If you like simple rice dishes with aromatic warm spices and familiar ingredients, this list of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern rice dishes is a great one to try. You’ll find everyday recipes made with lentils, veggies, herbs, or toasted noodles 'sehriye', often cooked with just a handful of pantry staples. Some are light and fresh, others are a bit more hearty, but they’re all simple to make at home and taste warm and comforting without much fuss.
Hashweh
Hashweh is a lightly spiced delicious Lebanese dish made with seasoned ground beef, fluffy rice, and toasted pine nuts. This comforting one-pot meal is easy to prepare yet full of warm, aromatic spices that bring out the richness of the meat. It is traditionally served as a hearty main dish or as a stuffing for vegetables, poultry, or lamb.
To learn more: Hashweh - Lebanese Ground Beef and Rice
Rice Stuffed Chicken
This delicious Rice Stuffed Chicken is a great dish for festive dinners and small gatherings or as an alternative to traditional Roast turkey. It is a special way to roast a chicken, and definitely feels like a treat! Making this scrumptious stuffed roast chicken is surprisingly easy and straightforward.
To learn more: Rice Stuffed Chicken
Ankara Tava - Turkish Lamb and Rice
Ankara Tava is a delicious and hearty Turkish lamb and rice dish made with tender, slow-cooked lamb pieces and spiced aromatic rice. It comes from Central Anatolia, where cooking with lamb and rice has been a tradition for generations.
To learn more: Ankara Tava - Turkish Lamb and Rice
Rice Stuffed Onions
Rice Stuffed Onions, or Sogan Dolmasi is a traditional Middle Eastern dish that brings out the best in simple ingredients. This delicious dish combines tender onion shells stuffed with a rich filling made with ground beef, rice, tomato paste, fresh herbs, and warming spices.
To learn more: Rice Stuffed Onions - Sogan Dolmasi
Zereshk Polo Morgh
Zereshk Polo Morgh is a well-known traditional Persian dish consisting of barberry rice and succulent chicken. This delightful dish is a harmonious blend of colors, aromas, and textures, which beautifully represents the lively nature of Persian cuisine.
To learn more: Zereshk Polo Morgh (Persian Barberry Rice with Chicken)
Stuffed Grape Leaves
Yaprak Sarma (or Yaprak dolma - Yalanci Dolma) is an authentic vegetarian Turkish dish made from Grape Leaves Stuffed with aromatic rice, fresh Mediterranean herbs, and spices. It's a popular choice for special occasions and gatherings.
To learn more: Yaprak Sarma - Stuffed Grape Leaves
Maqluba
Maqluba (also known as Makloubeh or Maklouba) is a traditional Middle Eastern dish made with layers of rice, vegetables, and meat.
The main characteristic of this upside-down lamb and rice dish is the way it is arranged, cooked, and presented.
To learn more: Maqluba (Makloubeh) - Upside-Down Rice Dish
Courgette Boats with Beef and Rice
These stuffed courgette boats are the perfect way to make use of your fresh garden courgettes.
They are loaded with spiced minced beef, onions, fresh herbs, and rice, topped with cheese to add extra flavor, and then baked to tender perfection.
To learn more: Zucchini Boats with Ground Beef
Lebanese Lentils and Rice
Mujadara (or Mujaddara) is a simple yet delicious Lebanese Recipe made with Lentils and Rice and flavored with caramelized crispy onions.
It is extremely easy to make with only a few simple ingredients which you probably already have in your pantry.
To learn more: Mujadara - Lebanese Lentils and Rice Recipe
Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers - Biber Dolma
These delicious Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers (Biber Dolmasi) are filled with aromatic stuffing made of rice, onions, pine nuts, currants, and various herbs/spices. You can serve them as a side dish as well as the main meal or an appetizer. The leftovers are great for a boxed lunch the next day or a picnic.
To learn more: Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers (Biber Dolmasi)
Perde Pilavi
Perde Pilavi (or Perdeli Pilav) is a traditional Turkish dish made with chicken and rice filling flavored with nuts & spices, then wrapped up with a delicious pastry.
This celebratory dish is usually served at wedding ceremonies or other special gatherings.
To learn more: Perde Pilavi
Turkish Cabbage Rolls
Turkish Cabbage Rolls (a.k.a Lahana Sarmasi or Dolmasi) is a flavourful dish made of cabbage leaves filled with spiced meat and bulgur mixture. You can prepare these stuffed cabbage rolls ahead and reheat them before serving them to your dinner guests. Perfect dish for entertaining!
To learn more: Lahana Sarmasi - Turkish Cabbage Rolls
Chicken Kabsa
Arabian Chicken Kabsa, also known as Machboos, is a deliciously authentic dish that's popular across the Gulf countries and enjoyed throughout the Middle East.
This fragrant chicken and rice dish comes in various versions and traditionally includes rice (often basmati), onions, tomatoes, and a blend of 'kabsa' spices.
To learn more: Arabian Chicken Kabsa - Machboos
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