Middle Eastern

With Middle Eastern menu items growing by 15.2%* year on year, operators are introducing a wider range of dishes as consumers increasingly embrace the cuisine. From warming, spice-led dishes to colourful mezze and vibrant salads, its mix of flavours, textures and presentation encourages diners to mix, match and share.

The cuisines of the Levant - Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Palestine - each bring their own character, yet all celebrate fresh ingredients, aromatic herbs, olive oil and mezze. Together they've introduced operators to menu favourites including hummus, shawarma, fattoush and manakish, helping shape today’s Middle Eastern trend.

Consumers want meals that still deliver comfort and satisfaction. Dishes such as fattoush salad and mujadara, a hearty combination of lentils, rice and caramelised onions, put the spotlight on vegetables, pulses and wholegrains that are central to Middle Eastern cuisine. These nutrient-rich ingredients bring plenty to the plate, while bold flavours and satisfying textures keep the focus firmly on enjoyment.

Food that brings people together continues to grow in appeal. Mezze platters, sharing boards and generous spreads make Middle Eastern cuisine a natural fit for social dining, encouraging diners to linger, share and discover dishes together. Think dips, breads, grilled meats and salads that invite everyone to help themselves.

Fire-led cooking lies at the heart of Middle Eastern cuisine. Chargrilling, slow roasting and smoky spice blends create depth, while herbs and marinades build complexity. Easily adapted to grills and ovens across a range of kitchens, these techniques give dishes their unmistakable character.

Today's comfort food is becoming more adventurous. Rather than relying solely on traditional British favourites, diners are turning to cuisines that combine warmth, richness and familiarity with new ingredients, spices and cooking traditions. Middle Eastern cuisine is well placed to satisfy that demand.

Slow-roasted, spiced chicken, lamb or beef served in wraps, pittas or flatbreads with fresh salads and sauces. Ideal for grab-and-go lunches, sharing platters and loaded breads, shawarma delivers bold Middle Eastern flavours in a versatile, crowd-pleasing format.

Eggs baked in a rich tomato and pepper sauce with warming spices, shakshuka is a versatile favourite for breakfast, brunch or all-day dining. Serve with warm flatbreads or grains for a comforting dish that's easy to adapt across the menu.

Made from ground sesame seeds, tahini is a nutty paste that forms the base of hummus and many Middle Eastern dressings and sauces. Its creamy texture works well with roasted vegetables, grilled meats and desserts, making it a versatile ingredient. It’s also a FastForward Flavour.

From crisp filo pastries to syrup-soaked sweet treats, Middle Eastern desserts offer something different for operators. Knafeh, layered with soft cheese and finished with pistachios, is one of the region's best-known examples.

This spicy chilli paste, used in both Middle Eastern and North African cooking, adds warmth, depth and gentle heat to marinades, sauces, soups and roasted vegetables. Use it to elevate burgers, wraps, grain bowls or grilled meats with smoky, spice-led flavour.

Middle Eastern cuisine is known for its herbs and spices. Cumin, sumac, coriander, cinnamon and paprika add warmth, depth and citrusy notes to dishes across the menu. Many are also combined into signature blends such as za'atar and dukkah.

Flatbreads, wraps and pitta make Middle Eastern cuisine easy to introduce across breakfast, lunch and grab-and-go occasions. Fill them with shawarma, grilled vegetables, falafel or slow-cooked meats for dishes that work across a wide range of menus.

Mezze is one of the easiest ways to introduce Middle Eastern food. Combine dips, flatbreads, grilled vegetables, falafel and marinated meats to create sharing platters, grazing tables and buffet menus that encourage diners to taste dishes they may not have tried before.

Refresh menus with Middle Eastern flavours. Top loaded fries with shawarma, drizzle tahini over roasted vegetables, add halloumi to burgers, salads and wraps, or introduce manakish – a traditional Middle Eastern flatbread – as an alternative to pizza.

Breakfast offers plenty of scope for Middle Eastern inspiration. Shakshuka, labneh or halloumi, flatbreads, eggs, roasted vegetables and fresh herbs can help hotels, cafés and workplace caterers update their breakfast and brunch menus using familiar ingredients.

Adapt Middle Eastern ingredients and snacks like falafel across wraps, grain bowls, salads and lunch boxes for fresh, customisable meals. Suitable for cafés, workplace catering and education, these formats make it easy to offer lighter options without sacrificing flavour or satisfaction.

Extend Middle Eastern flavours into desserts with knafeh, baklava and syrup-soaked basbousa, infused with rose water or orange blossom. Whether it's seasonal specials or introducing new desserts, these traditional sweet treats offer an easy way to build on the trend beyond savoury dishes.