A
national dish is a culinary dish that is strongly associated with a
particular country. A dish can be considered a national dish for a
variety of reasons although many nations have favorite or popular dishes
but not necessarily a national dish.
When a Middle Easterner or an Arab think of Mansaf, Jordan instantly comes to mind and same goes to the Egyptian dish Ful Mudammes and the Saudi dish Kabsah. So many of the Middle Eastern nations have their own national dish and some nations boast more than one as in the case with the Palestinian cuisine.
Of course, not all countries have a national dish and some countries share popular or favorite dishes as in the case with the nations of the Arabian (Persian) Gulf. Since this is not a food blog, we have no recipes to offer you but there are many food blogs and ton of websites that offer thousands of recipes.
Here are a few good food blogs: (some are no longer active but they have good archives)
Anissa Helou
Syrian Foodie in London
Turmeric & Saffron
Allrecipes - Middle Eastern Recipes
Hummus with Tabbouleh
Taste of Beirut
Orange Blossom Water
Here is a list of all Middle Eastern countries with their respective national dishes or popular (favorite) dishes. Items in bold indicates an "unofficial" national dish followed by other popular dishes
Jordan - Mansaf, Mjederra, Oozi, Kofta
Lebanon - Kibbeh, Tabbouleh, Halawat Al Jebneh, Kofta, Sayadiyah, Sujuk
Egypt - Ful (fool) Muddames, Koshary, Moloukhiya, Falafel
Yemen - Saltah, Mandi, Ogdat
Palestine - Makloobah, Musakhan, Falafel,, Knafeh, Mloukhiyah, Mjederra
Oman - Mashuai, Machboos, Shuwa, Kebab (curried)
Syria - Kibbeh, Kebab Halabi, Shanklish, Kofta, Muhammara, Sujuk
Saudi Arabia - Kabsah, Mutabbag, Oozi
Kuwait - Machboos, Margoog, Harees, Mutabbag, Balaleet, Quwarmah Ala Dajaj
Bahrain - Muhammar, Machboos Margoog, Harees, Mutabbag
Qatar - Harees, Machboos, Kabsah, Balaleet
United Arab Emirates - Popular dishes are blend of the Levant and the Gulf region but Shawarma seems to be UAE's favorite dish!
Morocco - Couscous, Tajine, Harissa, Harira, B'ssara, Pastilla
Tunisia - Couscous, Lablabi, Harissa, Marqa, Brik, Ojja
Algeria - Couscous, Harisa, Merguez. Harira, Makroudh, Mechoui
Libya - Osban, Asida, Bazeen, Couscous
Iraq - Samak Mashouf, Kleicha, Iraqi Kebab
Sudan - Ful (fool) Masri, Kammonia
Non-Arab Middle Eastern Countries:
Armenia - Harissa, Khash, Dolma, Lavash
Afghanistan - Kabuli Pulao, Kabebs, Oorma, Manto, Shoaba
Turkey - Doner Kabob, Yaprak Sarma, Pilav, Dolma, Kofte, Manti, Lahmacun
Iran - Chelo-Kabob, Ghourmeh Sabzi, Bademjan, Baghali Polo, Tahdig, Jeweled Rice
Somalia - Halwa, Canjeero, Anjara, Doro Wat
Mauritania - Thieboudiene , Yassa Poulet, Mahfe
