Bahlawa
Phyllo dough pastry dessert made with lots of honey, pistachio, and butter.
Mediterranean Food Glossary
Get to know the breads, spices, sauces, dishes, and ingredients you’ll find across our menus.
View the original glossary Menu terms
Bedouin Coffee
A ceremonial, strong coffee brewed with cardamom and other spices.
Berber
An Ethiopian chili blend.
Chermoula
Marinade sauce with spices, Aleppo peppers, garlic, ginger, Dijon mustard, and lemon.
Dukkah
Condiment made of ground nuts, seeds, spices, and herbs.
Fassoulya
Bean stew made with tomato and tamarind.
Hawaij
A roasted blend of black peppercorn, cumin, coriander, cloves, cardamom, and nutmeg.
Hummus
A paste of pureed chickpeas usually mixed with sesame oil or sesame paste.
Ka’ak
Savory, ring-shaped bread made with nigella (black caraway seed).
Kleecha
Braided bread made with lots of butter, eggs, spices, and mahaleb.
Labneh
Yogurt that has been strained until it has the consistency of soft cheese.
Mahaleb
Ground cherry seed.
Mamonia
A sweet semolina pudding or porridge.
Mamoul
Filled butter cookie made with semolina flour.
Merguez
Lamb sausage.
Mezze
A selection of small dishes served as appetizers.
Mujadara
Lentils and rice flavored with spices.
Semivar
Device to hold hot tea.
Shakshukah
A dish of braised eggs in a spiced sauce of tomatoes, peppers, and onions.
Shawarma
Seasoned meat cooked on a vertical broiler.
Sumac
The tart dried and ground red berries of several sumacs used as a spice.
Tahini
Sesame seed paste.
Toum
Garlic sauce made from garlic, oil, lemon juice, and salt.
Yabraq
Stuffed grape leaves.
Za’atar
A Middle Eastern spice blend made of dried herbs, dried sumac, and sesame seeds.
Za’atar Bread
Flatbread topped with a za’atar spice blend, garlic, and olive oil.
Zhoug
A vibrant green sauce made with cilantro, parsley, garlic, chili peppers, and hawaij.