CNN asks Lebanese-American food blogger Bethany Kehdy for her choices

  Middle Eastern dishes have been around for a long time but it's only in the past decade or so that its global profile has steadily increased. Food connoiseurs rave over Middle Eastern food, which they describe as "rich", "aromatic" and "healthy". CNN recently talked to Lebanese-American food blogger Bethany Kehdy of dirtykitchensecrets.com to ask what she considers as the best Middle Eastern food dishes. Here are the top 15 and recommended eateries where you can try them. *Hummus The chickpea spread can be spread on anything even on burgers. Where to try it: Abu Shukri, Via Dolorosa near Damascus Gate, Jerusalem, Israel. *Mannakeesh Considered as the Arab world's pizza, it is a round bread sprinkled with either cheese, ground meat or zaatar. Where to try it: Al Hallab, Guarhoud Road, Garhoud, Dubai, UAE. *Grilled halloumi Small slabs of goat and sheep milk and no acid or bacteria is used during processing, unlike other cheeses. Where to try it: Abdel Wahab, El Inglizi Street, Monot, Achrafleh, Beirut, Lebanon. *Foul meddamas A soup dish with fava beans, olive oil, parsley, onion, garlic and lemon. Where to try it: The Pavilion Downtown Dubai Cafe, Downtown, Dubai, UAE. *Falafel It's fried chickpeas with herbs. Where to try it: Books@Cafe, First Circle Amman, Jordan. *Tabouleh Bulgur, parsley, mint, onion and tomatoes make up this sumptuous salad. Where to try it: Cairo Restaurant, Al-Malek Talal Street, Amman, Jordan. *Moutabal/baba ghanoush A dip that has the same consistency with hummus but with an eggplant kick. Where to try it: Zest, One&Only The Palm, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai, UAE. *Fattoush A tangy salad of crispy lettuce, crunchy fried squares of pita, diced tomatoes, cucumbers and onion, garlic, lemon, olive oil and mint. Where to try it: Al Halabi, Mall of the Emirates, Barsha, Dubai, UAE. *Umm Ali It's an Egyptian pastry cooked in milk and cream. Where to try it: Naguib Mahfouz Restaurant, 5 Sikkit el Badistan, Khan el Khalili, Cairo, Egypt. *Shanklish Cow or sheep milk cheese fashioned into golf ball-sized bites and rolled in zaatar herbs or chili flakes (the latter version is favorite in Syria). Where to try it: Market Place, JW Marriott Dubai, Abu Baker Al Siddique Road, Al Rigga, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. *Shawarma Tender slices of skewered chicken, garlic puree and salad wrapped in pita is a global favorite. Where to try it: Hashipudia, 6 Ha-Shikma Street, Jerusalem, Israel. *Shish tawook A skewered chicken dish that is is hugely popular in Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, Iraq and the Gulf region and served with pure garlic paste, fries and pita bread. Where to try it: Al Falamanki, Damascus Street, Beirut, Lebanon. *Dolma Stuffed vine leaves with lamb or juicy veggies. Where to try it: Asitane Restaurant, Kariye Camii Sokak 6, EdirnekapI, Istanbul, Turkey. *Kofta Spicy balls of minced lamb or beef that can be fried, grilled, barbecued or baked and best served with a spicy sauce. Where to try it: Gulf Pomegranate Iranian Restaurant, ‪Al Ansab Road next to Al Agbiya Mosque, Muaskar Al Murtafa'a, Oman. *Quwarmah Al Dajaj It is also known as Kuwaiti curried chicken. Where to try it: Mais Alghanim, Gulf Road, Kuwait. 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