Lebanese chefs use lots of fruits, veggies, and grains in their cuisine. Occasionally, they’ll add seafood or poultry, but many of their dishes are naturally meatless. So if you’re a vegetarian who loves veggies, legumes, and lots of herbs and spices, Lebanese cuisine just might be something you’d like to try.
1. Okra in Tomato Sauce
Chefs in Lebanon and other Middle Eastern nations call this dish bamia b’zeit. It’s easy to make, requiring only 10 minutes of prep work. You’ll stew whole okra, garlic, and chopped onions along with chopped tomatoes. The result is an almost stew-like dish that tastes just as good cold the next day as it does when fresh and hot.
2. Cucumber Yogurt Sauce
You can whip up this tangy, creamy sauce in about 5 minutes. There’s no actual cooking required! The ingredients list is simple – cucumbers, yogurt, water, fresh mint, garlic, and salt. Once you mix it up, add some olive oil for a lovely splash of color.
3. Lebanese Lentil Soup
If you’re looking for a dense, hearty soup that’ll keep your belly full on a long night, try Lebanese lentil soup. It combines an entire pound of lentils with vegetable broth, carrots, celery, sweet potatoes, garlic, and plenty of other nutritious, filling ingredients. Best of all, the various seasonings provide a bold, complex taste.
4. Tabbouleh
Tabbouleh is one of the freshest, densest, and tastiest salads you’ll ever eat. Full of flavorful ingredients like fresh mint, lemon juice, green onions, and garlic, it has a rich, wonderful taste that you won’t always find in light, leafy American salads. It takes only 35 minutes to make and tastes great on its own or with a large bowl of soup.
5. Hummus
Hummus is incredible, and this recipe will help you make the smoothest, creamiest, most superb hummus possible. The contrast between the garlic and lemon juice gives it a unique flavor that will linger on your tongue (in a good way!), and the texture is perfect.
6. Lebanese Green Bean Salad
When you first check out this recipe, don’t be scared off by the 2 hours and 5 minutes of cook time. This dish is so easy to make. It takes 5 minutes to steam the beans and get them ready for the salad. The other 2 hours are refrigerator chill time only. It’s a fresh, simple salad that’s high in flavor and low in calories.
7. Lebanese Chickpea Stew
This chunky stew is full of tomatoes and herbs, and it’s just spicy enough to make you reach for the milk. It’s a warm, comforting dish that smells as good as it tastes, and it’s perfect for chilly evenings.
8. Baba Ganoush
Baba ganoush is pretty similar to hummus, but you’ll make it with eggplant instead of chickpeas. It’s just as delicious as hummus, but it has a silkier consistency and a somewhat smokier flavor. Serving it with warm pita bread is traditional, but it also makes an excellent vegetable dip.
9. Fattoush Salad
This magnificent salad takes about 20 minutes to make unless you have pre-made pita croutons and vinaigrette. With radishes, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, Romaine lettuce, and more, this salad is about as garden-fresh as it gets. Don’t skimp on the pita croutons, though. They’re delish.
10. Mujadara
This one is for all the onion lovers out there. It’s a lovely dish, full of bright, beautiful colors and absolutely overflowing with onions! Not only will you use two whole yellow onions in it, but you’ll add a half-cup of thinly sliced green onions, as well! You may not want to fix it for a romantic night for two, but if you’re looking for a filling meal with an insane amount of flavor, mujadara’s a winner.
11. Lebanese Tomato Salsa
Everyone thinks Mexico has the salsa market cornered, but Lebanese chefs can hold their own. This salsa is somewhere between Mexican salsa and Italian marinara sauce. The recipe is simple, requiring only tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, cayenne pepper, and dried mint. It’s salsa with a robust tomato taste and just a hint of mint. It goes great with garlic bread.
12. Maghmour (Lebanese Moussaka)
It takes about 45 minutes to make maghmour, but you can always make it ahead of time and serve it cold or reheat it. It tastes fine either way. As with many Lebanese dishes, it boasts a strong tomato flavor, but there are plenty of other ingredients to help round out the taste for a full-flavored meal. Don’t forget the cinnamon. You wouldn’t think half a teaspoon would make much difference, but you’ll notice it when it’s not there.
13. Lebanese Rice with Vermicelli
All you’ll need for this simple dish is rice, vermicelli, olive oil, salt, and water. You can also add some pine nuts for a crunchier texture if you want. Primarily served as a side dish, Lebanese rice with vermicelli is mild and unassuming. It’s the perfect complement to most meats, roasted veggies, or even one of the many Lebanese stews.
14. Batata Harra (Spicy Lebanese Potatoes)
Talk about melt-in-your-mouth good; these spicy Lebanese potatoes are so incredible, you’ll make them again and again. It’s hard to put into words how amazing these potatoes truly are. They’re like traditional roasted potatoes but so much better. They’re crispy and garlic-y, with just a hint of zestiness from the lemon. They’re also spicy. If you like extraordinarily hot food, double down on the chili flakes and paprika. Don’t go too crazy, though, or they’ll be too hot to eat.
15. Lebanese Spinach Pies
These are a crispier, sourer version of Chinese dumplings, but they’re filled with spinach, onions, diced tomatoes, and spices instead of meat and cabbage. They make a great snack, and if you’re looking for a unique appetizer to wow the crowd, you can’t find anything much better.
16. Falafel
Falafel is probably the only Lebanese food that’s more well-known than hummus. You can bake them or fry them and have them ready in about 30 minutes. Soft and tender on the inside and exceptionally crispy on the outside, these vegan treats are so good, you’ll have to keep your meat-loving friends from eating them all.
17. Quinoa Tabbouleh
This yummy salad is full of fresh garden veggies, tasty quinoa, and plenty of flavorful spices. It takes almost no time to make – even less if you pre-make your salad dressing – and is packed with protein. Whether you eat it as a full meal or a side dish, it’s sure to satisfy you. Click on a star to rate it!
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