Lebanese cuisine
Lebanese cuisine blends ancient Eastern Mediterranean traditions with diverse influences.
Lebanese cuisine comprises the culinary traditions and practices originating from Lebanon. It includes an abundance of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, fresh fish, and seafood, with poultry eaten more often than red meat. Dishes feature copious amounts of garlic and olive oil, and are often seasoned with salt and lemon juice. Well-known dishes include baba ghanouj, tabbouleh, sfeeha, falafel, and shawarma, with hummus as an important component. Lebanese cuisine has ancient roots in the Eastern Mediterranean and has been influenced by Phoenician, Persian, Egyptian, Roman, Greek, Byzantine, Arab, Ottoman, and French rule. The Lebanese diaspora has introduced new ingredients and practices, keeping the cuisine innovative and renowned globally.
- origin
- Lebanon
- key_influences
- Turkish, Arab, French cooking styles
- national_drink
- Arak (anise-flavoured liquor)
- staple_ingredients
- Garlic, olive oil, chickpeas, parsley, lemon juice
- well_known_dishes
- Baba ghanouj, tabbouleh, sfeeha, falafel, shawarma, hummus
Lore & Background
Lebanese cuisine has ancient roots and is part of the culinary tradition of the Eastern Mediterranean. Many dishes can be traced back thousands of years to eras of Phoenician, Persian, Egyptian, Neo-Babylonian, Roman, Greek, Byzantine, Arab, and Ottoman rule.
Reader's Guide
Lebanese cuisine is significant for its ancient heritage and its role as a source of identity and income for the Lebanese diaspora worldwide. It has become engrained in cultures such as those of Australia and Brazil. The cuisine is characterized by mezze, an array of small dishes served before guests, which can range from simple raw vegetables to elaborate meals of 30 or more hot and cold dishes. A distinctive feature is mouneh, the seasonal preparation and storage of preserved foods like bulgur, olive oil, labneh, and pickles. The Lebanese liquidity crisis has impacted traditional sweets, with many avoiding expensive ingredients. Lebanese cuisine remains innovative due to diaspora influences and is an investment opportunity for individuals and corporations.
Did You Know?
- Arak is the Lebanese national drink, usually served with a traditional Lebanese meal.
- Meghli, a rice pudding dessert spiced with anise, caraway, and cinnamon, is served to celebrate a newborn baby.
- Mouneh refers to the seasonal preparation and storage of preserved foods for year-round use, traditionally done in late summer and early autumn.
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