Ding1212

A staple of snacks in the Middle East is varieties of nuts^[1]. Among the many varieties available within the region, the most popular are almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts, pine nuts, and pistachios^[2]. According to archeological evidence, nuts have been part of the Middle Eastern diet for centuries with ancient civilizations taking advantage of them for their health benefits^[3]. The health benefits of nuts comes from them being good sources of protein, healthy fats, fibers, vitamins and minerals^[4]. Nuts have now become a regular snack with a 119 billion dollar market as of 2022 that is projected to continue growing into 2023^[5]. Nuts can be prepared in a variety of ways, such as by roasting them with spices and lemon juice or incorporating them into food and deserts such as baklava, knafeh, and kibbeh^[6][7][8].

Spreads and dips are eaten with pita bread. The most popular dip in the middle east is hummus^[9]. Hummus is a blend of chickpeas, tahini, lemon, and garlic usually served with olive oil and paprika on top^[10]. Hummus's origins can be traced back to a Syrian cookbook from the 13th century^[11]. Other dips are also popularly served such as mouhammara and baba ganoush^[9]. Mouhammara is a walnut, tahini, and roasted red pepper dip served with olive oil on top originating from the Syrian city of Aleppo^[12]. Baba ganoush is a spread made from roasted eggplants, olive oil, and other vegetables^[13]. The origins of baba ganoush are not clear with many conflicting pieces of evidence pointing to multiple countries of origin^[14]. A sweet dip is Ashta, a cream made from milk, rose or orange blossom water, and ghee, which is usually accompanied with honey^[15].

Many popular snacks in the Middle East are obtained from street vendors due to low cost and convenience of eating on the go^[16]. Many of these snacks consist of a protein with bread^[16]. Falafel consists of many little fried balls of ground chickpeas or fava beans with herbs, spices served in pita bread with tahini sauce and a choice of vegetables^[17]. Falafel is believed to originate from Egypt around 1000 years ago by Egyptian Copts^[18]. Shawarma is served in a similar fashion to falafel, pita bread with sauce and vegetables, but instead prepared by slowly cooking layers of meat on a spit before thinly slicing it^[19].