SophisticatedAppetizer
Whipped Chili-Coconut Labneh Tartlets with Charred Shiitake Mushroom & Black Garlic Oil
Silky strained yogurt tartlets filled with fermented heat, crowned with umami-rich roasted mushrooms
336 cal · 10g protein · 80 min
Cuisine & meal · 137 recipes
Middle Eastern-Style Appetizer Recipes
Middle Eastern-inspired appetizer ideas with full method and macros. Every recipe below is from the Delicious.com kitchen, with full method, macros and a one-tap grocery list.
Sophisticated
SophisticatedAppetizer
Charred Oyster Mushroom 'Steaks' with Preserved Lemon Tapenade, Black Olive & Crispy Phyllo Tuile
Meaty fungi meets briny, bright, shattered pastry
334 cal · 7g protein · 43 min
EasyAppetizer
Crispy Chickpea & Pomegranate Tartlets with Spiced Cream Cheese
Crunchy roasted chickpeas, tart pomegranate, herbed cheese on phyllo shells
457 cal · 9g protein · 20 min
SophisticatedAppetizer
Crispy Spiced Lamb Kibbeh Nayye Tartare with Pomegranate Molasses Emulsion & Toasted Pistachio Dust
Raw minced lamb with bulgur, warm spices, and silky pomegranate sauce—utterly refined and alive with flavor
745 cal · 40g protein · 28 min
SophisticatedAppetizer
Roasted Beet Carpaccio with Whipped Herbed Ricotta, Pomegranate & Crispy Sumac Breadcrumbs
Paper-thin raw beet slices with creamy ricotta, tart pomegranate molasses, toasted spiced crumbs
572 cal · 20g protein · 50 min
SophisticatedAppetizer
Seared Scallop & Crispy Chickpea Cake with Charred Lemon Emulsion & Crispy Capers
Pan-seared diver scallop on spiced chickpea cake with burnt-lemon butter and briny capers
892 cal · 21g protein · 65 min
IntermediateAppetizer
Crispy Celeriac Fritters with Pomegranate-Walnut Molasses & Hot Honey Drizzle
Root vegetable meets Turkish spice—crunchy, sweet-tart, alive
674 cal · 13g protein · 30 min
EasyAppetizer
Charred Eggplant & Pomegranate Molasses Tartlets
Smoky aubergine, phyllo crisps, tahini drizzle, pomegranate molasses, pomegranate seeds
654 cal · 13g protein · 30 min
SophisticatedAppetizer
Crispy Halloumi Cylinders with Burnt Tomato Confit, Labne Mousse & Burnt Garlic Oil
Shattered phyllo tubes encase fried cheese surrounded by concentrated tomato umami and whipped yogurt
487 cal · 19g protein · 53 min
IntermediateAppetizer
Burrata Mousse with Crispy Chickpeas & Pomegranate Molasses
Creamy, whipped cheese with crunchy roasted legumes and tart-sweet glaze
659 cal · 31g protein · 32 min
IntermediateAppetizer
Crispy Halloumi Wedges with Burnt Honey and Thyme Oil
Squeaky, melty cheese with caramelized honey and herbaceous finish
647 cal · 28g protein · 24 min
IntermediateAppetizer
Charred Delicata Squash & Brown Butter Sage Crisps with Whipped Ricotta, Crispy Hazelnuts & Pomegranate Molasses Drizzle
Roasted autumn squash meets crispy sage tuile and pomegranate-ricotta cream
302 cal · 8g protein · 39 min
SophisticatedAppetizer
Smoked Fish Harissa Tartlet with Crispy Onion & Pomegranate Gastrique
Smoky, spiced, layered—a savory-sweet tartlet that surprises.
571 cal · 13g protein · 70 min
IntermediateAppetizer
Pan-Seared Scallop & Charred Romanesco with Pomegranate Molasses Glaze
Sweet caramelized scallops, jewel-toned vegetable, tangy pomegranate reduction
650 cal · 22g protein · 30 min
SophisticatedAppetizer
Crispy Smoked Eggplant Parcels with Pomegranate & Walnut Dust, Charred Lemon Oil
Smoke-kissed aubergine, garnished with crispy phyllo and pomegranate seeds
466 cal · 13g protein · 60 min
EasyAppetizer
Moroccan Spiced Beet & Walnut Tartare in Crispy Phyllo Cups
Roasted beet carpaccio with burnt garlic & pomegranate molasses
555 cal · 14g protein · 25 min
EasyAppetizer
Muhammara Hummus Crudités with Crispy Pita & Burnt Garlic Oil
Roasted red pepper and walnut dip with charred pita chips and spiced oil
530 cal · 9g protein · 14 min
SophisticatedAppetizer
Pan-Seared Scallop & Charred Shishito with Pomegranate Molasses Glaze & Crispy Phyllo Crunch
Sweetly seared diver scallop atop collapsed charred shishito peppers, finished with tart molasses and shattered phyllo tuile
494 cal · 10g protein · 44 min
IntermediateAppetizer
Pan-Seared Scallop & Charred Apricot Tapenade with Crispy Phyllo & Pomegranate Molasses
Delicate, sweet, bright—herbaceous North African umami
433 cal · 14g protein · 30 min
IntermediateAppetizer
Crispy Pastilla Cups with Spiced Beef, Apricot & Toasted Pistachio
Shattered phyllo, warm spice, sweet-savory balance
939 cal · 34g protein · 46 min
IntermediateAppetizer
Charred Eggplant & Black Garlic Salatasi with Pomegranate Molasses Drizzle
Roasted eggplant meze with toasted breadcrumb crumble and tart pomegranate finish
227 cal · 5g protein · 32 min
IntermediateAppetizer
Croquettes de Merguez & Pistache
Spiced lamb sausage croquettes with green pistachio crumb and harissa-walnut dip
542 cal · 16g protein · 38 min
SophisticatedAppetizer
Berbere-Brined Beet Carpaccio with Labneh Cloud, Charred Scallion Oil & Crispy Amaranth
Paper-thin raw beet rounds infused with spiced brine; whipped strained yogurt; toasted grain seed crunch
583 cal · 6g protein · 50 min
EasyAppetizer
Crispy Kibbeh Shells with Labne, Pomegranate & Herb Oil
Fried bulgur shells filled with creamy cheese and tart pomegranate
488 cal · 14g protein · 22 min
Good to know
How long do these take?
Half are done in about 33 minutes. The quickest is around 18 minutes and the longest about 55 minutes, so there is something here whether you have a spare hour or twenty minutes.
Are these authentic Middle-eastern recipes?
No, and we do not claim they are. These are dishes built on Middle-eastern ingredients and technique by the Delicious kitchen, which is why the pages say Middle-eastern-style rather than Middle-eastern. They are written to taste right and to work in a home kitchen, not to be a record of traditional cooking.
How many calories are in these?
Most land between 336 and 868 calories a serving. Every recipe shows its own calories plus protein, carbs and fat, calculated per serving rather than per batch.
Do these come with a grocery list?
Yes. Any recipe here can be added to a grocery list that adds up quantities across everything you have chosen and sorts it by aisle, so two recipes needing onions become one line.
