The following highlights some of the popular Traditional Lebanese Foods. If you manage to be in an Lebanese restaurant or you are visiting Lebanon, I recommend the following:
1. Tabbouleh
Rich and healthy salad prepared with bulgur, lemon juice, mint, as well as spring onions and parsley. Tomatoes, olive oil and salt are also added. This is the delicious tabbouleh, originally from Syria and popular in Lebanon. You can eat it as a side dish or as a main course, and even add pepper and lettuce if you like. A curious fact is that because it is a cold dish, in Arab countries it is usually eaten during the hottest summer months.
2. Fattoush
Fattoush is a traditional northern Lebanese salad where the main ingredients, mixed greens and vegetables, are mixed with fried or grilled pieces of khubz. The vegetables commonly used in Fattoush are tomatoes, cucumbers and radishes, which are cut into large chunks.
3. Shawarma
Common throughout the Middle East, shawarma has long been one of my favorite Lebanese fast foods. The meat is grilled slowly on vertically rotating skewers. Traditionally, shawarma is made from lamb or mutton. However, these days it can be anything from beef to chicken. It is usually served on a flatbread, such as raffa or pita, with vegetables, onions and gravy.
4. Sfiha
Sfiha is a popular meatball found in Lebanon and other Middle Eastern countries. It is a common street food that is cheap and quick to prepare. The filling is usually made from lamb or beef mixed with tomatoes, onions, pine nuts, salt, pepper and sometimes dried chillies. The delicious pies are then baked in the oven like a pizza, and you can even add cheese, parmesan or vegetables on top.
5. Fatteh
Fatteh can be eaten for breakfast or as a main dish. Literally in Arabic it means crumbs or crumbs. This is an ancient Levantine dish consisting of fresh or baked flatbreads topped with various ingredients. It usually includes strained yogurt, steamed chickpeas and olive oil. Some recipes include more savory dips, such as roast chicken, aubergine, carrots and pine nuts.
6. Kibbeh
Kibbeh is another Levantine delicacy popular in Lebanon and throughout the Middle East. It is often considered the national dish of Lebanon and can be described as a type of meatball or hamburger. It is very popular and is made from wheat kernels, chopped onion and minced meat such as beef, lamb, goat or even camel. There are other versions of Kibbeh such as Potato Kibbeh or Pumpkin Kibbeh.
7. Ma'amoul
Maamoul are traditional biscuits from the Middle East and the Persian Gulf. They are made from a simple dough of butter, flour or semolina, orange blossom water and a little sugar, which is filled with dates, figs, sultanas, dried apricots and other dried fruits to taste. This sweet is eaten all year round, but especially during religious festivals. Muslims eat them during Ramadan and Passover, while Jews and Egyptians enjoy them on Purim, Rosh Hashanah and Hanukkah.
8. Falafel
Lebanese food usually includes meat, but there are also some vegetarian and vegan options. Falafel is a good example because it is made from chickpeas or fava beans or a mixture of the two. The beans are ground and mashed into a paste and then seasoned with parsley, garlic and other spices such as coriander and cumin. They are baked in special pans. Falafel can be served in pita bread or on a vegetable plate.
9. Manakish
Manakish can be described as a Lebanese pizza made of dough topped with cheese, thyme and minced meat. Today there are many different types of toppings such as za’atar, cheese, pepper and spinach. What makes Manakish unique is how the dough is rolled out flat before holes are punched to allow the added ingredients to fit into the bread. This is a delicious fast food from Lebanon; it is delicious and relatively easy to make at home.
10. Hummus
Hummus is one of the icons of Arab cuisine. Hummus is a chickpea paste that is simple to prepare, and is part of the traditional cuisine of countries such as Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Jordan, Egypt, Syria, Egypt, Libya, Palestine, Morocco and Lebanon. Served with fresh or toasted pita bread, and consisting basically of mashed chickpeas and lemon juice, it is usually served as an appetizer and/or side dish. Tahini is an important ingredient in the recipe.
If you found this list useful, here are some more Traditional Asian Foods to try out on my Pinterest channel.