Does Your Knowledge Of Middle Eastern Cuisine Go Beyond Hummus? Find Out With Our Quiz!
Written by Vasilii Kulev
Last updated · 8 min play time
The dietary limitations imposed by the Middle East's three main religions - Islam, Judaism, and Coptic Christianity - have resulted in some pretty creative meat and dairy-free dishes. Take our quiz to challenge your knowledge of fresh, nutritious, and fragrant Middle Eastern dishes.
Quiz written by
Vasilii KulevVasilii Kulev is a digital marketing specialist during business hours and a trivia writer in his spare time. His areas of interest range from cars and music to science, history, and food. Whenever he's not busy writing quizzes, you can catch him at the local used records store or the newest craft beer bar. He also wrote this entire bio himself in third person.
Middle Eastern Cuisine Quiz Questions
20 Questions · 120 Plays · No comments
Question 1
With Sabra as a leading U.S. brand, what wildly popular Middle Eastern savory dip is prepared with mashed chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, and garlic?
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AFul Medammes
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BHummus
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CTangy Red Pepper
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DBaba Ghanoush
Hummus
Hummus is a Middle Eastern dip and spread that's quite popular all over the world. Not only it's delicious, but it's also nutrient-dense and has been associated with a variety of remarkable health and nutritional advantages. It is often served as a dip on pita bread or as a snack with crackers.
Question 2
One of Ottoman cuisine's most beloved desserts, what is this pastry dish consisting of crispy dough filled with chopped nuts and sweetened syrup?
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AKataifi
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BBaklava
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CKanafeh
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DSahlab
Baklava
Although baklava's pre-Ottoman origins are unclear, it is a popular dessert in contemporary Iran, Turkey, and some other Arab World countries. That's why the dessert comes in a variety of shapes and tastes, with walnuts more prevalent in Greece, rather than pistachios.
Question 3
A classic Middle Eastern dish, what is this deep-fried fritter made from chickpeas, fava beans - or both - and often served in a pita pocket?
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AKushari
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BFatta
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CFalafel
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DKibbeh
Falafel
Falafel is one of the most popular - and trendy - Middle Eastern foods, often served alongside hummus. It's usually served with salads, pickled vegetables and spicy sauce, but falafel balls are often consumed on their own as a snack or as a part of a mezze platter.
Question 4
This Levantine salad is made from parsley, tomatoes, and onions, and in the Arab world is usually offered as part of a mezze plate. What is it called?
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AMujaddara
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BDolma
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CHalva
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DTabbouleh
Tabbouleh
If you're looking for a food to express Lebanese identity, look no further than tabbouleh. It's a staple of the national cuisine, with most residents eating it at least once a week. If you ask foreigners on the street in Lebanon which Lebanese dish they've tasted, they're likely to say tabbouleh.
Question 5
Name this Levantine dish, comprised of thinly sliced meat stacked in a cone-shaped loaf.
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AChallah
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BFasoulia
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CShawarma
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DFreekeh
Shawarma
Shawarma was originally made with lamb or mutton, but chicken and beef varieties have also become popular recently. Shawarma is one of the most popular street foods worldwide, particularly in Egypt and the Arabian Peninsula.
Question 6
Called "stuffed grape leaves" stateside, which dish belongs to an Ottoman cuisine family of stuffed dishes that may be served warm or cold?
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ABorek
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BSalep
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CPilaf
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DDolma
Dolma
While some kinds of dolmas are prepared with entire vegetables, fruit, offal, or shellfish, others are made by wrapping the content in leaves, most frequently grape or cabbage leaves. Wrapped dolma, in particular, is also referred to as sarma. Today, dolma dishes are present in Balkan, South Caucasian, Central Asian, and Levantine cuisines.
Question 7
This dish consists of a type of meatballs or meatloaf, and it's popular on the Indian subcontinent, the Middle East and the Balkans. What is this tasty item called?
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AKofta
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BAjvar
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CPlejskavica
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DShopska
Kofta
Koftas, in their simplest form, are balls of ground meat ,often beef, chicken, lamb, mutton, or a combination of these with spices and onions. In Greece and Cyprus, vegetarian variants are referred to as hortokeftedes and are often consumed during fasting times such as Lent.
Question 8
Tahini is a popular Middle Eastern dip served alone or as a primary component of hummus, baba ghanoush, and halva. What is Tahini's main ingredient?
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ASesame seeds
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BChickpeas
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CPomegranate molasses
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DCouscous
Sesame seeds
Tahini is made from ground toasted sesame seeds, and is a common dish in the cuisines of the Levant and the Eastern Mediterranean, as well as parts of North Africa. Sesame paste is also used in some East Asian cuisines.
Question 9
Quite similar to shawarma, what is this Ottoman-style marinated chicken dish that subsequently became a staple of Middle Eastern cuisine?
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ABasbousa
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BBeef Kafta
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CShish taouk
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DBeef Tartare
Shish taouk
Shish taouk is consumed extensively across the Middle East and the Caucasus. In Persian cuisine, a similar dish is the classic jujeh kebab. It's also offered in numerous cities around the globe at kebab houses. The main difference between it and shawarma are the different spices used.
Question 10
This classic Middle Eastern dessert is shredded filo pastry or fine semolina dough that has been soaked in a sweet, sugar-based syrup and often topped with cheese or other ingredients. What is it called?
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AMaamoul
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BGhraybeh
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CSahlab
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DKanafeh
Kanafeh
Kanafeh is one of the most well-known desserts in the Middle East. It originated in Nablus and is the most emblematic and iconic Palestinian desserts. The dish is made using a special cheese that is stored in white brine, and is usually served in a big, shallow circular dish.
Question 11
Considered the Middle Eastern version of a pizza, what popular Levantine food is made of flatbread topped with thyme, cheese, or minced beef?
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AKibbeh nayyeh
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BMujaddara
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CManakish
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DFattoush
Manakish
The term "manakish" translates to "sculpt, carve-out, or engrave," which refers to the process of pressing the dough flat with fingers to create little dips for the topping to rest in. Manakish is widespread across the Levant and is also prevalent in adjacent areas and hubs of the Levantine diaspora.
Question 12
This semi-hard unripened cheese is produced from goat and sheep's milk, and is often linked with the island of Cyprus. Popular in Middle Eastern countries, what is it called?
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AKasseri
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BSaganaki
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CFeta
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DHalloumi
Halloumi
Due to its high melting point, halloumi is ideal for frying or grilling. This characteristic contributes to its popularity as a meat replacement. In fact, by 2013, the United Kingdom's demand for halloumi had exceeded that of every other European nation except Cyprus.
Question 13
This appetizer of Lebanese origin is called Baba Ghanoush, and while it resembles hummus, it's made from what main ingredient mixed with olive oil, lemon juice, and a variety of spices?
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AKibbeh nayyeh
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BLabneh
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CMutabal
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DBaba Ghanoush
Baba Ghanoush
Baba Ghanoush is usually paired with onions, tomatoes, or other vegetables, and is a traditional mezze dish from the Middle East. It's often served as a side dish to the main course and as a dip for pita bread. Mutabbal is considered to be its spicier sister.
Question 14
What are these delicious Middle Eastern deep-fried dough pastries, that are drenched in syrup or honey and dusted with cinnamon or other spices?
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AAish El-Saraya
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BQatayef
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CLokma
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DBasbousa
Lokma
In Iraq, the pastries are referred to as lokma or luqaymat, and they vary in size and flavor throughout the Middle East. In Arab nations, lokma recipes, which are sometimes flavored with saffron, have remained mostly unchanged since the 13th century.
Question 15
Meaning "covered" in Arabic, what Mesopotamian meal made out of seasoned, grilled carp is considered the national dish of Iraq?
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AMasgouf
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BKleicha
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CMaqluba
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DTashreeb
Masgouf
Masgouf was consumed throughout the Sumerian and Akkadian eras. Being Iraq's most renowned dish, Masgou is also the meal that Iraqi politicians serve to foreign delegations. Two prominent fans of this dish are reported to be former French President Jacques Chirac and former Russian Duma Chairman Vladimir Zhirinovsky.
Question 16
This Lebanese salad is prepared with toasted or fried khubz and various vegetables such as radishes and tomatoes. Name this staple of Beirut.
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AFattoush
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BTabbouleh
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CBroken Wheat Salad
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DRaheb
Fattoush
Because flatbread spoils fast, it's unsurprising that a variety of Arab recipes are prepared using broken pita bread. Fattoush is cooked using khubz (Arabic flatbread) with some seasonal vegetables. It's the perfect summer salad.
Question 17
With a name that sounds almost yogic, what is this classic Egyptian delicacy, often considered the country's national dish?
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AOm Ali
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BKataifi
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CSahlab
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DMamaoul
Om Ali
Om Ali, which translates to "Mother of Ali," dates all the way back to Egypt's early Mamluk period. It's named after the wife of the Egyptian Sultan, who challenged her chefs to make the most delicious dessert possible. The selected recipe spread across the country and eventually became Egypt's national dish.
Question 18
This popular cheese in Levantine cuisine is produced in Egypt by fermenting Areesh cheese. Name it.
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AMakdous
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BMuhammara
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CShanklish
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DMtabbal
Shanklish
Shanklish is usually made into 6-centimeter diameter balls, often dusted with za'atar and Aleppo pepper, and then aged and dried. The most frequent spice used is thyme, which gives the cheese a look reminiscent of a rum ball. Shanklish is also available in considerably smaller balls, or in its natural state.
Question 19
Name this traditional Arab dish of lamb with a fermented yogurt sauce, which is often served with rice or bulgur.
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AMansaf
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BLuqmat al-qadi
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CKabsa
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DMachbus
Mansaf
Mansaf is a widely consumed dish throughout the Levant. It's regarded as Jordan's national dish and is also served in Palestine, Kuwait, and Syria. The dish's name is derived from the phrase "large tray."
Question 20
Traditionally made in and served out of a large metal jug, this dish is a staple of many Arab, Middle Eastern, and North African cuisines. What is it called?
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AFatta
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BKushari
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CBesarah
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DFul medames
Ful medames
Ful medames is prepared with fava beans, olive oil, cumin, and chili pepper. Prepared and served in a big metal jug, it's particularly popular in Egypt's northern cities of Cairo and Giza.
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