Lebanese Food: 9 Most Popular Dishes
Lebanon is a small country in the Middle East, known for its rich culture and delicious food. Lebanese cuisine is a fusion of various flavours and influences, including Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and French. For most people, going to Lebanon means a lot of joy, great tourism, and, most importantly, delicious food. Here are 9 of the most popular Lebanese foods you should try on your next visit to Lebanon (or at a Lebanese restaurant right here in Dubai).
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Tabbouleh
Let's whet your appetite with a hearty bowl of tabbouleh. This popular dish is not just a salad but a colourful dish, full of life and emotions that invites you to dig in.
Tabbouleh is a traditional Lebanese salad made from parsley, tomatoes, onions, and bulgur wheat. It is typically seasoned with lemon juice, olive oil, and mint. It is often served as a side dish, but once you start, you can't stop! Enjoy the most incredible tabbouleh at Al Beiruti, one of the best Mediterranean restaurants in Dubai.
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Kibbeh
Kibbeh is considered to be one of the best Lebanese foods in Lebanon and across the Arab world. It is made of ground meat, typically lamb or beef, mixed with bulgur wheat and spices. You can find kibbeh at each and every meal - breakfast, lunch or dinner. It can be fried, baked, served as is, or cooked in yoghurt and served with white rice. Regardless of how it is cooked, it is agreed that kibbeh is a winning dish!
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Labneh
What else is better than a cloud-like, creamy concoction? Nothing else. Labneh is a traditional Lebanese dish made of yoghurt. The process of creating incredible labneh involves straining yoghurt into a thick consistency. For Arabs in general and Lebanese in particular, labneh is an essential element of any breakfast.
Labneh is commonly served with olive oil and za’atar. A great modern-day use is as a dip, wherein you can mix it with herbs and spices for an outstanding addition to any movie night.
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Sfiha
Take a meat sandwich, turn it on its head, and make it better than any other! Sfiha is a round flatbread with lamb meat cooked in a stone oven or dome. Sfiha is usually made of meat only, but some like adding other ingredients like onion, tomatoes and garlic. Just one bite, and you will drown in its spectacular spices.
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Makanek
This dish is absolutely underrated in the world of Lebanese food. Makanek, also known as Na’anik, is a type of Lebanese sausage made from a combination of ground meat (traditionally lamb and beef) and flavoured with various spices. It is often grilled or fried and served as an appetiser or main dish.
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Ka’ak
To understand why Lebanese families love this dish, let's step into our childhood memories; family gathering around the breakfast table on their holidays, filled with love, exchanging laughter and jokes and enjoying a nice cup of tea with a freshly baked ka’ak. What else could make it better?
Ka’ak is a traditional Lebanese food, similar to a bagel, but it takes many shapes; bakers can be as creative as they want in shaping it. It can be eaten alone or stuffed with boiled egg and olive oil, turkey, labneh, or any other appetiser.
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Mujaddarah
Commonly known as the peasant's meal, Mujaddarah combines spiced cooked rice with lentils, usually served with fried onion and bread, and salad as a side dish. It was a meal for the working class and farmers for years because of its cheap and simple ingredients. Nonetheless, mujaddarah became a staple in Lebanese cuisine, a dish surpassing socioeconomic status.
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Muhammara
Muhammara is an Arabic expression that means “turned red”. It is a deep, rich, well-spiced roasted red pepper dip full of heat and spice, alongside its incredible mix of garlic, olive oil, pomegranate molasses and sometimes cumin.
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Knafeh
Let’s end this list with a dessert. Knafeh is a sweet traditional Arabic dessert made of thin noodle-shaped pastry mixed with semolina dough. It’s layered with sweetened white cheese and topped with an incredibly sweet syrup called Atir. It is trendy and loved by both Arabs and non-Arabs alike.
Enjoy Lebanese Food - From the Mountains to the Sea
These are just a few delicious kinds of Lebanese food you can try. Each dish offers a unique combination of flavours and textures that are sure to delight your taste buds. Whether you are a fan of meat dishes or prefer vegetarian options, there is something for everyone in Lebanese cuisine.
To enjoy Mujaddarah and other traditional and classic Lebanese food in Dubai, visit The Pointe and stop by the top-notch Lebanese restaurants today.
