If you’ve been lucky enough to explore the vibrant culinary scene in the Middle East, it will come as no surprise when we tell you that the excellent array of street food fare you can find is among the best in the world. 

In the Eat, Habibi, Eat! cookbook, chef Shahir Massoud shares more than 100 recipes from throughout the Middle East that are bursting at the seams with bright, bold, and balanced flavour profiles.

In terms of comfort food, few street food snacks hit the spot like a savoury sandwich with a slight kick of heat, and this beef Hawawshi rendition from chef Massoud is the perfect example.

“This Cairo street food staple is simple and versatile—a must-have for your sandwich repertoire. Baking the beef mixture and sandwich together marries the flavors and allows the rendered fat to crisp up the pita,” chef Massoud explains. “If you don’t want to bake your own Egyptian Whole Wheat Baladi Bread, or can’t find the true Egyptian pita (check your local Middle Eastern grocer and ask for baladi bread), just substitute whole wheat pitas instead.”