20 Arabic Breakfast Food Recipes (2024)

Arabic breakfast food stands out for its delicious and nutritious offerings, showcasing a diverse range of dishes across different countries. Whether you're in North Africa or the Middle East, you'll come across a delightful spread of Arabic breakfast food recipes to cook like bread, olive oil, cheese, yogurt, and so much more.

When I lived in Kuwait, I enjoyed Arabic breakfasts that were delicious and nutritious, without any processed meat or junk food. Our Middle Eastern breakfasts are packed with vegetables, beans, dairy, and bread, which includes like fatayers, hummus, manakish, and more.

Traditionally, for breakfast, we enjoy Arabic pita bread called kuboos. We pair it with legume dishes like hummus or Ful medames. Additionally, we serve simple scrambled eggs, labneh, raw vegetables, and baba ganoush. Just by the sound of it, you can tell our Arabic breakfasts are both healthy and delicious.

If you're searching for some breakfast ideas, here are 20 tasty Arabic breakfast recipes, featuring dishes from the Levant, North Africa, and the Khaleej region to explore:

I. Levantine Breakfast

1. Zaatar Bread

Zaatar bread is a Middle Eastern flatbread that has a flavorful topping called zaatar, made with dried thyme, sesame seeds, sumac, and salt. The bread is baked until crispy outside and soft inside, making it a delicious snack or a great accompaniment to Middle Eastern meals.

2. Spinach Fatayer

Spinach fatayer is a delicious Middle Eastern pastry that features a filling of seasoned spinach. The dough is typically soft providing a delightful contrast to the savory spinach mixture. Baked to golden perfection, spinach fatayer is a flavorful and portable treat, perfect for enjoying as a snack or appetizer.

3. Cheese Fatayer

Cheese fatayer is a Middle Eastern pastry stuffed with a tasty mix of feta cheese, eggs, and mozzarella cheese. The soft dough wraps around a gooey filling, creating a delicious blend of flavors and textures. Baked until golden, cheese fatayer is a tasty snack or appetizer that celebrates the goodness of melted cheese.

4. Cheese Manakish

Cheese manakish is a tasty Middle Eastern round bread featuring a topping of creamy mozzarella and rich cream cheese. The dough is soft and fluffy, providing a delightful contrast to the smooth and cheesy filling. Baked to a golden perfection, cheese manakish is a delicious treat, ideal for enjoying as a snack or a light, cheesy indulgence.

5. Galayet Bandora

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Galayet Bandora, a classic Jordanian breakfast, features sautéed tomatoes and beef at its core. Elevating the dish, I include potatoes and a mix of spices, cooking them together with tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, and sometimes chili peppers. The result is a deliciously thick and flavorful sauce, often served with flatbread. This enhanced Galayet Bandora embodies the simplicity of ingredients paired with a rich, regional taste.

6. Makdous (Pickled Eggplant)

Makdous is a Lebanese pickled eggplant dish which are hollowed out and filled with a mixture of walnuts, garlic, and red pepper, providing a burst of savory flavors. The stuffed eggplants are then carefully preserved in olive oil, allowing the ingredients to meld together, creating a uniquely tangy and satisfying treat.

7. Baba Ganoush

Baba Ganoush is a Middle Eastern roasted eggplant dip known for its smoky flavor and creamy texture. It is blended with tahini, garlic, and lemon juice, resulting in a savory and rich spread. Garnished with a drizzle of olive oil and fresh herbs, Baba Ganoush is perfect for dipping pita bread or veggies, offering a flavorful and satisfying experience.

8. Chicken Fatayer

Chicken fatayer is a Middle Eastern baked roll bread where seasoned chicken, bell peppers, and aromatic Arabic spices come together inside a warm, bun-like bread roll. Baked to perfection, these savory treats showcase a delicious blend of flavors, making them a satisfying and flavorful snack.

9. Kuboos / Khubz Bread

Kuboos, also known as pita bread or Arabic flatbread, is a staple in Middle Eastern cuisine. This thin, round bread is typically leavened and can be easily split open to create pockets for stuffing with various ingredients. Often enjoyed as a side or used to scoop up dips and spreads, kuboos is a versatile and essential component in Middle Eastern meals.

10. Arabic Salad

Arabic Salad Recipeis a traditional Middle Eastern salad that is mixed with cucumber, tomatoes, parsley, olive oil and sumac spices. It is commonly serve as a side dish for main meals that has meat and rice dishes.

11. Hummus

Hummus, a popular Middle Eastern dip, is a creamy and blend of cooked chickpeas, tahini, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and salt. It's smooth and yummy, great for spreading on bread or dipping veggies. You can also see it topped with olive oil, a pinch of paprika, or some fresh herbs—it's a favorite in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern foods.

II. Maghrebi / North African Recipes

12. Kebda Mchermla

Kebda mchermlais a Moroccan dish made from lamb liver, that is cooked with chermoula spices including garlic, lemon, cumin, and various herbs. This dish has a rich and aromatic flavor which is often served as a main course or as part of a mezze spread.

13. Taameya

Taameya is the Egyptian version of falafel, featuring a unique twist with a base of fava beans, aromatic herbs like parsley and coriander, garlic, and spices. These flavorful patties are expertly deep-fried to achieve a crispy golden exterior, offering a distinctive and beloved culinary experience. It is traditionally served with tahini sauce or tucked into pita bread.

14. Ful Medames

Ful Medames, a staple in Egyptian cuisine and considered their national dish, is a fava bean recipe seasoned with ground cumin, chopped garlic, and coriander leaves. It is served with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and garnished with chopped parsley, offering a flavorful and beloved culinary experience in Egypt.

15. Kesra Bread (Algerian Flatbread)

Kesra is a traditional Algerian bread made from semolina flour, olive oil, and nigella seeds, which is cooked on a hot plate resulting in a coarse & grainy texture. This bread has a nutty flavor due to semolina flour, and it is best to serve with soups, stews, or tagine and used as spreads (honey & jams).

16. Shakshuka

Shakshuka is a North African dish made with eggs poached in a flavorful tomato and bell pepper sauce. It's often seasoned with spices like cumin and paprika, creating a savory and slightly spicy flavor. This popular and easy-to-make dish is enjoyed worldwide, especially for breakfast or brunch.

III. Arabian Peninsula / Khaleeji Breakfast

17. Regag Bread

Regag Bread is an Emirati thin bread that is prepared using simple ingredients such as flour, water, and salt. It is cooked on a hot griddle or flat pan, resulting in a thin and crispy crepe-like texture. This traditional bread is topped with egg, cheese, or honey while cooking and is usually served for breakfast.

18. Banana Masoub

Masoub is a traditional Yemeni & Saudi Breakfast dish involves mashing ripe bananas and combining them with flatbread, cream, honey, and sometimes dates or other fruits. The result is a sweet and hearty breakfast option that reflects the rich flavors of the region, offering a delightful start to the day in Saudi Arabia and Yemen.

19. Muttabaq

Mutabbaq is a Saudi pastry snack recipe that has a filling of spiced minced chicken, green onion leaves, tomatoes, eggs, and cheese. It is one of the most delicious & popular snacks in Saudi Arabia, which is best served with sliced lemon and green chilis.

20. Balaleet

Balaleet is a traditional Emirati breakfast dish known for its unique combination of sweet and savory flavors. This delightful dish features vermicelli noodles cooked with spices, cardamom, and saffron, giving it a distinct aroma and golden hue. Balaleet is often served with a layer of sweetened omelette on top, creating a delicious harmony between the savory noodles and the sweet egg mixture.