About Lebanese food

Sahteyn is a word you will often hear in a Lebanese home; loosely translated it means “twice your health”, a form of welcome to join a family and share delicious food. And this is some of the most exquisite food in the world too, as Lebanese cuisine is both generous and abundant.

Cream slice (ayesh el saraya).

There is an age-old tradition of warm hospitality that exists in Lebanese culture. Lebanese hosts will never believe you don't have just a bit more room for something utterly delicious that's been prepared with love. In a Lebanese household, food is life and sharing it is one of the great joys of being alive. Even for simple dinners at home, there are a variety of dishes on the table, the meal starting with small portions known as mezza, which centre around dips and salads. They may be as simple as simple as pickled or raw vegetables, hummus and bread or an entire meal consisting also of meat kebabs, grilled, marinated seafood, salads and desserts.

Yoghurt and cucumber salad

As well as having great variety, Lebanese food is one of the freshest and most delicious on the planet. Lamb is the meat of choice and appears in many dishes, including kafta, in which minced lamb is rolled into sausage shapes and cooked on the barbecue or in the oven. Poultry is more popular than red meat, but lamb and goat are popular. Generous amounts of olive oil, garlic, lemons are also essential flavours in the Lebanese diet.

Lebanese desserts are pure artwork, as a visit to one of the palaces of Lebanese sweets will attest – there are many variations of filo pastry, combined with nuts and syrup; there are creamy sweets filled with a clotted cream called ashta; plus melting shortbread sometimes filled with a date paste or nuts; and much more. Sweets are generally served separately to a meal with black coffee or tea.

 

View our Lebanese recipe collection here.