Popular Arabic dishes that you definitely must try

Known for its rich and unique flavor, Arabic food typically involves the use of olive oil, garlic, and several aromatic and delicious spices such as harissa, za'atar, cumin, and cardamom. You've probably tried hummus, manakish, and falafel. However, Arabic cuisine has many unique dishes that you should definitely try.

The NewsBytes website has collected some interesting Arabic dishes that you definitely didn't know before. Here are five dishes you should definitely try:

Tabbouleh Salad

Typically eaten as part of an Arabic meze, tabbouleh is a healthy vegetarian salad that is both delicious and refreshing. This crispy and fresh salad is usually made with olive oil, chopped green onions, tomatoes, cucumber, lemon juice, parsley, and fresh mint. Some variations may include lettuce. You can also add a creamy dressing or vinaigrette to enhance the flavor.

Koshari Appetizer

One of Egypt's national dishes, koshari is a popular Arab vegetarian street food made with pasta, lentils, and rice and topped with a spicy tomato sauce. The dish uses a special Middle Eastern spice blend, fried onions, and garbanzo beans. According to legend, koshari was brought to Egypt by the British in the late 1800s.

Arabic Pizza Manouche

If you want to try Arabic pizza for breakfast, choose manoush - a traditional white flatbread cooked in olive oil with exotic fillings of vegetables, herbs, and cheese. Sometimes meat, eggs, and sweet treats are added for extra flavor. This popular street pizza is crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside.

Shawarma

Shawarma originates from the Ottoman Empire and is a popular Arab dish that consists of tender pieces of meat seasoned with spices and skewered, garlic mashed potatoes, hummus, tahini salad, and sauces. All these ingredients are wrapped in pita bread. The dish is grilled on a slowly rotating vertical spit or spit, which gives it a smoky flavor. It is an ideal dish for a snack on the road.

Popular Dessert Kunafe

Kunafeh is a popular dessert in several Arab countries. It is a cheesecake-like dish made from semolina dough and thin filo-like noodles called kataifi. It is usually soaked in a sweet sugar syrup called attar and layered with a white soft cheese like nabulsi and other ingredients such as pistachios, nuts, and clotted cream. It is crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside.

Earlier, Travel Wise wrote about vegetarian dishes in Armenia that are worth trying.