also, mousaka. And I really like the simple rice, lentils and herbs

Mousaka is greek, but I guess greek is pretty close to middle eastern. If we're gonna go greek, we sure as heck can't forget Pita bread and hummus. I LOVE hummus...make my own all the time. :)

But for main dishes, mousaka is probably my favorite too. :)

OMG, you guys woke up one of my cravings! Now, I won't be happy until I get some good Middle Eastern food :)

I know where you can get some Afghanistan Rugs :D

+1 for the Vindaloo, if mexican is getting tame for you give this a try, but be prepared, have a lassi ready to put out the fire in your mouth. Indian food can be much hotter than any mex I've had. Thai food can do it for you too, tell them you want it medium hot and strap yourself in the seat.

+1 for the Vindaloo, if mexican is getting tame for you give this a try, but be prepared, have a lassi ready to put out the fire in your mouth. Indian food can be much hotter than any mex I've had. Thai food can do it for you too, tell them you want it medium hot and strap yourself in the seat.
Good call. Thai food rocks too!! :)

For me....
Mex = #1
Thai = #2
Spanish (Central American) = #3
Greek/Middle Eastern = #4

is hummus supposed to taste like mold?

Yes.

well... at least they didn't pee in it... why is that an attractive taste? it is something that should have cheese on it.

is hummus supposed to taste like mold?
To YOUR tastebuds, YES. To the rest of the world it taste much like chick peas (garbonzo beans) which is primarily what its made out of.


It's CHEESE that tastes closer to MOLD.

I know where you can get some Afghanistan Rugs :D

mmm...afgan rugs. oops, i mean the food. afgan food is usually really good. :) if you like a lot of yogart based sauses and pumpkin flavoring. it's really good winter food.

CHICKEN SCHWARMA! Lebenese food....it's the best....especially if you like garlic. Mmmmmmmmmm

i think babagonush tastes more moldy. or at least a bit like old cigarette butts. i like hummus much better.

Stuffed grape leaves.

well... at least they didn't pee in it... why is that an attractive taste? it is something that should have cheese on it.


LOL, damn you Merton!! :roflmao:

Persian food is very similar to greek food...probably has to do with how they constantly invaded each other for centuries. :p

Baklava, is the ultimate dessert....try it!

Vindaloo is nice and spicy. Get a mango lassi to help you put out the fire. Thai food's good for spice too. Tell 'em you want it Thai hot and put your ice helmet on cuz u'll need it. Wash it down w/ a thai iced tea. Try Iranian/Persian food too. Good flavors, not too hot, but it is spicy and the kebabs are awesome.

Has anyone been to Pasha restaurant in San Francisco? Really enjoyed the food and the atmosphere.

P.S. That's where we had the stuffed grape leaves.

You also mentioned Pakistani....I don't know Pakistani food, but I'd guess its similar to Indian as they are neighbors and were once one people (not that long ago).

So for Indian food......
Chicken/Lamb/Beef Vindaloo
Chicken/Lamb/Beef Biryani
Nan (bread....usually made with different flavors/spices)
Eggplant dishes

mmmmmm indian curry.

thanks for making me salivate, you bastards!!!

Well I tried a small Middle Eastern place tonight with my wife. She had a Beef and Chicken kabob plate with rice and a middle eastern salad. I had a combo platter #5: Falafel, Baba Ghannouj and a second helping of Baba Ghannouj since they ran out of Hummus. Both were accompained by Tandoori Naan bread. She had an RC cola, I had Lassi (no Mango.)

Everything was extremely good and will definately return. I think trying out a smaller fast food place a little less intimidating.

The Lassi - I'm not sure about. Maybe it would be great with a spicy meal but it just didn't taste as good as I thought it would. Or maybe it wasn't up to par. Or maybe it needs the mango?

The Baba Ghannouj was pretty good - a bit bland - but not bad. I really wish they had Hummus but what are you going to do?

Maybe tomorrow night or Saturday I'll go to a larger Indian restaurant.

CHICKEN SCHWARMA! Lebenese food....it's the best....especially if you like garlic. Mmmmmmmmmm
I went to a Lebonese cafe for lunch today. :) Yummmmy!

Persian food is very similar to greek food...probably has to do with how they constantly invaded each other for centuries. :p

Baklava, is the ultimate dessert....try it!
Hey Cat....come over here to Clearwater and I'll take you to lunch at my favorite restaurant in the area. The Mirage - Persian restaurant. Belly dancers on Friday and Saturday nights. :)

I went to a Lebonese cafe for lunch today. :) Yummmmy!

*sigh* I grew up in an area with really good Lebonese/Middle Eastern/Indian/Thai restaurants. Not many around here...and the ones that are tend to be the sort of fast food version of the cuisine....lots of really wonderful Italian food though. I really miss the chicken schwarma. :(

'k

I tried hummus tonight and it was AWESOME. *much* better than Baba Ganooj. I couldn't believe it was also very nutritious. I had this along some rice, lamb-kabob, and veges...

This food is soooo goood... I can't believe I'm 32 and just discovering this wonderful food...

my grandma used to cook full lebanese dinner for us, flat tires, cigars, footballs, etc

now I like falafel, hummus, tabouli, etc-- that kind of stuff

Hey Cat....come over here to Clearwater and I'll take you to lunch at my favorite restaurant in the area. The Mirage - Persian restaurant. Belly dancers on Friday and Saturday nights. :)


Sounds awesome, I might just have to take you up on that! It's been over a year since I had some good persian food!

To YOUR tastebuds, YES. To the rest of the world it taste much like chick peas (garbonzo beans) which is primarily what its made out of.


It's CHEESE that tastes closer to MOLD.

alright, replace mold with that "a wrinkle in time" book i read in the 8th grade... it tasted like that thing smelled... and it was musty, i tell you!