FabulousFusionFood's West Asian Recipes Home Page
The map of Asia, with West Asia (Middle East and Caucasus) shown in red.
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 457 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. 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, 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. 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, 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anatolia | ||||
| Turkey | Ankara | Türkiye Cumhuriyeti | ||
| Arabian Peninsula | ||||
| Bahrain | Manama | مملكة البحرين (Arabic: Mamlakat al-Baḥrayn) | ||
| Kuwait | Kuwait City | دَوْلَة ٱلْكُوَيْت (Arabic: Dawla al-Kuwayt) | ||
| Oman | Muscat | ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގެ ޖުމްހޫރިއްޔާسلطنة عُمان (Arabic: Salṭanat ʻUmān) | ||
| Qatar | Doha | دولة قطر (Arabic: Dawlat Qaṭar) | ||
| Saudi Arabia | Riyadh | ٱلْمَمْلَكَة ٱلْعَرَبِيَّة ٱلسُّعُودِيَّة (Arabic: al-Mamlaka al-ʿArabiyya al-Suʿūdiyya) | ||
| United Arab Emirates | Abu Dhabi | الإمارات العربية المتحدة | ||
| Yemen | Sana'a (Houthi-led government) Aden (Seat of government) |
ٱلْجُمْهُورِيَّةُ ٱلْيَمَنِيَّةُ (Arabic: al-Jumhūriyyatu l-Yamaniyyatu) | ||
| South Caucasus | ||||
| Abkhazia (unrecognised) |
Sukhumi | Аԥсны Аҳәынҭқарра (Abkhaz: Apsny Ahwyntqarra) Республика Абхазия (Russian: Respublika Abkhaziya) |
||
| Armenia | Yerevan | Հայաստանի Հանրապետություն (Armenian: Hayastani Hanrapetut'yun) | ||
| Azerbaijan | Baku | Azərbaycan Respublikası | ||
| Georgia | Tblisi | საქართველო (Georgian: Sakartvelo) | ||
| 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 | ||||
| Iraq | Baghdad | جُمْهُورِيَّة ٱلْعِرَاق (Arabic: Jumhūriyya al-ʿIrāq) کۆماری عێراق (Kurdish: Komarî Êraq) |
||
| Israel | Jerusalem | מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל/دَوْلَة إِسْرَائِيل | ||
| Jordan | Amman | المملكة الأردنية الهاشمية (Arabic: al-Mamlakah al-ʾUrdunniyah al-Hāshimiyah) | ||
| Lebanon | Beiruit | الجمهورية اللبنانية (Arabic: al-Jumhūrīyah al-Lubnānīyah) | ||
| Palestine | Ramallah | دولة فلسطين (Arabic: Dawlat Filasṭīn) | ||
| Syria | Damascus | الجمهورية العربية السورية (Arabic: al-Jumhūriyya al-ʿArabiyya as-Sūriya) | ||
| Iranian Plateau | ||||
| Iran | Tehran | جمهوری اسلامی ایران (Persian: Jomhuri-ye Eslâmi-ye Irân) | ||
| Mediterranean Sea | ||||
| Akrotiri and Dhekelia | Episkopi | Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia | ||
| Cyprus | Nicosia | Κυπριακή Δημοκρατία (Greek)/Kıbrıs Cumhuriyeti (Turkish) | ||
| Northern Cyprus (Unrecognised) |
North Nicosia | Kuzey Kıbrıs Türk Cumhuriyeti (Turkish) | ||
| Sinai Peninsula | ||||
| 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 457 recipes in total:
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| Abgousht (Persian Beef Stew) Origin: Iran | Baba Ghanoush Origin: Turkey | Chebeh Rubyan (Prawn Balls) Origin: Oman |
| Abkhazia Achamykva Origin: Abkhazia | Baba Ghanoush Origin: Armenia | Chebeh Rubyan (Prawn Balls) Origin: Iraq |
| Abkhazia Ayladzh Origin: Abkhazia | Baba Ghanoush Origin: Lebanon | Chebeh Rubyan (Prawn Balls) Origin: Qatar |
| Abkhazia Mamalyga Origin: Abkhazia | Baba Ghanoush Origin: Palestine | Chebeh Rubyan (Prawn Balls) Origin: Saudi Arabia |
| Abysta (Cornmeal Polemnta) Origin: Abkhazia | Baghali Shevid Polow (Lima Bean with Dill Rice) Origin: Iran | Chebeh Rubyan (Prawn Balls) Origin: Kuwait |
| Achapa (Walnut Lobio) Origin: Abkhazia | Bahrain Baharat Spice Blend Origin: Bahrain | Chebeh Rubyan (Prawn Balls) Origin: Bahrain |
| Adana Kebab Origin: Turkey | Baklava Origin: Northern Cyprus | Cheese Baklava Origin: Syria |
| Adana Kebap Origin: Turkey | Baklawa Origin: Egypt | Chelo Kabab Koobideh Origin: Iran |
| Adas Polo (Rice with Lentils) Origin: Iran | Baklazhan Pkhali (Aubergine Pkhali) Origin: Georgia | Chemen Spice Mix Origin: Georgia |
| Adjarian Khachapuri (Georgian Cheese Pies) Origin: Georgia | Balık °C7;orbası (Mackerel Soup) Origin: Turkey | Cheoreg (Armenian Sweet Bread) Origin: Armenia |
| Adjika (Paprika Sauce) Origin: Abkhazia | Bamia (Okra in Tomato Sauce) Origin: Egypt | Chicken Kabsa Origin: Saudi Arabia |
| Adjika (Abkhazian Paprika Sauce) Origin: Abkhazia | Bamieh (Okra Stew) Origin: Iraq | Chicken Machboos Origin: Bahrain |
| Aijet Beythat (Spiced Eggs) Origin: Saudi Arabia | Bamya °C7;orbası (Okra Soup) Origin: Turkey | Chicken Machboos Origin: Oman |
| Aish Baladi Origin: Egypt | Barazek (Syrian Sesame Biscuits) Origin: Syria | Chicken Machbous (Chicken Machboos) Origin: Iraq |
| Aish bel-Lahm (Bread with Lamb) Origin: Saudi Arabia | Basterma (Spiced Dried Meat) Origin: Armenia | Chicken Madrouba Origin: Oman |
| Akutekarsh (Chicken with Nut Sauce) Origin: Abkhazia | Basturma (Spiced Dried Meat) Origin: Georgia | Chicken Madrouba Origin: Qatar |
| Al Rangina (Dates in Butter Sauce) Origin: Saudi Arabia | Batatis Mahshiya (Stuffed Potatoes) Origin: Egypt | Chicken Madrouba Origin: Bahrain |
| Al-Motubug (Stuffed Pastry Squares) Origin: Saudi Arabia | Batingan Mekhali (Pickled Aubergines) Origin: Egypt | Chicken tabaka with Plum Sauce (Georgian Spitted Chicken with Plum Sauce) Origin: Georgia |
| Amba Sauce Origin: Israel | Bayth Mashi (Stuffed Eggs) Origin: Saudi Arabia | Chikhirtma (Coriander and Onion Soup) Origin: Georgia |
| Ancient Egyptian Flatbread Origin: Egypt | Bayth Mashi (Stuffed Eggs) Origin: Lebanon | Chrov Plav (Rice Pilaf with Dried Fruit and Nuts) Origin: Azerbaijan |
| Ancient Egyptian Tigernut Sweetmeats Origin: Egypt | Beyaz Peynirli Yumurta (Eggs with Feta Cheese) Origin: Turkey | Chuchkella (Grape and Walnut Candies) Origin: Azerbaijan |
| Arni Souvla (Skewered Lamb) Origin: Cyprus | Bezar Spice Blend Origin: Bahrain | Chuoereg (Armenian Easter Bread) Origin: Armenia |
| Aruk Khass (Lettuce Fritters) Origin: Iraq | Bint al Sahn (Honey Cake) Origin: Yemen | Churek (Flatbread With Sesame Seeds) Origin: Azerbaijan |
| Aseed Origin: Yemen | Bizar Spice Blend Origin: Qatar | Cilbir (Eggs on Yoghurt) Origin: Turkey |
| Ash Guznh Mazndrana (Mazandarani Style Nettle Soup) Origin: Iran | Borulce (Black-eyed Pea Stew) Origin: Turkey | Çiokolatalı Sos (Turkish Chocolate Sauce) Origin: Turkey |
| Aşure (Noah's Pudding) Origin: Northern Cyprus | Bozartma (Lamb Stewed with Vegetables and Cherry Plums) Origin: Azerbaijan | Colocassi Tsakristo (Taro and Pork Stew) Origin: Cyprus |
| Atar Allecha (Spiced Green Pea Purée) Origin: Egypt | Braaied Flatbreads Origin: Turkey | Cucumber and Yoghurt Salad Origin: Armenia |
| Ayran (Turkish Buttermilk) Origin: Turkey | Bulgur Pilaf Origin: Turkey | Cypriot Pitta Bread (Envelope Bread) Origin: Cyprus |
| Ayran (Turkish Cypriot Chicken and Taro Stew) Origin: Northern Cyprus | Cacık (Turkish Cucumber and Yoghurt Salad) Origin: Turkey | Cypriot Souvlaki Origin: Cyprus |
| Azerbaijani Plav (Azerbaijani Pilaf) Origin: Azerbaijan | Cacık (Yoghurt, Cucumber and Mint Dip) Origin: Northern Cyprus | Düğün °C7;orbası (Wedding Soup) Origin: Turkey |
| Azeri Chicken Skewers Origin: Azerbaijan | Ceregi Origin: Georgia | Dabgadz Banir Boerag (Fried Cheese Turnovers) Origin: Armenia |
| Baba Ghanoush Origin: Iraq | Chaimen (Armenian Mixed Spice) Origin: Armenia | Dajaaj al Riz (Syrian Roast Chicken with Rice) Origin: Syria |
| Baba Ghanoush Origin: Egypt | Chaimen Spice Mix Origin: Armenia | |
| Baba Ghanoush Origin: Jordan | Chakapuli (Georgian Lamb and Tarragon Stew) Origin: Georgia |
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