It’s a hot day out and as you're sitting on your patio you can feel the blazing sun taking away the last bit of energy that you have left within you, so basically now all you can think about is something refreshing to indulge on. Everybody knows this feeling all too well and everybody thinks “well what better thing to do then to open the wild wonders of the interwebs and look up some yummy and authentic Middle Eastern delicacies to cool me down?” Look no further as here are some FIVE Refreshing Summer Eats to help you to not melt away in the scorching summer sun! ☀️
🌱 Lemon Mint Smoothie (عصير الليمون والنعناع)
This yummy and refreshing drink is a well-known “cool me down” drink throughout the entirety of the middle east. Not only does it leave you feeling refreshed and cooled down, but it also has you waiting for the hot summer days to come all year as you constantly yearn for it mouthwatering flavor.
Ingredients:
- Mint Leaves
- Lemon Juice
- Sugar
- Ice
🍉 Watermelon and Cheese ( البطيخ والجبن)
We know what you’re thinking… what in their weird combinations is this?! This refreshing duo is the perfect summer day snack. The coolness of a freshly cut watermelon that leaks with its sweet water, and the saltiness of a cheese of your choosing perfectly pairs to cool down as well as his that sweet and salty craving that you just need fulfilled!
Ingredients:
- Watermelon
- Cheese of your choosing
(Refreshing Salad Option Linked Below!)
🥖 Baba Ganoush (بابا غنوش)
Baba Ganoush is another one of those things that is known across the entirety of the middle east. Similarly, to hummus, baba ganoush is a smoothed down mixture of eggplant garnished with olive oil, fresh parsley, and some chilled pomegranate as well. This plate is served cold and therefore can help you cool off in the summer sun with a side of that lemon mint smoothie we talked about earlier.
Ingredients:
- Eggplant
- Tahini paste
- Garlic
- Salt
- Lemon juice
- Parsley
- Pomegranate
🥗 Fatoosh Salad (فتوش)
Salads are healthy and get in all the nutrients your body maybe lacking since you’ve been tackling all that summer ice cream. This is the perfect dish to satisfy hunger and cool down on a nice beach day after a long, tiring, and hinger inducing swim in the ocean.
Ingredients:
- Lettuce
- Parsley
- Tomatoes
- Green peppers
- Cucumbers
- Green onions
- Radishes
🍨 Rice Pudding (أرز بالحليب)
Rice pudding is a food people across the globe eat, but we as middle easterners like to have this dish served cold with some perfectly grinded pistachios on top. The sweetness of the rice pudding and the crunchiness of the pistachios is seriously such an irresistible combination!
Ingredients:
- Rice
- Milk
- Sugar
- Pistachios
We hope these 5 refreshing ideas help you cool yourself down as you spend some time in the summer sun with family and friends. If you indulge on any of these suggestions just remember… calories don’t count in the summer! Enjoy! 🍉