Arabic Food Recipes — Maqluba, Kibbeh, Fattoush & Lentil Soup
Arabic food is the food of home, of guests and of family tables: a pot of maqluba flipped in front of everyone, kibbeh crisp outside and soft inside, and a bowl of lentil soup that opens the evening. These are the Arabic dishes people search for most across Saudi Arabia, Jordan and the Arab world.
Each one is written in grams and cups, in the right order, so it comes out the first time the way it does in the chef's kitchen.
The recipes
Maqluba (Arabic Upside-Down Rice)
The dish flipped in front of guests — the secret is the layering and resting the pot before it turns. · 2 hKibbeh (Fried Bulgur & Meat Croquettes)
Fried kibbeh with a thin bulgur shell and a rich meat filling. · 90 minFattoush (Levantine Bread Salad)
Crisp pita and vegetables in a sumac-lemon dressing — on every table. · 20 minHearty Lentil Soup
Classic lentil soup — the first bowl of the evening. · 60 minCrinkle Cake (Muakacha)
Crinkled phyllo soaked in syrup, easy and impressive. · 60 minThe Viral Dubai Pistachio Kunafa Chocolate
Kunafa and pistachio in chocolate — the world's most famous Arab dessert right now. · 95 min
Chef's notes
The maqluba that never collapses
Pack the layers firmly, never stir the pot while it cooks, and rest it 10 minutes before flipping. The rest is what makes the rice hold its shape.
A full Arabic table
Lentil soup to start, fattoush and kibbeh in the middle, maqluba as the main and crinkle cake to finish. A full table from five recipes.
Questions
What is the most famous Arabic dish?
It varies by country, but maqluba, kibbeh, fattoush and lentil soup are among the most searched and cooked Arabic dishes in Saudi Arabia and Jordan.
How do I stop kibbeh breaking apart when frying?
Knead the bulgur shell until it holds together, chill the kibbeh before frying, and fry in oil hot enough that the crust sets quickly.
Are the recipes halal?
Yes — every recipe on the site and in the book is halal, with no pork and no alcohol.
The Cookbook That Has You Cooking Like a Chef
Explore the site
- Home
- Shop
- Recipes
- Guides
- Videos
- About the chef
- FAQ
- Contact
- The Cookbook That Has You Cooking Like a Chef
- The Five Signature Sauces
Cooking guides
- Viral TikTok Recipes Actually Worth Making — Tested by a Chef
- Easy Dinner Ideas — Restaurant-Quality Meals at Home
- Dubai Chocolate & Viral Desserts — The Real Recipes
- Easy Korean Recipes at Home — Buldak, Ramen & Garlic Bread
- Easy Party Appetizers & Side Dishes Guests Remember
- Colourful Sauces for Plating — Make Food Look Restaurant-Made
- Arabic Food Recipes — Maqluba, Kibbeh, Fattoush & Lentil Soup
- Homemade Bread Recipes — Sourdough, Focaccia, Naan, Bagels & Brioche
- Easy Chicken Recipes — Roast Chicken, Fajitas, Tikka Masala & Fried Rice
- Easy Dessert Recipes — Cookies, Cinnamon Rolls, Brownies & Biscoff Tiramisu
- Pasta & Noodle Recipes — Lasagna, Pad Thai, Pho & Ramen
- Ramadan Iftar Recipes — Soups, Salads, Mains & Desserts
- Salad Recipes — Fattoush, Caesar, Potato & Pasta Salad
- Lunch Ideas — Easy Family Lunch Recipes
- Easy Home Cooking — Simple Recipes in Under an Hour
- Suhoor Ideas — Light, Filling Ramadan Suhoor Recipes
- Soup Recipes — Lentil Soup, Pho, Beef Stew & Ramen
- Breakfast Ideas — Pancakes, Cinnamon Rolls, Bagels & Banana Bread
- Beef Recipes — Kibbeh, Lasagna, Tacos, Stew & Meatloaf
- Dinner Party Recipes — Mains, Starters & Desserts for Guests
Free recipes from the book
- The Original Baked Feta Pasta
- Marry Me Chicken
- Quesabirria Tacos (Birria Tacos)
- Gigi Hadid's Spicy Vodka Pasta
- Emily Mariko's Salmon Rice Bowl
- Green Goddess Salad
- Sushi Bake
- Smashed Potatoes
- Bang Bang Shrimp
- Dalgona Coffee (Whipped Coffee)
- Crinkle Cake (Muakacha)
- French Onion Grilled Cheese
- Whipped Feta & Hot Honey Dip
- Korean Cream Cheese Garlic Bread
- The Logan Moffitt Viral Cucumber Salad
- The Viral Dubai Pistachio Kunafa Chocolate
- The Onion Boil
- Volcano Cheese Ramen
- Tanghulu (Microwave Method)
- Cheese Buldak (Korean Fire Chicken)
- Japanese Soufflé Pancakes
- The 'Crookie' (Croissant Cookie)
- Honeycomb Pasta Pie (Rigatoni Cake)
- Cornflake Chicken Tenders (ASMR Crunch)
- Accordion Potatoes
- Beet & Pickled Ginger
- Herb & Chlorophyll
- Aged Balsamic & Date
- Viral "Pan-banging" Chocolate Chip Cookies
- The Viral Cinnamon Roll Hack
- Sheet Pan Pancakes
- Beef Tacos
- Kibbeh (Fried Bulgur & Meat Croquettes)
- Mochi Brownies (Brochis)
- Maqluba (Arabic Upside-Down Rice)
- Biscoff Tiramisu
- Chicken Fajitas
- Kylie Jenner’s Ramen
- Pho (Vietnamese Noodle Soup)
- Banana Bread
- Lasagna al Forno (Classic Baked Lasagna)
- Bagels
- Chicken Fried Rice
- Naan Bread
- Sourdough Bread
- Focaccia Bread
- Classic Meatloaf
- Brioche Bread
- Beef Stew
- Cornbread
- Pad Thai (Thai Stir-Fried Noodles)
- Classic American Potato Salad
- Italian Pasta Salad
- Classic Roast Chicken
- Hearty Lentil Soup
- Caesar Salad
- Chicken Tikka Masala
- Fattoush (Levantine Bread Salad)