Cookbook giveaway – The Middle Eastern Vegetarian

The Middle Eastern VegetarianSalma Hage has over 50 years of experience in the kitchen and is regarded as an authority on Middle Eastern home cooking. Her new cookbook, The Middle Eastern Vegetarian Cookbook, seamlessly blends the Western trend of reducing meat consumption with the ancient culture of largely vegetarian, mezze-style dining.

The traditional Middle Eastern diet focused largely on vegetables, fruits, herbs, spices, pulses, grains and legumes. Salma simplifies this increasingly popular cuisine with easily achievable recipes, including many vegan and gluten-free options. You can read more about the cookbook in our author interview with Salma.

We’re delighted to offer five copies of The Middle Eastern Vegetarian to EYB Members worldwide. One of the entry options is to answer the following question in the comments section of this blog post:

What is your favorite traditional Middle Eastern ingredient?

Please note that you must be signed into the Rafflecopter contest before posting the comment or your entry won’t be counted. If you are not already a Member, you can join at no cost. The contest ends May 24, 2016.

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99 Comments

  • mziech  on  April 26, 2016

    I love tahini. Great taste in Middle Eastern dishes!

  • Seren_Ann  on  April 26, 2016

    Orange Flower water. It's really good in crêpes 🙂

  • pandapotamus  on  April 26, 2016

    Tahini!!! Love it in everything.

  • imaluckyducky  on  April 26, 2016

    Za'atar, hands dow

  • Lovestocook  on  April 26, 2016

    Preserved lemons

  • annmartina  on  April 26, 2016

    Haloumi

  • annapanna  on  April 26, 2016

    Chickpeas

  • wester  on  April 26, 2016

    All of the above – but if I have to choose it's chickpeas.

  • nikignu  on  April 26, 2016

    Tahini! I love that sesame flavour!

  • Emily Hope  on  April 26, 2016

    Pomegranate molasses–it adds such a nice combination of acidity and sweetness.

  • reensarai  on  April 26, 2016

    I love sumac.
    I love thee taste of it as a condiment with wonderful middle eastern snacks

  • Yildiz100  on  April 26, 2016

    Parsley!

  • readingtragic  on  April 27, 2016

    I love cracked wheat – it works in kibbeh, salads; all sorts of stuff

  • lilham  on  April 27, 2016

    Pomegranate molasses

  • NikkiPixie  on  April 27, 2016

    I love everything! Pomegranates are the best…

  • IsaSim  on  April 27, 2016

    Sumac…

  • Zosia  on  April 27, 2016

    Sumac.

  • vickster  on  April 27, 2016

    Falafel with Tahini sauce. Eager to learn about more!

  • jyms  on  April 27, 2016

    Eggplant, because baba ghanoush.

  • Radishman1220  on  April 27, 2016

    Aleppo pepper to give everything some added kick

  • Catsfan59  on  April 27, 2016

    Pomegranates for me.

  • WandaA  on  April 28, 2016

    Pomegranates for me as well ♡

  • Choclette  on  April 28, 2016

    Adore Middle Easter ingredients. Pomegranate molasses is my current favourite.

  • jupflute  on  April 28, 2016

    So difficult…pomegranate maybe. Or orange blossom water.

  • Plantaardigheidjes  on  April 28, 2016

    Definitely aubergine <3

  • ballen  on  April 28, 2016

    Feta cheese

  • infotrop  on  April 28, 2016

    I seldom use traditional Middle Eastern ingredients…but definitely need to try. I love all the ingredients and flavors others have mentioned though.

  • jecca  on  April 28, 2016

    I love so many Middle Eastern ingredients, but my favourite is probably rose water or orange flower water.

  • elizam  on  April 28, 2016

    Tahini ftw, but there are so many the I use nearly every day and adore.

  • HelenB  on  April 28, 2016

    Qatar

  • HelenB  on  April 28, 2016

    Za'atar (not Qatar!)

  • Liliana  on  April 28, 2016

    Eggplant.

  • raybun  on  April 28, 2016

    Pomegranates

  • chowfamily  on  April 28, 2016

    Sumac

  • JanScholl  on  April 29, 2016

    I don't have a favorite but my favorite dish is ful. So I guess beans.

  • Cattyb  on  April 29, 2016

    Harissa! I love it with almost everything.

  • mirra5  on  April 29, 2016

    Za'atar and lebneh…love it

  • GillB  on  April 29, 2016

    Chickpeas and pomegranares

  • wishuponadish  on  April 29, 2016

    I adore anything with lemons and always make a large canning jar of preserved lemons.

  • loubaby  on  April 29, 2016

    pomegranate molasses is my best…..

  • Orielle  on  April 29, 2016

    I love za'atar! So versatile!

  • SujataNaik  on  April 29, 2016

    Chickpeas

  • ravensfan  on  April 29, 2016

    Chick peas

  • Nancith  on  April 29, 2016

    olives & figs

  • PixieCat  on  April 29, 2016

    Chickpeas if I had to pick only one.

  • CHedges  on  April 29, 2016

    eggplant!

  • jlh39  on  April 29, 2016

    Chickpeas!

  • RabbitFood  on  April 29, 2016

    Just one?
    Pomegrante.

  • Wlow  on  April 29, 2016

    Eggplant but I'm getting into Aleppo pepper…

  • SamanthaV  on  April 29, 2016

    I love using Zaatar in my cooking.

  • susan g  on  April 29, 2016

    Many, but my new love is urfa peppers

  • saladdays  on  April 30, 2016

    Chickpeas are my favourite.

  • Waderu  on  April 30, 2016

    grape leaves

  • Nick.Giunta  on  April 30, 2016

    Tumeric!

  • IngridO  on  April 30, 2016

    I would have to say sesame seed anything!

  • elysek  on  April 30, 2016

    Za’atar.

  • lindaeatsherbooks  on  May 1, 2016

    I really like using zaatar. I use it on chicken and it's delicious.

  • phylliscaroline  on  May 1, 2016

    Pomegranates are the prettiest and chickpeas are the most versatile ingredients.

  • kari500  on  May 1, 2016

    Zaatar and sumac

  • trudys_person  on  May 1, 2016

    Chickpeas, and za'atar – both very versatile!

  • Lollymac  on  May 2, 2016

    I love Tahini paste.

  • cadfael  on  May 2, 2016

    Cadfael-chickpeas and sesame seeds!!

  • Runhappyally  on  May 3, 2016

    Zaatar, I literally chuck it on everything, including pizza!

  • sarahawker  on  May 3, 2016

    Honey!

  • veggie va  on  May 3, 2016

    Fresh herbs

  • sbh2006  on  May 4, 2016

    I would have to say spices, herbs and seasonings; my pantry is stocked with pomegranate molasses, barberries, limoo Omani, za'atar, sumac, sabzi, silan, tahini…I love giving any dish a Middle Eastern makeover by adjusting the seasonings (last week I made the Persian tamarind fish from "New Persian Kitchen.") As a longtime vegetarian / pescetarian, I would LOVE to win this and do a spotlight review on my blog; Middle Eastern cuisine is one of my favorites! (I'm currently reviewing Lebanese, Sephardic and Azeri cookbooks)

  • rahiscock  on  May 5, 2016

    All the spices! Especially cinnamon and za'atar

  • Joyceeong  on  May 5, 2016

    I love zaatar and sumac!

  • kbennall  on  May 5, 2016

    Labneh, but barely – I use zaatar, sumac, tahina, chickpeas, eggplant…the list goes on.

  • veronicafrance  on  May 5, 2016

    Well, chickpeas and harissa are always in my larder. Such versatile ingredients.

  • sabrina7  on  May 5, 2016

    spices

  • food_hooked  on  May 5, 2016

    Pomegranate molasses !!!

  • cocecitycook  on  May 6, 2016

    Spices!

  • LilyB612  on  May 6, 2016

    Syrian pepper!

  • Lynled  on  May 6, 2016

    Za atar, yum!

  • Roblyn  on  May 6, 2016

    Pomegranate molasses

  • t.t  on  May 6, 2016

    labneh, but only because I eat it the most–couldn't live without tahini, chickpeas, and sumac either…

  • colinf  on  May 7, 2016

    Chickpeas for me

  • Michellehffmn  on  May 7, 2016

    Olive oil, olive oil and olive oil!

  • allthatsleftarethecrumbs  on  May 7, 2016

    Tahini.

  • CLeonard  on  May 7, 2016

    Sumac has been a great discovery.

  • GregH  on  May 7, 2016

    preserved lemons

  • EmmaJaneDay  on  May 8, 2016

    Pomegranates. I love them so much, I am now growing them myself

  • rosyannposy  on  May 8, 2016

    So hard to choose, but I do love yogurt and eat it every day!

  • Lizwizz  on  May 8, 2016

    dates and figs

  • sharifah  on  May 8, 2016

    zaatar

  • Sfgordon  on  May 8, 2016

    chickpeas, dates, and olives are at the top of my list.

  • meggan  on  May 9, 2016

    Aleppo pepper and sumac

  • tikilu  on  May 9, 2016

    I love cinnamon, I'd put in everything if I could sweet as well as savoury. 😉

  • Moo  on  May 10, 2016

    I love sumac

  • Mayandbill  on  May 10, 2016

    Dried limes and or dried lime powder make Iranian dishes taste fantastically exotic.

  • Katiefayhutson  on  May 10, 2016

    Sumac

  • ladibyrd  on  May 15, 2016

    So hard to choose just one! Spices / flavoring ingredients

  • pgarcia  on  May 15, 2016

    Za'atar!

  • dmass  on  May 18, 2016

    I'm still learning and trying new ingredients, but for starters I would say chickpeas.

  • Stephanie7  on  May 20, 2016

    The ever versatile chickpea!

  • djoh437938  on  May 21, 2016

    chickpeas

  • wishuponadish  on  May 22, 2016

    I am totally interested in cooking Middle Eastern fare.

  • vinochic  on  May 24, 2016

    dates, olives, spices. pretty much everything!

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