The Most Popular Arabic Food, Ranked
Voting rules: Choose the food you think is the most popular!
Updated on Apr 29, 2024 06:29
In a world rich with culinary delights, Arabic cuisine stands out for its unique blend of flavors and experiences. By voting for your favorite dishes, you help others understand which meals resonate the most with a broad audience. This participation not only enriches the comprehension of cultural preferences but also guides newcomers to Arabic cuisine towards the most cherished dishes.
Each vote contributes to a dynamic ranking that reflects current tastes and popular opinions. This evolving list serves as a culinary guide and builds a community of food lovers who share a passion for Arabic food. Whether you are a longtime enthusiast or a curious explorer, your input directly influences and shapes this communal culinary map.
What Is the Most Popular Arabic Food?
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186votesA classic dish made from chickpeas, tahini, garlic, and lemon juice. It is a staple in Middle Eastern cuisine and is enjoyed as a dip or spread.Hummus is a popular Arab food that is a thick spread made from cooked and mashed chickpeas blended with tahini (sesame seed paste), lemon juice, garlic, and olive oil. It has a smooth and creamy texture with a rich and earthy flavor. Hummus is commonly enjoyed as a dip or spread and is often served as an appetizer or a side dish with pita bread.
- Main ingredient: Chickpeas
- Additional ingredients: Tahini, lemon juice, garlic, olive oil
- Texture: Smooth and creamy
- Flavor: Rich and earthy
- Usage: Dip or spread
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234votesDeep-fried balls made from ground chickpeas or fava beans. They are often served in pita bread with vegetables and sauces.Falafel is a popular Middle Eastern dish made from ground chickpeas or fava beans, mixed with various herbs and spices. It is typically shaped into small balls, patties, or nuggets, and then deep-fried until crispy. Falafel is known for its crispy exterior and soft, flavorful interior. It is commonly enjoyed as a vegetarian or vegan option, served in pita bread or as part of a mezze platter.
- Main Ingredients: Chickpeas or fava beans, herbs, and spices
- Cooking Method: Deep-fried
- Texture: Crispy exterior, soft interior
- Shape: Balls, patties, or nuggets
- Flavor Profile: Savory, aromatic, and mildly spiced
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312votesA popular street food made from marinated meat (usually chicken, beef, or lamb) that is cooked on a rotating spit and shaved off to order. It is typically served in a wrap or sandwich.Shawarma is a popular Arab food that originated in the Middle East. It is a type of meat preparation, typically made with thinly sliced marinated lamb, beef, or chicken. The meat is often placed on a vertical rotating spit and slowly cooked, resulting in a tender and flavorful filling. The shawarma is commonly served in a pita bread or flatbread, along with various toppings and sauces.
- Meat: Lamb, beef, or chicken
- Marination: Thinly sliced meat marinated in a blend of herbs, spices, and sometimes yogurt
- Cooking Method: Slowly roasted on a vertical spit, resulting in juicy and tender meat
- Serving Style: Typically served in a pita bread or flatbread
- Toppings: Common toppings include tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, pickles, and sometimes fries
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418votesSkewered meat (usually chicken or lamb) that is grilled over an open flame. It is often served with rice, vegetables, and a variety of sauces.Kebab is a popular Arabic dish consisting of skewered and grilled pieces of marinated meat, typically lamb or beef, that are cooked over an open fire or on a grill. The meat is often seasoned with a blend of aromatic spices, such as cumin, coriander, garlic, and paprika, which imparts a rich and savory flavor to the kebab. It is commonly served with rice, salad, and bread.
- Meat: Lamb or beef
- Cooking method: Grilling over an open fire or on a grill
- Marination: Meat is marinated with aromatic spices
- Spices: Common spices used include cumin, coriander, garlic, and paprika
- Serving: Often served with rice, salad, and bread
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518votesA salad made from finely chopped parsley, tomatoes, onions, and mint, dressed with lemon juice and olive oil. It is a refreshing side dish that pairs well with many Middle Eastern dishes.Tabouleh is a traditional Arabic salad that is popular across the Middle East. It is made with a refreshing combination of finely chopped parsley, bulgur wheat, tomatoes, mint, and onion, dressed with lemon juice and olive oil. The flavors are bright, tangy, and herbaceous, making it a delicious and refreshing dish.
- Ingredients: Parsley, bulgur wheat, tomatoes, mint, onion, lemon juice, olive oil
- Preparation Method: The parsley is finely chopped and mixed with soaked bulgur wheat. Then, diced tomatoes, minced mint, and diced onion are added. The salad is dressed with lemon juice and olive oil.
- Serving: Tabouleh is typically served as an appetizer or a side dish. It can be enjoyed on its own or alongside grilled meats, kebabs, or falafel.
- Health Benefits: Tabouleh is highly nutritious as parsley is packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. It is also a good source of fiber and can contribute to healthy digestion.
- Cultural Significance: Tabouleh holds cultural importance and is often associated with festive occasions and celebrations in Arabic cuisine.
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613votes
Basel15 at English Wikipedia · Public domainA dip made from roasted eggplant, tahini, garlic, and lemon juice. It is similar to hummus and is often served alongside it.Baba ghanoush is a popular Arabic dish made from roasted or grilled eggplant, blended with garlic, tahini, lemon juice, olive oil, and various spices. It is a smooth and creamy dip with a smoky flavor and is typically served as an appetizer or mezze.- Main Ingredients: Roasted or grilled eggplant, garlic, tahini, lemon juice, olive oil, spices
- Texture: Smooth and creamy
- Flavor: Smoky
- Usage: Commonly served as an appetizer or mezze
- Serving Style: Often accompanied by pita bread or vegetables for dipping
Baba ghanoush in other rankings- Position 7 of 10 in Most popular food in Syria
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77votesA popular street food dish that combines crispy French fries with shawarma meat, cheese, and sauces. It is a delicious and indulgent treat.Shawarma fries is a popular Arabic dish that combines the flavors of shawarma and fries in a delicious and satisfying manner. It is a combination of thinly sliced shawarma meat, typically chicken or beef, served on top of a bed of crispy French fries. The meat is usually marinated in a blend of aromatic spices, such as garlic, cumin, paprika, and turmeric, then grilled to perfection. The shawarma meat is then piled high on the fries and topped with various condiments and sauces, such as tahini, garlic sauce, pickles, and sometimes even melted cheese. The result is a mouthwatering fusion of flavors and textures.
- Main Ingredients: Thinly sliced shawarma meat, French fries
- Condiments: Tahini, garlic sauce, pickles, melted cheese (optional)
- Spices: Garlic, cumin, paprika, turmeric
- Meat Options: Chicken or beef
- Texture: Crispy fries with tender shawarma meat
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84votesA type of flatbread that is topped with a variety of ingredients, such as za'atar (a spice blend), cheese, and meat. It is often enjoyed for breakfast or as a snack.Manakeesh, also known as Manakish or Manaeesh, is a popular Arabic food that originated from Lebanon. It is a form of flatbread topped with various ingredients and baked until crispy. The dough used for Manakeesh is made from simple ingredients like flour, water, yeast, salt, and olive oil. Once the dough is prepared, it is rolled out and topped with an array of traditionally savory ingredients, such as za'atar spice mix (a combination of thyme, sesame seeds, sumac, and other herbs), olive oil, cheese, minced meat, or vegetables. Manakeesh is then baked in a hot oven, resulting in a delicious and versatile dish.
- Origin: Lebanon
- Dough Ingredients: Flour, water, yeast, salt, olive oil
- Toppings: Za'atar spice mix, olive oil, cheese, minced meat, vegetables
- Preparation Method: Rolling out dough, topping with ingredients, baking
- Serving Style: Cut into slices or wedges
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95votesA traditional Palestinian dish made with rice, vegetables, and meat (usually chicken or lamb) that is cooked in a pot and then flipped over onto a serving platter. It is a hearty and flavorful meal.Maqluba is a traditional Palestinian and Jordanian dish that translates to 'upside down' in Arabic. It is a flavorful one-pot dish that typically consists of meat (such as chicken, lamb, or beef), rice, and a variety of vegetables like eggplant, cauliflower, and carrots. The ingredients are layered in a pot and cooked together until the rice is soft and fluffy. Once cooked, the pot is flipped upside down onto a serving plate, hence the name 'Maqluba.' The dish is often garnished with fried nuts and served with yogurt or a tomato-based sauce.
- Origin: Palestine and Jordan
- Main components: Meat (chicken, lamb, or beef), rice, vegetables
- Cooking method: Layering ingredients in a pot and cooking them together
- Flavor profile: Savory and aromatic
- Typical seasonings: Cumin, turmeric, cardamom, and other Middle Eastern spices
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1010votesA dessert made from shredded phyllo dough, cheese, and a sweet syrup. It is a popular dessert in the Middle East and is often served during Ramadan.Kanafeh is a traditional Middle Eastern dessert that is popular in many Arabic countries. It is a sweet pastry made with shredded filo dough, soaked in a sweet sugar-based syrup, and typically filled with a rich cheese, such as akkawi or mozzarella. The dish is then baked until golden and crispy, and usually served warm. Kanafeh is often garnished with crushed pistachios or a sprinkling of rose or orange blossom water for added flavor and aroma.
- Origin: Middle East
- Type: Pastry
- Main Ingredients: Filo dough, cheese, sugar syrup
- Cheese Variety: Akkawi, mozzarella
- Garnish: Crushed pistachios, rose/orange blossom water
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Ranking factors for popular food
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Taste and flavor profileThe unique blend of spices, herbs, and ingredients that characterize Arabic food should be appealing to a broad range of people. The balance of flavors should be just right, with no one ingredient overpowering the others.
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Cultural significanceMany popular Arabic foods have a rich history and cultural significance, and their popularity is often linked to the role they play in important rituals and traditions.
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Availability and accessibilityA popular Arabic food should be widely available and fairly easy to prepare or obtain, making it a common choice for people who are looking for a quick and delicious meal.
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Health benefitsMany Arabic foods feature healthy ingredients such as vegetables, legumes, and lean meats which have positive effects on an individual's health. Popular Arabic foods should ideally offer some nutritional value.
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VersatilityArabic foods that can be enjoyed as part of a wide range of dishes, and that can be adapted to suit different dietary preferences and requirements, are likely to be more popular.
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Iconic statusSome Arabic foods, such as hummus and falafel, are well-known and loved worldwide. These iconic dishes may be particularly popular due to their recognizability and association with Arabic cuisine.
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Presentation and aesthetic appealThe appearance of a dish plays a crucial role in its popularity. Popular Arabic foods should look appetizing and visually appealing, with a range of colors, textures, and forms.
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AffordabilityCost is a significant factor in the popularity of any food. Popular Arabic foods should be reasonably priced and accessible to a diverse audience.
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Popularity among locals and touristsA popular Arabic food should be well-liked not only by locals but also by tourists visiting the region, contributing to its overall popularity.
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Positive reviews and recommendationsThe popularity of Arabic foods can be boosted by word of mouth and personal recommendations. Dishes that receive favorable reviews and strong recommendations from food enthusiasts, critics, and casual diners alike are more likely to be popular among a larger audience.
About this ranking
This is a community-based ranking of the most popular Arabic food. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or food is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!
Statistics
- 1847 views
- 205 votes
- 10 ranked items
Voting Rules
A participant may cast an up or down vote for each food once every 24 hours. The rank of each food is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.
More information on most popular arabic food
Arabic cuisine is known for its rich flavors, spices, and culinary traditions. The cuisine varies across the Arab world, with each region having its own unique dishes and ingredients. Arabic food is a reflection of the diverse cultures and influences of the Arab world, including Mediterranean, Indian, and African cuisine. Some of the most popular Arabic foods include hummus, falafel, shawarma, tabbouleh, and baklava. These dishes are enjoyed by people all over the world and are an integral part of Arab culture and hospitality. With so many delicious options, it's no wonder that Arabic food is one of the most popular cuisines in the world.
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