Eid Menu Ideas: Perfect Recipes for a Memorable Celebration
If you’re seeking Eid menu ideas, you’re in the right place! It is not rare for Eid lunch to become a true feast, with numerous different dishes, desserts, and confectioners. It is interesting that most of the typical dishes from all around the world actually require a whole lot of effort and culinary knowledge, as they are truly complex both preparation and flavor-wise.
I listed some of the best Eid foods from Turkey, Indonesia, Bosnia, Malesia, Palestine, Egypt… Get ready to tour the world! Of course, besides savory dishes, I added a few fantastic desserts – I just couldn’t skip them! Scroll down to check out what I picked for this list!
Bosnian Burek
Bosnian burek is at the top of this list for a very good reason! It is thin, crunchy dough made from scratch and stuffed with ground beef, onion, and potatoes for a juicer consistency. In the Balkans, there is no Eid without good old burek!
Old-Fashioned Cabbage Rolls
You can make cabbage rolls with both fresh cabbage and sauerkraut – both options are spectacular! The filling is similar to stuffed peppers (just scroll down for the recipe) with ground beef, white rice, herbs, and spices, all submerged in silky tomato sauce.
Turkish Manti
Turkish manti are certainly a labor of love, but that’s simply what Eid calls for! Everything is made from scratch – the thin dough, ground lamb-based filling, yogurt sauce, caramelized tomato paste, and brown butter sauce. Sounds wonderful, right?!
Turkish Pide – Flat Bread with Cheese, Spinach and Herbs
I like to call this a Turkish pizza, but (Italians, don’t read this!) even better! The boat-shaped crust is thin, aromatic, and filled with all the different toppings. This is the recipe with spinach and cheese, but you can go with chicken breasts in sauce, ground beef or turkey, egg, fresh cheese, mushrooms…
Stuffed Peppers in Tomato Sauce
If you’re making stuffed peppers without tangy tomato sauce, you’re missing out! These are classic and my favorite – red bell peppers loaded with a mixture of ground beef, white rice, onion, egg, white bread for the texture, and spices for the flavors.
Vegetarian Stuffed Grape Leaves
Many Mediterranean countries have their own take on this meal, with more or less changes. This is a vegan option – grape leaves filled with short-grain rice, finely chopped tomatoes, green onions, and parsley induced with lemon juice.
Stuffed Onions with Sun-Dried Tomato and Hazelnuts
Stuffed onions are indeed a delicate and flavorful dish that demands a whole lot of effort, but hey, it’s Eid! The stuffing is a blend of hazelnuts, couscous, sun-dried tomatoes, vegan feta, sultanas, fresh mint, and vegan cheese – interesting, right?
Ka’ak el Eid – Date Paste Cookies
These unique Eid cookies come from Palestine, and they are stuffed with a whole list of different spices. The final touch is definitely date paste-based dough with cardamom, fennel seeds, and olive oil to round the taste!
Middle Eastern Chicken Pilaf
Chicken pilaf is most definitely not a bland dish! Like any other Middle Eastern dish, this one is overflowing with different spices, from turmeric and cumin over ghee and cardamom to baharat and ginger. The sweet-savory topping is spot on, as well!
Moroccan Meatballs
These are not your classic meatballs, as they call for spices signature for Moroccan cuisine: cumin, coriander, and garlic. The flavors are balanced to perfection due to the tangy, slightly acidic tomato-based sauce. Serve them with couscous, plain yogurt, and pita bread!
Arabic Lentil Soup
After all these “heavy,” super caloric dishes, you will want something lighter and soothing, so this Arabic lentil soup is perfect for the occasion! Red lentils pair flawlessly with carrots, tomatoes, celery, cilantro, and warm spices like coriander, turmeric, clove, cumin, and cinnamon.
Bosnian Pot Stew
Traditional Bosnian stew is cooked in a clay pot because it gives it a special, silky texture and aroma while it is simmering for hours. The best is to use three types of meat (choose fatter cuts) plus tons of veggies like cabbage, carrots, onions, green beans, peas, potatoes, tomatoes, and bell peppers.
Walnut and Yogurt Baklava
This the best easy Greek Walnut Baklava is a joy to make and ev traditional Greek baklava and more delightful to eat. Its rich layers and satisfying crunch make it perfect for any gathering or as a special treat for yourself.
Hazelnut and Chocolate Baklava
Baklava is one of the richest desserts you can have – a filo pastry loaded with nuts and dark chocolate, then submerged in syrup. There are so many different filling recipes for baklava, but this is one of my favorite ones!
Kahk El Eid – Egyptian Eid Cookies
These simple cookies are a staple Eid dessert in Egypt. The ingredients are basic, but the secret lies in the addition of kahk essence – a unique blend of different powdered spices. Plus, sesame seeds deepen the flavor even more!
Opor Ayam Kuning – Chicken in Turmeric and Coconut Milk
Opor is a traditional Eid dish from Java that consists of chicken submerged in golden-colored turmeric and coconut milk sauce. Besides turmeric, the recipe calls for garlic, ginger, coriander, cumin, white pepper, galangal, lemongrass, salam leaves, and cinnamon – as you can see, the flavors are overflowing!
Beef Rendang – Indonesian Beef Stew
This gem from Indonesian cuisine is something you need to prepare at least once! It has two components: rendang paste and beef, with coconut milk and loads of special spices – the selection is truly phenomenal!
Syrian Shakryeh – Lamb and Yogurt Stew
This is definitely a rich-flavored dish, perfect for Eid lunch! Lamb shanks go really well with warm spices like cardamom cloves, cinnamon, allspice, cloves, and peppercorns. P.S. The yogurt stew is flawless and just what your palate needs!
Moroccan Chicken Tagine
This is one of the most aromatic chicken recipes of all time! Pan-seared chicken thighs coated in spices and then simmered in broth, honey, and carrots will be incredibly tender and succulent. Rice is the perfect match for a side dish!
Afghan Bolani – Stuffed Pastry
Crisped-up tortillas loaded with russet potatoes, cream cheese, jalapeños, cilantro, green onions, and spices are something truly special. The ingredients are simple, but the bite is super complex, especially when you pair it with aromatic za’atar yogurt dip!
Dear cooks, a huge thank you for sharing these fabulous Eid recipes with us! I loved touring all around the world with different dishes!
