Some cuisines incorporate more meat than others. Spain is known for being a country of meat lovers, which makes it difficult to find many dishes that are free of animal products. But when it coms to Middle Eastern food, much of the cuisine is already “accidentally vegan.” We’re fans of this cuisine and can always rely on some humus and falafel (falafel is a popular street food in the U.S. too and we LOVE it). Need a theme for your next dinner? Here are some Vegan Middle Eastern recipes.

1. Roasted Red Pepper Hummus

Chickpeas, tahini and roasted red pepper taste so delicious together. Taking the time to roast the peppers is an added step that a regular hummus recipe would not require, but the effort is worth it for that roasted pepper flavor.

Tasty Vegan Middle Eastern Recipes – Much of the Cuisine is Naturally Plant-Based Anyway!

2. Baked Falafel Salad and Two Creamy Dressings

Falafel is a popular Middle Eastern street food that we can find a lot in the U.S. as well (at least, here in NYC – so sorry if your town hasn’t hopped on the falafel bandwagon yet). We love it!

Tasty Vegan Middle Eastern Recipes – Much of the Cuisine is Naturally Plant-Based Anyway!

3. Bulgur With Curcuma, Veggies, Nuts, and Cranberries

Bulgur is a staple ingredient of Middle Eastern food. Try it in this recipe, which calls for zucchini, broccoli, pumpkin, cranberries, and Brazil nuts.

Tasty Vegan Middle Eastern Recipes – Much of the Cuisine is Naturally Plant-Based Anyway!

4. Homemade Tahini

This sauce is made from sesame seeds and tastes great when combined with eggplant, hummus or falafel.

Tasty Vegan Middle Eastern Recipes – Much of the Cuisine is Naturally Plant-Based Anyway!

5. Legendary Middle Eastern-Style Vegan Bake

This veggie bake merges the flavors of the Middle East with a touch of Greek and Turkish as well. Use your choice of vegan ground crumbles (might we suggest Beyond Meat?)

Tasty Vegan Middle Eastern Recipes – Much of the Cuisine is Naturally Plant-Based Anyway!

6. Vegan Tabbouleh With Barley

Tabbouleh is a tasty salad that originated in Egypt. This recipe calls for pearl barley instead of bulgur, which is what the salad is traditionally made of. Try it stuffed into a pita with hummus and greens!

Tasty Vegan Middle Eastern Recipes – Much of the Cuisine is Naturally Plant-Based Anyway!

7. BabagaHummus

Babaganoush is a tasty Middle Eastern spread made out of eggplant and tahini. Hummus is made from chickpeas and tahini. When you combine all three, you get this BabagaHummus!

Tasty Vegan Middle Eastern Recipes – Much of the Cuisine is Naturally Plant-Based Anyway!

8. Whole Wheat Pita Bread

Pita bread is perfect for stuffing! A great, no-frills meal idea is to stuff pita pockets with your choice of hummus, babaganoush, tabouleh, tahini sauce and picked veggies. Or, try mixing them all together!

Tasty Vegan Middle Eastern Recipes – Much of the Cuisine is Naturally Plant-Based Anyway!

9. Ayurvedic Falafel

This recipe is Ayurvedic because it uses mung beans instead of chickpeas, along with Ayurvedic spices. In Ayurveda, mung beans are regarded as the ‘king’ of all beans, since they are said to help balance all three doshas in our bodies.

Tasty Vegan Middle Eastern Recipes – Much of the Cuisine is Naturally Plant-Based Anyway!

10. Slow Cooker Vegan Vanilla Fig Oatmeal Topped With Baklava Filling

Ah, baklava – a carefully constructed pasty full of layer after layer of delicate pastry sheets, nuts and honey. For a vegan version, try the baklava filling in this recipe and place overtop oatmeal.

Tasty Vegan Middle Eastern Recipes – Much of the Cuisine is Naturally Plant-Based Anyway!

Lead image source: Veggie Tabbouleh With Barley