FabulousFusionFood's West Asian Recipes Home Page

Welcome to the summary page for FabulousFusionFood's West Asian recipes. This page provides links to all the West Asian recipes presented on this site, with 120 recipes in total.
These recipes, for the major part, originate in West Asia. Otherwise they are fusion recipes with major West Asian influences.
West Asia also called Western Asia or Southwest Asia, is the westernmost region of Asia. As defined by most academics, UN bodies and other institutions, the subregion consists of Anatolia, the Arabian Peninsula, Iran, Mesopotamia, the Armenian highlands, the Levant, the island of Cyprus, the Sinai Peninsula and the South Caucasus. The region is separated from Africa by the Isthmus of Suez in Egypt, and separated from Europe by the waterways of the Turkish Straits and the watershed of the Greater Caucasus. Central Asia lies to its northeast, while South Asia lies to its east. Twelve seas surround the region (clockwise): the Aegean Sea, the Sea of Marmara, the Black Sea, the Caspian Sea, the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman, the Arabian Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aqaba, the Gulf of Suez, and the Mediterranean Sea. West Asia contains the majority of the similarly defined Middle East. The Middle East is a political term that has changed many times depending on political and historical context while West Asia is a geographical term with more consistency. It excludes most of Egypt and the northwestern part of Turkey, and includes the southern part of the Caucasus.
West Asia covers an area of 5,994,935 km2 (2,314,657 sq mi), with a population of about 313 million. Of the 20 UN member countries fully or partly within the region, 13 are part of the Arab world. The most populous countries in West Asia are Iran, Turkey, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Yemen.
The term West Asia is used pragmatically and has no 'correct' or generally accepted definition. Its typical definitions overlap substantially, but not entirely, with definitions of the terms Middle East, Eastern Mediterranean, and Near East (which is historically familiar but widely deprecated today). The National Geographic Style Manual as well as Maddison's The World Economy: Historical Statistics (2003) by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) include only Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Palestine (called West Bank and Gaza in the latter), Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, UAE, and Yemen as West Asian countries.[10][11] By contrast, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in its 2015 yearbook includes Armenia and Azerbaijan, and excludes Israel (as Other) and Turkey (as Europe).
'Western Asia' was in use as a geographical term in the early 19th century, before 'Near East' became current as a geopolitical concept. In the context of the history of classical antiquity, 'Western Asia' could mean the part of Asia known in classical antiquity, as opposed to the reaches of 'interior Asia', i.e. Scythia, and 'Eastern Asia' the easternmost reaches of geographical knowledge in classical authors, i.e. Transoxania and India. In the 20th century, 'Western Asia' was used to denote a rough geographical era in the fields of archaeology and ancient history, especially as a shorthand for 'the Fertile Crescent excluding Ancient Egypt' for the purposes of comparing the early civilizations of Egypt and the former.
Three major tectonic plates converge on West Asia, including the African, Eurasian, and Arabian plates. The boundaries between the tectonic plates make up the Azores-Gibraltar Ridge, extending across North Africa, the Red Sea, and into Iran. The Arabian Plate is moving northward into the Anatolian plate (Turkey) at the East Anatolian Fault,[24] and the boundary between the Aegean and Anatolian plate in eastern Turkey is also seismically active.
The countries of West Asia are defined in the table below:
These recipes, for the major part, originate in West Asia. Otherwise they are fusion recipes with major West Asian influences.
West Asia also called Western Asia or Southwest Asia, is the westernmost region of Asia. As defined by most academics, UN bodies and other institutions, the subregion consists of Anatolia, the Arabian Peninsula, Iran, Mesopotamia, the Armenian highlands, the Levant, the island of Cyprus, the Sinai Peninsula and the South Caucasus. The region is separated from Africa by the Isthmus of Suez in Egypt, and separated from Europe by the waterways of the Turkish Straits and the watershed of the Greater Caucasus. Central Asia lies to its northeast, while South Asia lies to its east. Twelve seas surround the region (clockwise): the Aegean Sea, the Sea of Marmara, the Black Sea, the Caspian Sea, the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman, the Arabian Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aqaba, the Gulf of Suez, and the Mediterranean Sea. West Asia contains the majority of the similarly defined Middle East. The Middle East is a political term that has changed many times depending on political and historical context while West Asia is a geographical term with more consistency. It excludes most of Egypt and the northwestern part of Turkey, and includes the southern part of the Caucasus.
West Asia covers an area of 5,994,935 km2 (2,314,657 sq mi), with a population of about 313 million. Of the 20 UN member countries fully or partly within the region, 13 are part of the Arab world. The most populous countries in West Asia are Iran, Turkey, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Yemen.
The term West Asia is used pragmatically and has no 'correct' or generally accepted definition. Its typical definitions overlap substantially, but not entirely, with definitions of the terms Middle East, Eastern Mediterranean, and Near East (which is historically familiar but widely deprecated today). The National Geographic Style Manual as well as Maddison's The World Economy: Historical Statistics (2003) by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) include only Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Palestine (called West Bank and Gaza in the latter), Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, UAE, and Yemen as West Asian countries.[10][11] By contrast, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in its 2015 yearbook includes Armenia and Azerbaijan, and excludes Israel (as Other) and Turkey (as Europe).
'Western Asia' was in use as a geographical term in the early 19th century, before 'Near East' became current as a geopolitical concept. In the context of the history of classical antiquity, 'Western Asia' could mean the part of Asia known in classical antiquity, as opposed to the reaches of 'interior Asia', i.e. Scythia, and 'Eastern Asia' the easternmost reaches of geographical knowledge in classical authors, i.e. Transoxania and India. In the 20th century, 'Western Asia' was used to denote a rough geographical era in the fields of archaeology and ancient history, especially as a shorthand for 'the Fertile Crescent excluding Ancient Egypt' for the purposes of comparing the early civilizations of Egypt and the former.
Three major tectonic plates converge on West Asia, including the African, Eurasian, and Arabian plates. The boundaries between the tectonic plates make up the Azores-Gibraltar Ridge, extending across North Africa, the Red Sea, and into Iran. The Arabian Plate is moving northward into the Anatolian plate (Turkey) at the East Anatolian Fault,[24] and the boundary between the Aegean and Anatolian plate in eastern Turkey is also seismically active.
The countries of West Asia are defined in the table below:
West Asia
Arms | Flag | Name of Territory | Capital | Name in Official Language(s) |
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Anatolia | ||||
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Turkey | Ankara | Türkiye Cumhuriyeti | |
Arabian Peninsula | ||||
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Bahrain | Manama | مملكة البحرين (Arabic: Mamlakat al-Baḥrayn) |
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Kuwait | Kuwait City | دَوْلَة ٱلْكُوَيْت (Arabic: Dawla al-Kuwayt) |
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Oman | Muscat | ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގެ ޖުމްހޫރިއްޔާسلطنة عُمان (Arabic: Salṭanat ʻUmān) |
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Qatar | Doha | دولة قطر (Arabic: Dawlat Qaṭar) |
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Saudi Arabia | Riyadh | ٱلْمَمْلَكَة ٱلْعَرَبِيَّة ٱلسُّعُودِيَّة (Arabic: al-Mamlaka al-ʿArabiyya al-Suʿūdiyya) |
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United Arab Emirates | Abu Dhabi | الإمارات العربية المتحدة |
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Yemen | Sana'a (Houthi-led government) Aden (Seat of government) |
ٱلْجُمْهُورِيَّةُ ٱلْيَمَنِيَّةُ (Arabic: al-Jumhūriyyatu l-Yamaniyyatu) |
South Caucasus | ||||
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Abkhazia (unrecognised) |
Sukhumi | Аԥсны Аҳәынҭқарра (Abkhaz: Apsny Ahwyntqarra) Республика Абхазия (Russian: Respublika Abkhaziya) |
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Armenia | Yerevan | Հայաստանի Հանրապետություն (Armenian: Hayastani Hanrapetut'yun) |
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Azerbaijan | Baku | Azərbaycan Respublikası |
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Gerorgia | Tblisi | საქართველო (Georgian: Sakartvelo) |
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South Ossetia (Unrecognised) |
Tskhinvali | Республикӕ Хуссар Ирыстон Паддзахад Алани (Ossetian Respiblikae Khussar Iryston Paddzakhad Alani)/ სამხრეთ ოსეთის რესპუბლიკა ალანეთის სახელმწიფო (Georgian:Samkhret Osetis Resp’ublik’a Alanetis Sakhelmts’ipo)/ Республика Южная Осетия Государство Алания (Russian: Respublika Yuzhnaya Osetiya Gosudarstvo Alaniya) |
Fertile Crescent | ||||
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Iraq | Baghdad | جُمْهُورِيَّة ٱلْعِرَاق (Arabic: Jumhūriyya al-ʿIrāq) کۆماری عێراق (Kurdish: Komarî Êraq) |
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Israel | Jerusalem | מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל/دَوْلَة إِسْرَائِيل |
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Jordan | Amman | المملكة الأردنية الهاشمية (Arabic: al-Mamlakah al-ʾUrdunniyah al-Hāshimiyah) |
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Lebanon | Beiruit | الجمهورية اللبنانية (Arabic: al-Jumhūrīyah al-Lubnānīyah) | |
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Palestine | Ramallah | دولة فلسطين (Arabic: Dawlat Filasṭīn) |
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Syria | Damascus | الجمهورية العربية السورية (Arabic: al-Jumhūriyya al-ʿArabiyya as-Sūriya) |
Iranian Plateau | ||||
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Iran | Tehran | جمهوری اسلامی ایران (Persian: Jomhuri-ye Eslâmi-ye Irân) |
Mediterranean Sea | ||||
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Akrotiri and Dhekelia | Episkopi | Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia | |
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Cyprus | Nicosia | Κυπριακή Δημοκρατία (Greek)/Kıbrıs Cumhuriyeti (Turkish) |
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Northern Cyprus (Unrecognised) |
North Nicosia | Kuzey Kıbrıs Türk Cumhuriyeti (Turkish) |
Sinai Peninsula | ||||
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Egypt | Cairo | جمهورية مصر العربية (Arabic: Jumhūrīyat Miṣr al-ʻArabīyah) |
The alphabetical list of all the West Asian recipes on this site follows, (limited to 100 recipes per page). There are 120 recipes in total:
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Abgousht (Persian Beef Stew) Origin: Iran | Hinbeh B'zeit (Dandelion Greens with Caramelized Onions) Origin: Lebanon | Lountza (Smoked Pork Loin) Origin: Cyprus |
Adas Polo (Rice with Lentils) Origin: Iran | Iflaghun Origin: Syria | Makaronia Pastitsio (Macaroni with Minced Meat and Bechamel Sauce) Origin: Cyprus |
Aish Baladi Origin: Egypt | Ispanaklı Kek (Spinach Cake) Origin: Turkey | Mankoushe (Lebanese Pizza Dough) Origin: Lebanon |
Ancient Egyptian Flatbread Origin: Egypt | Israeli Mamul (Israeli Date Pastries) Origin: Israel | Massak'a (Egyptian Moussaka) Origin: Egypt |
Ancient Egyptian Tigernut Sweetmeats Origin: Egypt | Ka'ak Biscuits Origin: Lebanon | Matzo Bread Origin: Israel |
Aruk Khass (Lettuce Fritters) Origin: Iraq | Kabab Kubideh (Grilled Minced Meat) Origin: Iran | Matzo Brei Origin: Israel |
Ash Guznh Mazndrana (Mazandarani Style Nettle Soup) Origin: Iran | Kabob Egyptienne (Egyptian Kebabs) Origin: Egypt | Melokhia Origin: Egypt |
Atar Allecha (Spiced Green Pea Purée) Origin: Egypt | Kebab Halla (Stewed Beef) Origin: Egypt | Molokhia (Egyptian Greens Soup) Origin: Egypt |
Baghali Shevid Polow (Lima Bean with Dill Rice) Origin: Iran | Kebbe Blaban (Kebbe in Yoghurt Sauce) Origin: Lebanon | Molokhia Origin: Egypt |
Baklawa Origin: Egypt | Kharroob (Egyptian Carob Drink) Origin: Egypt | Musakhkhan (Baked Chicken and Onions With Sumac) Origin: Palestine |
Bamia (Okra in Tomato Sauce) Origin: Egypt | Khmeli-Suneli Origin: Georgia | Palpina (Purslane and Lentil Soup) Origin: Iran |
Batatis Mahshiya (Stuffed Potatoes) Origin: Egypt | Khoresh B'Amieh (Okra Stew) Origin: Iran | Paskalya Çöreği (Turkish Easter Bread) Origin: Turkey |
Batingan Mekhali (Pickled Aubergines) Origin: Egypt | Khoresht-e Loobia (Stewed Mutton with String Beans) Origin: Iran | Perfect Steamed Rice Origin: Asia |
Braaied Flatbreads Origin: Turkey | Khoresht-e Zereshk (Barberry, Lamb and Nut Stew) Origin: Iran | Persian Leg of Lamb Origin: Iran |
Cheese Baklava Origin: Syria | Khoreshte Kalal (Lamb Stew with Barberry Sauce) Origin: Iran | Persian Lentils with Orange Juice and Angelica Origin: Iran |
Chelo Kabab Koobideh Origin: Iran | Khoubz Araby (Arabic Flatbread) Origin: Syria | Peynirli Künefe (Turkish Cheesecake) Origin: Turkey |
Cheoreg (Armenian Sweet Bread) Origin: Armenia | Kibbeh Origin: Lebanon | Pita Bread Origin: Turkey |
Chuoereg (Armenian Easter Bread) Origin: Armenia | Kıbrıs Pidesi (Cypriot Pita Bread) Origin: Cyprus | Portakalli Kek (Orange Cake) Origin: Turkey |
Çiokolatalı Sos (Turkish Chocolate Sauce) Origin: Turkey | Koozy (Leg of Lamb) Origin: Iraq | Qamar-el-Deen (Apricot Leather Drink) Origin: Egypt |
Colocassi Tsakristo (Taro and Pork Stew) Origin: Cyprus | Koshari (Lentils, Pasta and Rice) Origin: Egypt | Qatri Chicken Curry Origin: Qatar |
Cypriot Pitta Bread (Envelope Bread) Origin: Cyprus | Koshari (Egyptian lentils) Origin: Egypt | Quamar-el-Deen Dessert (Dried Apricot Leather Dessert) Origin: Bahrain |
Cypriot Souvlaki Origin: Cyprus | Kotmis Satsivi (Roast Chicken with Walnut Sauce) Origin: Georgia | Rangeenak (Persian Date Dessert) Origin: Iran |
Dopiazeh Origin: Iran | Koushari (Lentils, Macaroni and Rice in Oil) Origin: Egypt | Rizogalo (Rice Pudding) Origin: Cyprus |
Dukkah Origin: Egypt | Koushry (Rice with Lentils) Origin: Egypt | Roz Bi Haleeb (Arab Rice Pudding with Mastic) Origin: Lebanon |
Egyptian Basboosa (Semolina Cake) Origin: Egypt | Kuku Kadoo (Persian Courgette Omelette) Origin: Iran | Roz bi Laban (Egyptian Rice Pudding) Origin: Egypt |
Fesenjoon (Persian Chicken) Origin: Iran | Lahm bi Agine Mankoushe (Lebanese Lamb Pizza) Origin: Lebanon | Sabzi Polo (Herbed Rice) Origin: Iran |
Fool Medames (Egyptian Beans) Origin: Egypt | Lahma Mu'assaga (Savoury Minced Lamb) Origin: Egypt | Saniyit Kufta (Baked Beef Patties) Origin: Egypt |
Gazaneh (Iranian Nettle Soup) Origin: Iran | Lamb Burgers with Mint and Pine Nuts Origin: Cyprus | Shourabit Silq bi Laban (Chard and Yoghurt Soup) Origin: Lebanon |
Gormeh Sabzi (Persian Lamb and Herb Stew) Origin: Iran | Lamb Shashliks with Rosemary and Garlic Origin: Turkey | Soupa Avgolemono (Rice Soup with Egg and Lemon Sauce) Origin: Cyprus |
Halawa Tahiniya (Sesame Seed Paste Halva) Origin: Egypt | Lamb Stifado Origin: Cyprus | Türk Kahvesi (Turkish Coffee) Origin: Turkey |
Halva Origin: Iran | Lebanese Sabaa Baharat Origin: Lebanon | Ta'amia (Egyptian Falafel) Origin: Egypt |
Halva Origin: Lebanon | Limonata (Lemonade) Origin: Turkey | Tabbouleh Origin: Lebanon |
Hamam Meshwi (Char-grilled Pigeon) Origin: Egypt | Limoo Amani (Persian Dried Limes) Origin: Iran | |
Harees Origin: United Arab Emirates | Lokma (Syrup-drenched Doughnuts) Origin: Turkey |
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