April is a month of celebration, not only for spring but also for the rich and diverse culture of the Arab world. As we honor National Arab American Heritage Month, it’s a great time to spotlight the culinary heritage of Arab Americans and Arabic-speaking Americans in the food world. Social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram have become powerful platforms to share culture and connect communities, as well as celebrate diversity. A generation of Arab American food creators have emerged, sharing recipes and reviewing restaurants and eateries. To celebrate this heritage, let’s explore some Arab American food creators who share their love for their cuisine with the world.
All of these Arab American food creators passionately share their love for traditional dishes, family recipes, and innovative recipes. As we celebrate Arab American Heritage Month, let’s take the time to support these creators. I assure you that you’ll be inspired to explore Arab cuisine in your own kitchen as well.
Fatimah M. A
@falasteenifoodie Qatayef (Fool Proof Recipe!) (Linked in bio!) Qatayef are the most popular Ramadan dessert (in my opinion) and for good reason! They’re so delicious and absolutely easy to make and are perfect for preparing ahead. You can find the recipe linked in my bio, or copy and paste this link! https://falasteenifoodie.com/qatayef-recipe/ #qatayef #atayef #ishta #ashta #qishta #asafiri #middleeasterndessert #middleeasternfood #lebanesefood #palestinianfood #ramadaniftar #failproofqatayef #ramadanprep #arabicdesserts #arabfood #arabicfood #knafeh #knafe #kunafa #basbousa #قطايف #بغرير
♬ original sound – FalasteeniFoodie
Fatimah M. A of @falasteenifoodie is an Arab creator who keeps her face hidden, but is unapologetic about the foods she cooks. She specializes in a wide range of Middle Eastern savory dishes and desserts, including moussaka, qatayef, basbousa, fatayer, and much more. Fatimah M. A also shares Ramadan recipes and cooking tips to prepare for fasting season. She has her own cookbook, called Awtani: Savoring Middle Eastern Homelands, that is available for online download. Her goal is to share the rich and diverse food culture of the Middle East with others — and rightfully so.
Bayan’s Kitchen
@breakingbreadwithbayan Shish Barak 🥟 Meat filled dumplings in a savoury yogurt sauce The dough for these dumplings are traditionally hand made and stuffed but this a great way to get the dish on the table in a fraction of the time and effort! Filling: 1 tbs olive oil 1lb ground beef 1 medium onion, diced finely 1 tsp salt 1/4 tsp black pepper 1 tsp 7spice Cook the ground beef in olive oil until no longer pink, then add the onion and cook until softened. Add salt and pepper, cook until liquid is all gone. Set aside until cooled completely. Dumplings: 400g wonton or dumpling wrappers Stuff about 1/2 tbs of the meat mixture into the center of each wonton wrapper. Dip your finger into water and rub it against each edge of the wrapper. Fold over the wrapper and pinch the seals shut. Then wet 1 corner and fold over the wrapper one more time. Press firmly to seal. Make sure to keep both the wonton wrappers and the filled dumplings covered with a towel or plastic wrap while you’re working so they don’t dry out and crack. Bake in a single layer at 375 for 10-15 mins or just until it begins to turn golden. Set aside. Yogurt sauce: 1.5L plain yogurt 1.5 tbs cornstarch 2 tsp salt 1 cup cold water 3 tbs olive oil 6 garlic cloves, minced 1 tbs dried mint Whisk together plain yogurt, cornstarch, salt and water until smooth, then turn on the heat and whisk continuously until it comes to a boil. Do NOT stop whisking until it comes to a boil or the yogurt will split. Then, lower the heat to low and add the baked dumplings. Sauté the minced garlic and dried mint in olive oil until slightly browned and fragrant. Add to the yogurt. Add salt to taste. Let it all simmer for 5-10 minutes or until the dumplings are plump. Top with toasted pine nuts or almonds and serve with green onions and enjoy!
♬ original sound – breakingbreadwithbayan
Bayan of @bakingbreadwithbayan is Syrian food creator who now lives in Ontario, Canada. She posts Middle Eastern food content on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. Bayan shares many simple kitchen hacks and dishes: two of her most popular videos are on how to easily peel a pomegranate and how to make homemade yogurt. Her shorts, which are narrated to give more detail and information, always have the full recipe in the caption — making her recipes approachable and more appealing to attempt on one’s own.
Fatimah Omran
@fatimahomran Day 4 Ramadan and preparing for another batch of breakfast suhoor boxes. Have you been waking up for this blessed pre dawn meal? And what have you been having? #suhoor #breakfast #chickentenders
♬ original sound – مُـحَمَّــد ١٤٢٩هـ
Fatimah Omran is an Arab food creator from Sydney, Australia whose social media accounts have garnered over 250,000 followers on TikTok and 170,000 followers on Instagram. Self-deemed a “Culinary Teacher + Food Traveller,” Omran posts food tutorials and travel content, showing off her culinary chops and adventures abroad. Although she usually cooks Middle Eastern food, she also posts tutorials of other cuisines, for example, spaghetti bolognese or mango sticky rice. Omran also has a “Cook with Frozen Meat” segment where she shares tips on how to cook with frozen meat, so you don’t have an excuse to order takeout.
Ahmad Alzahabi
Ahmad Anzahabi (@thegoldenbalance on Instagram) is an Arab American food content creator who makes Arabic dishes like Chicken Kabsa. Alzahabi has his own recipe website called The Golden Balance, where he posts simple and easy recipes from different cuisines. He adds his own unique meal recipes as well such as his Mom’s Tisiyeh recipe. He has videos of him making the dish, as well as the ingredients and instructions detailed. He encourages his followers to engage with him as well by telling them to tag @thegoldenbalance and use the hashtag #thegoldenbalance if they made his recipes and post them.
Summer Homayed
Summer Homayed is a Lebanese and American food creator with over half a million followers on Instagram and almost 270,000 followers on TikTok. She posts homemade recipes, including how to make hummus from scratch, Lebanese Fasolia Bi Lahme (white bean and meat stew), Palestinian Musakhan, and more. She does a great job at showing her viewers the step-by-step approach to creating a dish, showing them the process so they can replicate it. Homayed even includes the prices of the ingredients so viewers can estimate how much it costs to make it.
She even includes the history behind some of the dishes she makes. Palestinian Musakhan represents the strength and perseverance of the Palestinian people in the face of adversity, and how it brings people together to share a meal, stories, and memories. She believes that food has the power to unite us all, and that there’s something magical about certain dishes that transcends cultural boundaries. She is pretty active on both Instagram and TikTok, but tends to post more often on Instagram.
Lamees AtarBashi
Lamees AtarBashi (@cookingwithlamees on Instagram) is an Iraqi food creator who resides in America and focuses on posting Arabic and Middle Eastern dishes. She’s the author of her own cookbook as well, called Middle Eastern Delights. She highlights the recipes that she grew up with, as well as her own additions to traditional dishes to make them more unique. On her Instagram, she posts a lot of unique recipes. My favorite is the Watermelon Rolls. It features feta cheese, watermelons, and date syrup, and for AtarBashi, it was a constant staple growing up with her family. She added the unique touch of making them into rolls, which makes them perfect for gatherings.
AtarBashi also makes traditional dishes, such as Kunafa with her own spin on it. In this recipe, she makes mini Kunafas from scratch. In the past, she has made Iraqi Dolmas, Hikaka, and other dishes from her culture. I love her account because she has such unique recipes and additions, and she always makes sure to include a brief history of the dishes whenever she cooks something traditional from her culture.
Zain Qurashi
Zain Qurashi (@zain__qurashi) is an Arab American food content creator who makes Arabic dishes like Chicken Kabsa (Arabic-style flavorful rice and grilled chicken). Qurashi makes sure to include detailed descriptions under his posts that outline the recipes and ingredients. He also makes dishes from other cultures, like this Korean Fried Chicken Sandwich.
Marcelle G Afram
Marcelle G Afram is an Arab American chef who has his own restaurant named Shababi in Washington DC, with a Palestinian Inspired Kitchen. They have catering, private dinners, and more. On his social media, Afram posts unique dishes that will be available on his pop-up menu for a limited time, such as this French Onion Labneh.
Yaseen Jawad
Yaseen Jawad (@oh_my_foodness on Instagram) is an Arab American home chef born and raised in Michigan but with roots in Sierra Leone. He cooks traditional Middle Eastern and African dishes based on the trending recipes circling around on social media. He showcases his passion for cooking on his Instagram. He makes his recipes tasty and also easy so that his followers won’t feel intimidated to step into the kitchen to try out his recipes.
Mai Kakish
Mai Kakish (@almondandfig on Instagram) is a creator who grew up in Palestine and currently lives in Chicago. She runs Almond and Fig, a food blog, which also has an active Instagram page. Kakish cooks to remember and stay connected to her roots, as well as share the food that taught her about her identity, love, and family. She cooks traditional Arabic dishes like Mahshi (stuffed vegetables) and makes sure to discuss the recipe and steps both on her Instagram and the Almond and Fig website.