Easter In The Middle East

Lent

On Easter, Christians worldwide celebrate Jesus Christ’s resurrection. This period brims with spirituality, prayer, fasting, and joyful family gatherings. During the Lenten season, a time for reflection and fasting, I have compiled a special PDF guide containing over 40 delightful recipes to help you stay focused and energised. These dishes are perfect for those observing Lent and gearing up for Easter celebrations. Download your copy here for access to 40+ delicious recipes.

Good Friday 

As Good Friday approaches, a day marked by solemn fasting, many opt for seafood as a traditional choice. With enthusiasm, I’m sharing some of my favourite seafood recipes, ideal for Good Friday and the Lenten period. Explore the savoury delights of Whole Baked Fish with Vegetables, the tangy Pan-Seared Fish with Tomato and Capers, the perfect snack Anchovy Soldiers, and my signature Fish Kibbeh Bake (posting soon)—a twist on the classic Middle Eastern baked Lamb kibbeh. These recipes align with seasonal traditions and promise to delight your taste buds and enhance your family gatherings.

Easter in the Middle East

After delving into these tasty Lenten and Good Friday recipes, let’s refocus on Easter’s vibrant celebration. Cherishing time with loved ones is the essence of this holiday. What’s a celebration without family and friends united in joy? Easter beautifully links generations, with customs and traditions like egg colouring and egg matches adding to our festive spirit.

Easter Sunday’s meal preparation is a communal task. In Middle Eastern households, expect to see dishes such as tender lamb, ma’moul, stuffed dates, halva, and various pastries gracing the table. We can’t forget the chocolate eggs and bunnies, everyone’s seasonal favourites.

If you’re wondering what to prepare for Easter Sunday with a Middle Eastern flair, I’m here to assist. As a passionate foodie and busy mum, I offer you easy-to-make recipes that will impress your guests and leave them anticipating more. Let’s embark on a journey through Middle Eastern Easter recipes, embracing ease and flavour for a memorable Easter Sunday feast.

Ma’moul

In the Middle East, no Easter celebration meal is complete without the infamous shortbread buttery cookie known as ma’moul. These cookies, stuffed with dates, walnuts, or pistachios and dusted with icing sugar, serve as the perfect sweet treat after a month of fasting during Lent. Cooks prepare the dough with semolina and then press it into traditional wooden moulds (as shown in the photo above). The nutty fillings, enhanced with rosewater or orange blossom, impart a divine taste and fragrance. People also prepare these cookies for Eid, marking the end of Ramadan. Personally, they are among my favourite treats, evoking memories of childhood and long hours spent baking with my mother.

Kibbeh Nayeeh (Lamb Tartar)

This festive and rustic Middle Eastern dish, my Kibbeh Nayeh, is essential for your Easter table! It consists of very finely minced raw lamb mixed with fresh herbs and just the right amount of spice. The success of this recipe hinges on using fresh lamb meat from a reliable butcher—avoid the pre-minced meat from supermarkets. I find this dish incredibly easy to make and serve, and in my family, lamb tartare never leaves leftovers. Traditionally, you serve it on a shared plate, allowing everyone to partake in the feast.

Spinach and Lamb Rice Pilaf

This is a one-pot meal made only with good and healthy ingredients, most of them being pantry essentials. There’s something about the lamb and rice combination that just makes this dish a winner at any dinner party!

Slow Cooked Lamb Shoulder Roast

Mouth-watering food alert!

Although this recipe requires a bit more patience, taking 3 hours to roast, the outcome is well worth the wait: you’ll get a succulent lamb shoulder, richly infused with rosemary and garlic, that effortlessly falls off the bone. Complement this dish with a vibrant herb salad or a classic fresh vegetable salad to complete your dining experience.

Coconut and Nut Stuffed Dates

After fasting, nothing satisfies the palate quite like a date, a powerhouse of energy and vitamins. I love adding an extra crunch by stuffing dates with nuts and coconut. To enjoy this delightful twist, simply slice the date in half and tuck in your preferred filling. In just a few seconds, you’ll have a scrumptious treat ready to enjoy!

Spicy Lamb Pastries

This dish is my clever twist on my mum’s signature Laham-B-Ajeen, traditionally made with dough. Opting for ready-made puff pastry is a fantastic time-saver that still honours the dish’s delightful flavours. Another perk of this recipe is its batch-making potential; you can freeze these treats for later, making them perfect for hosting guests or providing a quick snack for your kids.

Hummus

I firmly believe that hummus is an essential addition to the Easter table—it’s a cornerstone dish in Middle Eastern cuisine. Whether you opt for classic hummus, avocado hummus, chili avocado hummus, Musabaha hummus, or a cherished family recipe, this dish is a surefire hit! You’ll find all these hummus variations in this free downloadable guide, ready to enhance your festive spread.

How do you and your family celebrate Easter? What traditions do you have and what signature dishes do you like to prepare?

With Love