10 Healthy Middle Eastern Dishes

Make healthy Middle East dishes part of your regular diet, and wash down your hummus with some doogh. These are 10 healthy Middle East foods.

Hummus: Hummus is ideal any time of day. There are many variations, but 2 tablespoons of a typical chick pea version has about 88 calories with 3 grams of fat and 2 grams of protein.

Couscous: Couscous is less refined than conventional pasta in a good way. This Middle East food is a good source of low-fat carbohydrates with about 175 calories in a 1 cup serving. Whole wheat versions have even more fiber and nutrients.

Tabbouleh: This cracked wheat salad is another winner. One cup has about 240 calories with 6 grams each of fat and protein. Use it for sandwiches or side dishes.

Fattoush: This Lebanese salad gets its tartness from sumac berries. There are just 236 calories in 2 cups of this Middle East food with 2 grams of fat and 9 grams of protein.

Seer Torshi: This Persian side dish features marinated garlic in vinegar and spices. You'll get about 5 calories an ounce and a little Vitamin C in this Middle East dish.

Doogh: Get trendy and try some probiotics with this Persian fermented milk meal you can drink. Get it made with fat free yogurt, club soda, mint, and salt, and it will be just about 85 calories a glass.

Shorba Addas: This lentil and Swiss chard soup is a traditional favorite that's good for you. It has about 200 calories a cup with lots of fiber, 3 grams of fat, and 7 grams of protein.

Foole M'daas: Chick peas and fava beans taste even better mixed together and seasoned with garlic and lemon in this Middle East dish. One cup has about 250 calories with less than 3 grams of fat and about 9 grams of protein.

Lubieh Bel Zeit: It's easy to eat your vegetables with this Middle East dish of green beans in tomato sauce. One cup has less than 100 calories with about 2 grams of fat and 3 grams of protein.

Stuffed Grape Leaves: Pass around stuffed grape leaves instead of fried appetizers. Stuffed with wild rice and pine nuts, this Middle East food has about 100 calories per piece with 6 grams of fat and 3 grams of protein.

Eat these healthy Middle East dishes and you'll have room in your diet for some baklava.

Sources: thedailyplate.com