BEAN DJINNI

Ideas and suggestions for middle eastern dishes for Magical Fruit 4.0: March 22, 2026

 

These are just a few suggestions. The food of the middle east is such a huge and flavorful feast. There is so much to explore and all of it is delicious. If you haven’t been, I suggest a visit to Al Medinnah Halal Grocery Market on Hodgson Memorial, a few doors down from King and I Thai. restaurant. (Catty corner across from TJ Maxx.) They have so many amazing ingredients and spices. It’s a whole new world of food flavors to experience. This is my go-to spot for all of my middle-eastern needs: feta, spices, tahini, olives, dolmas, halloumi. Experiment with their candies and sweet treats. 

Grab and go

  • Stuffed grape leaves

  • Olives

  • Pita breads

  • Pita chips

  • Baby cucumbers

  • Dates & dried apricots

  • Pistachios, walnuts

  • Halvah

Salads

Dishes

When it comes to recipes from the middle east, almost anything by Yotam Ottolenghi, Adeena Sussman, Reem Khassis, Sabrina Ghayour, Yasmin Khan, and Samin Nosrat are amazing. You can search any of these people with  “recipes” and to find a n Alladin’s cave of delicious inspiration. Or peruse the shelves The Coastal Table on Bull Street, just north of Forsyth Park. This new shop has a vast selection of cookbooks full of middle eastern cooking. Check out anything on this mouth watering list from your library. Or ask me to borrow one of my many cookbooks from the region.