Fresh ingredients of Lebanese foods :
Lebanese cuisine has been around for thousands of years and amazingly little has changed since ancient times ,with the secret to this healthy and delicious food still being fresh ingredients and time tasted techniques. As Lebanese food continues to rise in popularity around the world,we look at some of the most awesome traditional Lebanese ingredients and cooking techniques. Let’s take a look at a few of the essential elements of the traditional Lebanese cooking.
Traditional Lebanese food is famous for its fresh ingredients with everything from mint and parsley to cucumber and tomatoes playing key roles in classic dishes .
Elements of Lebanese food :
Bread : In Lebanese cuisine nothing is more important than bread as we eat fresh baked pita with every meal of the day . Pita provides the perfect way to enjoy our many dips ,such as Hummus and Baba Ghanoush .It is an ideal vessel for encasing Falafel balls or marinated meats ,or you can simply salter your pita with Labne for fast and healthy breakfast.
Fresh herbs and vegetables: Traditional Lebanese food is famous for its fresh ingredients with everything from mint and parsley to cucumber and tomatoes playing key roles in classic dishes. Regardless of whether you are preparing a Falafel wrap ,a Shawarma or salads such as Tabouleh or Fattoush ,they simply wouldn’t be the same without the burst of flavor provided by fresh local ingredients.
Vegetarian and vegan Lebanese food :
Lebanese cuisine is ideal for vegetarian and vegan diet . With a wide range of options from small snacks ,to hearty meals ,to desserts.
Mujadarra :
This simple and delicious dish has been eaten throughout the Middle East for centuries. It is made from cooked lentils ,rice and either sauteed or roasted onions,and the addition of spices such as coriander,chili and mint make this a meal you won’t soon forget . Mujadarra is filling ,flavorful and has long been considered a dish of the common people in Lebanon .
Haloumi & Spinach Pie :
Nowadays,Haloumi is a core element of cultural cuisines all over the world,from Lebanon to Egypt to Sudan . One dish that has become a staple of Lebanese food is the Haloumi &cheese pie. Sometimes made with just Haloumi and often seasoned with Zataar . With crispy delicate pastry on the outside and hot rich tasty Haloumi on the inside ,it’s easy to see why this is a favorite of many when it comes to vegetarian and vegan Lebanese food.
Hummus :
is a Mediterranean-Arabic dish that is very popular in the Middle East and is served at restaurants as a meal . It is high in iron ,vitamin C and protein due to chickpeas. It also has a lot of fiber that is useful for the body’s digestive system. This meatless meal is a good choice for vegetarians.
Ingredients:
2 cups chickpeas (cooked )
One cup tahini
3 cubes Garlic (finely chopped)
Lemon juice
4 tablespoons olive oil
One teaspoon powdered cumin
One teaspoon salt
Water
Procedure:
Soak the chickpeas and cook them the next day to soft .
Mix the cooked chickpeas in a mixer .Add half of the olive oil,tahini ,chopped garlic ,cumin,and salt .
Add some water and mix well . Add less water if you want a thicker Hummus .(The amount of water depends on your taste )
Red pepper and Garlic Hummus :
Ingredients:
Hummus:learned above .
2 pcs Red pepper
One branch of Rosemary
One batch Garlic
Sugar
Procedure:
First prepare Hummus according to the instruction above .
With the fork ,make holes on the red peppers and pour olive oil over them . Wrap them in aluminium foil .
Cut the top of the garlic and pour the olive oil over it and wrap in aluminium foil.
Place them in the pre-heat oven for about 10 to 15 minutes (400 to 450 F) to soften . Peel the garlic and puree with the red pepper in the mixer and mix well with the Hummus.
