Category Archives: Lebanese Food

Lebanese Okra and Beef Stew

This one is not going to win any beauty contests, that’s for sure but it is a delicious and very emblematic of many Lebanese home-style stews that I grew up eating. Funny enough this one, really any okra based dish, was never my favorite when I was a kid. Yet, now, along with eggplant okraContinue reading “Lebanese Okra and Beef Stew”

Kafta – Ground Meat with Onions and Spices

Kafta is a Lebanese kitchen cornerstone. Like Kibbeh it’s a dish, a recipe and a staple that can be made into various preparations. For minced meat to be Kafta it has to be spiced and flavored with onions and plenty of parsley. I am sure this is not written in stone anywhere and someone else’sContinue reading “Kafta – Ground Meat with Onions and Spices”

Hummus bil Tahini – Creamy Chickpea, Lemon and Sesame Paste Dip

Having grown up eating chickpeas (hummus in Arabic) mashed with garlic, lemon juice and the all-important sesame paste (Tahini or Tahina) on a regular basis it was really interesting seeing how this dip took off in the last 10 years or so. It’s everywhere now, on every other restaurant/pub/diner/health food restaurant’s menu. This is bothContinue reading “Hummus bil Tahini – Creamy Chickpea, Lemon and Sesame Paste Dip”

Mung Beans with Burghul (Burghul M’ash)

Until my mom visited recently and made this dish I had only used mung beans in a couple of simple soups and southeast Asian desserts. I never really thought of the mung beans with their Arabic name, M’ash. The traditional Lebanese way to use it is to cook it with lots of browned onions and cutContinue reading “Mung Beans with Burghul (Burghul M’ash)”

Kibbeh Nayeh – Raw minced Beef and Burghul with Spices and Herbs

Almost more than any other Lebanese dish, I crave Kibbeh Nayeh the most and immediately request that my mom or grandmother make a plate of this iconic dish as soon as I am back home visiting. Growing up this was our typical Sunday lunch. Back then I honestly did not appreciate it as much and would’veContinue reading “Kibbeh Nayeh – Raw minced Beef and Burghul with Spices and Herbs”

Short Rib, Chard Ribs, Eggplant, Yogurt

It might not look like it, but this dish’s inspiration and flavor is Lebanese. I love swiss chard ribs, those central stalks in each  leaf that usually get thrown away. My mom always quickly boils them and tosses them with tahini, garlic and lemon juice. I was eating some of those recently and wanted toContinue reading “Short Rib, Chard Ribs, Eggplant, Yogurt”

Meghli – Lebanese Spice Pudding

I just recently became an uncle. My brother and his wife welcomed their first baby into the family. Problem is all that has happened several thousand miles away, in Lebanon. It is customary to buy a ton of candies and sweets to offer the visitors and well-wishers when a baby is born. It’s also customaryContinue reading “Meghli – Lebanese Spice Pudding”