It is well known that gastronomy is a driving force in tourism: many travelers organize their vacations or getaways with the main objective of eating well and differently. And for those who do not eat meat, this is not only not a problem, but a real incentive. In this sense, the Middle East and North Africa are regions specialized in gastronomic trips for vegetarians and vegans, as vegetables, legumes and cereals are the basis of their traditional cuisine. Therefore, Mandala Tours can organize tours with this theme as the main protagonist, with destinations and dishes such as those we tell you below…
Turkey: an international cuisine with surprises
Turkish cuisine is arguably one of the most international cuisines in the world, as fast food ‘doner kebab’ restaurants have proliferated all over the world. And maybe that’s why you already know some of its most popular vegetarian dishes. But if you want to travel to this country to taste them, you will be pleasantly surprised: there are more elaborate versions, as well as other proposals unknown to the general public but no less tasty. Highlights:
- Hummus: a delicious chickpea cream with lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, paprika and ground sesame seeds (tahini).
- Falafel: again, a dish based on chickpeas, but in this case crushed, in the form of floured balls, mixed with garlic and coriander, and fried in oil.
Morocco: simple and nutritious cuisine
Vegetable and cereal-based dishes are abundant in Moroccan cuisine, so it can be a destination for vegetarian gastronomic travel. And while their most famous recipes often include meat, they also have meatless versions. Here are some examples:
- Couscous: this dish has an infinite number of variations, maintaining wheat semolina grains as the basic ingredient. Vegetarian proposals can include a wide variety of vegetables (pumpkin, carrots, etc.), as well as fruits (dates) and even nuts (almonds).
- Bissara: it is a simple but very tasty bean cream that can be used as a starter. In fact, it can be considered a variant of hummus, but here the chickpeas are replaced by fava beans.
Jordan: the essence of Middle Eastern cooking
Jordan’s location means that its cuisine retains the essence of the Middle East, with influences from Levantine and Turkish cuisine. The result is very tasty and healthy dishes, perfect for vegetarian gastronomic trips. Here you can taste, for example:
- Mujaddara: known as ‘Esau’s stew’ because it is mentioned in the Bible, it is a lentil-based stew with onion, cumin, coriander and red pepper.
- Tabouleh: a salad deeply rooted in this and other surrounding countries, it is notable for having bulgur (wheat grains), as well as parsley, tomato, lemon juice and olive oil.
Egypt: vegetarians, since the time of the pharaohs
Vegetarian cuisine is so deeply rooted in the country that many of its dishes have their origins in Ancient Egypt, thanks to the fertile plain of the Nile River. Here are some proposals that may inspire you:
- Fuul medames: one of the national dishes, it is a cream of beans that is usually eaten seasoned inside pita bread. Note: it may contain eggs.
- Molokhiyya: a very colorful soup because of its green color, provided by the jute leaves. Its gelatinous texture is also very unique.
- Egyptian Falafel: although we already mentioned this dish in the section on Turkey, we take it up again here because the Egyptian version uses fava beans instead of chickpeas.
But these are just some of the many examples you will find in these destinations. So if you want to try these or others that we do not mention here, do not hesitate to ask us for advice to recommend restaurants or include them in your travel program.
