10 Must Try Lebanese Food Items

As a Lebanese foodie who is all about traveling around to explore different countries, cultures and especially cuisines, I happen to be in India for the first time, loving local tastes and trying different delicious dishes every day! In return, I would love to share with you a bit about Lebanese food.

Lebanese cuisine is one of the richest cuisines in the world, offering its lovers a variety of options that suit all tastes. It has a lot in common with Greek and Turkish cuisines. Here are ten Lebanese food items that you should absolutely try:

    1-      Fattoush

A salad made of toasted or fried pita bread, tomatoes, lettuce, cucumber and radish, Fattoush is many people’s favorite because it is fresh and can be a full meal by itself!

   2-    Tabboule

Another popular salad, tabboule is made of chopped tomatoes and parsley, onions and bulgur.

It is accompanied by a lemon and olive oil dressing. Yummy!!

 3-    Hummus

Hummus is a Lebanese appetizer or dip made of blended chick peas, sesame tahini, lemon juice and garlic. You can have it with pita bread and as a side order for meat based dishes such as grills and shawarma. 

  

 4-    Baba Ghanuj

Belonging to the same category as hummus, baba ghanuj (also called moutabal) is based on char-grilled eggplants to which tahini, lemon juice, olive oil and garlic puree are added. Just Delicious!

 5-    Manoushe

Manoushe is usually a breakfast meal. Similar to a pizza, it is dough but covered with thyme

and oil, cheese or meat and tomato.  Just the perfect way to start your day!

 6-    Sambousek

 

Sambousek is a pastry that is either fried or baked and that is stuffed with lamb meat and onions or white cheese. Definitely a must try!

     

      7-    Kebbe

                                         

Kebbe is one of the most popular Lebanese food items. It is made of bulgur and stuffed with minced onions and lamb meat. It can be fried or grilled and is served in the form of balls or patties. Delicious!!

     8-    Shawarma

Shawarma, a sort of Lebanese fast food, is made of marinated chicken or lamb skewered on big metal rods and cooked slowly. Once ready, the meat is cut on a demand basis and served mostly as a sandwich with pickles, hummus and tomatoes in rolled pita bread.

9-    Baklava

 

A very famous Lebanese desert, Baklava is made of layered pastry filled with minced pistachio and soaked in Attar, syrup made of sugar and water.

     10-    Knefe

 

Knefe is also a Lebanese desert that is however usually consumed for breakfast. It is semolina dough spread on top of a layer of white cheese commonly served in sesame bread with Attar sauce (same as Baklava)

Want to try Lebanese food in Delhi? Here are some Lebanese restaurants, along with their locations and price ranges:

1-   Zaitoon: (Mediterranean & Lebanese) MY RECOMMENDATION J

Locations: Saket, Anand Niketan, DLF Phase 1 and Greater Kailash (GK)- 2

Cost: Approx Rs. 500 for two (without alcohol), VAT extra

2-   Spirit Restaurant & Bar: (North Indian, Italian & Lebanese)

Location: Connaught Place, New Delhi    

Cost: Approx Rs. 2000 for two (with alcohol), VAT & Service Charges extra

3-    My Way Or the Highway: (North Indian, Lebanese, Mediterranean & Italian)

Location: Noida

Cost: Approx Rs. 2000 for two (with alcohol), VAT & Service Charges extra

I love Lebanese food! And not only because I am Lebanese myself :)

   

-   -Vansessa Hobeika, Guest Author