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    Cooking Gorgeous » MSN Posts

    From Hummus to Shawarma: Authentic Lebanese Food Recipes

    Published: Oct 16, 2024 by Ayla Clulee · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Here you'll find a collection of my favorite authentic Lebanese recipes, featuring everything from classic dips like hummus and mutabal and street food favorites like shawarma, to indulgent Lebanese desserts such as baklava and kadaif.

    Lebanese cuisine is packed with flavor, is healthy and humble, yet rich in tradition, using fresh ingredients like olive oil, garlic, fresh herbs, lemon, and aromatic spices to create vibrant and flavorful dishes.

    Fatayer

    12 pieces of fatayer
    Ayla Clulee

    Fatayer are bite-sized Lebanese mini Pies made with an easy homemade dough, stuffed with a savory filling consisting of either spinach, meat, or cheese.

    These crowd-pleaser pastries are incredibly easy to make with just a handful of simple pantry/fridge ingredients.

    To learn more: Fatayer - Homemade Lebanese Pies

    Falafel

    falafel served in a pita bread with salad and tahini sauce
    Ayla Clulee

    This Authentic Homemade Lebanese Falafel Recipe is perfect for you if you want to learn how to make perfectly crisp and extremely flavourful falafels. 

    Whether you serve them stuffed in warm Greek Pita Bread or along with a bowl of refreshing Lebanese Fattoush Salad, this iconic street food will be a family favorite!

    To learn more: Authentic Homemade Lebanese Falafel Recipe

    Make it in an air fryer: Vegan Air Fryer Falafel Recipe

    Kadaif

    tel kadayif served with ice cream and chopped pistachio
    Ayla Clulee

    Kataifi (or Kadaif) is a popular and delicious Mediterranean and Middle Eastern syrupy dessert made with layers of crispy, shredded filo pastry base filled with a rich and nutty walnut mixture, baked until crispy and soaked in syrup.

    To learn more: Kadaif Dessert - Turkish Tel Kadayif

    Fattoush Salad

    Lebanese Fattoush Salad served in a glass bowl
    Ayla Clulee

    This traditional Lebanese Salad "Fattoush" is a colorful Mediterranean dish made with fresh vegetables, tangy lemon dressing, and crisp pita croutons. It's a refreshing, delicious, and healthy side dish you can serve with your favorite summer meals, BBQs, or picnics. 

    Alternatively, you can serve this Fattoush Salad as a healthy, light meal perfect for summer evenings. 

    To learn more: Lebanese Fattoush Salad

    Mujadara

    Lebanese lentil and rice dish garnished with chopped parsley
    Ayla Clulee

    Mujadara (or Mujaddara) is a simple yet delicious Lebanese Recipe made with Lentils and Rice and flavored with caramelized crispy onions. 

    It is extremely easy to make with only a few simple ingredients which you probably already have in your pantry. Also, this beautiful dish is inexpensive to make, full of nutrition, and gluten-free.

    To learn more: Mujadara - Lebanese Lentils and Rice

    Chicken Shawarma

    shawarma wrap cut in 2
    Ayla Clulee

    This easy recipe for Homemade Lebanese Chicken Shawarma is perfect for you if you want to bring the authentic taste of this Middle Eastern street food to your home.

    It is packed with exotic flavors, extremely easy to make with a few simple ingredients, and ready in just 20 minutes!

    To learn more: Easy Homemade Lebanese Chicken Shawarma

    Batata Harra

    Ayla Clulee

    Batata Harra is a mouth-wateringly spicy and crispy Lebanese potato dish that can be whipped up in no time using just a few simple ingredients.

    It is a staple in Lebanese cuisine that combines potatoes with garlic, EVOO, chili flakes, cilantro (coriander), and lemon to create a flavor explosion.

    To learn more: Batata Harra (Lebanese Potatoes)

    Tabbouleh

    Ayla Clulee

    This Taboule Recipe (Lebanese Tabouli Salad) is a refreshing and healthy Middle Eastern salad made with fresh parsley, tomatoes, and bulgur. 

    It is full of flavor, color, and nutrition and is extremely easy to make with just a handful of ingredients.

    To learn more: Taboule (Lebanese Tabouli Salad)

    Maghmour - Lebanese Moussaka

    Lebanese eggplant moussaka served with Coban Salatasi on the side
    Ayla Clulee

    This deliciously healthy Vegan Lebanese Aubergine Moussaka, also known as Maghmour combines roasted aubergines and chickpeas in a tangy tomato sauce flavored with Lebanese spices.

    Just like traditional Turkish Moussaka, this healthy Lebanese aubergine dish is packed with Mediterranean flavors, making it a dream come true for aubergine lovers.

    To learn more: Vegan Lebanese Eggplant Moussaka (Maghmour)

    Toum - Garlic Sauce

    toum sauce in a bowl
    Ayla Clulee

    Toum, also known as Toumya, is a rich and irresistibly flavorful Lebanese Garlic Sauce made with only four simple ingredients: garlic, lemon juice, oil, and salt. It has a creamy texture and a strong, pungent garlic flavor.

    Unlike mayonnaise, which typically includes egg yolks and vinegar or lemon juice, Toum relies solely on garlic for its emulsification process.

    To learn more: Toum - Lebanese Garlic Sauce

    Hummus Dip

    turkish hummus with pastirma
    Ayla Clulee

    Hummus Dip is a Mediterranean/ Middle Eastern spread made with chickpeas and tahini, then seasoned with lemon, garlic, and cumin. 

    This extremely creamy, smooth & fresh dip comes together in just 25 minutes!

    To learn more: Mediterranean Hummus Dip

    Mutabal

    Ayla Clulee

    Mutabal, also known as Moutabal or Moutabel, is a popular Middle Eastern dip made from roasted aubergine, yogurt, tahini, garlic, and lemon juice. 

    This creamy and flavorful dip is a staple in many households and restaurants across the region. It is extremely easy to make with a few basic ingredients, and tastes even better after a day or two!

    To learn more: Mutabal (Roasted Eggplant Dip)

    Arrays

    Ayla Clulee

    Arayes, also known as Meat Stuffed Pita, is a popular dish in Middle Eastern cuisine that is loved by many around the world. They consist of ground meat mixed with a blend of exotic spices, then stuffed inside pita bread before they are grilled or baked to perfection. This classic Lebanese street food is simple yet full of flavor that you can serve as a snack, appetizer, or quick weeknight dinner.

    To learn more: Arayes (Meat Stuffed Pita)

    Lebanese Rice

    Lebanese vermicelli rice is served with chicken kofta and salad on the side
    Ayla Clulee

    Lebanese Rice Pilaf with Vermicelli is an absolute delight from the heart of the Middle East. It is packed with flavor and made with just a handful of pantry staples.

    Simple, and incredibly easy to prepare, ready in just 25 minutes, and turns out fluffy every single time.

    To learn more: Lebanese Rice Pilaf with Vermicelli

    Manakish

    2 za'atar and 2 cheese manakish bread
    Ayla Clulee

    Manakish (also spelled Manaqish) is a popular Middle Eastern flatbread made with a soft and fluffy dough that is typically topped with za'atar, cheese, or ground meat.

    Similar to pizza or Turkish Lahmacun, this savory pastry is perfect as a make-ahead snack, brunch, or breakfast.

    To learn more: Manakish with Za'atar and Cheese

    Muhammara

    Muhammara served in a bowl garnished with walnut
    Ayla Clulee

    Muhammara is a delicious Middle Eastern dip made with red pepper paste, garlic, walnuts, spices, and olive oil. It is extremely easy to prepare and is ready in 15 minutes with minimal cleaning up!

    To learn more: Muhammara (Red Pepper Dip)

    Baklava

    a picture showing the layers of a authentic Middle Eastern walnut baklawa dessert
    Ayla Clulee

    This Authentic Middle Eastern Walnut Baklawa is a scrumptious creation that beautifully combines layers of filo pastry with the richness of walnuts and a sweet simple syrup.

    But what truly makes this recipe special is the love and artisanship that goes into creating each delicate layer of hand-rolled phyllo sheets.

    To learn more: Authentic Middle Eastern Walnut Baklawa

    Varak Enab

    yaprak dolma (Stuffed Grape Leaves)
    Ayla Clulee

    Warak Enab is a delightful vegetarian dish made from grape leaves stuffed with aromatic rice, fresh herbs, and spices. It's a popular choice for special occasions and gatherings across Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisines.

    To learn more: Yaprak Sarma - Stuffed Grape Leaves

    Kibbeh

    kibbeh balls cut in half and served with salad
    Ayla Clulee

    Kibbeh is a delightful Middle Eastern dish made with ground meat, fine bulgur wheat, and a mixture of warm spices. You can serve them as a side dish, an appetizer, or as a part of a mezze selection.

    To learn more: Icli Kofte (Turkish Kibbeh)

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    Welcome to Cooking Gorgeous, where delicious easy-to-follow recipes and culinary inspiration await you! My name is Ayla Clulee, a passionate and professional Cordon Bleu-trained chef, recipe developer, and food content creator with decades of experience. I am based in the UK, and I'm thrilled to have you here.

    The kitchen is my happy place and cooking is my therapy.

    More about me →

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