Lebanese Food, Mezze Recipes
Meze are small dishes common throughout the Mediterranean and Middle East. Check out these dishes in our collection of Lebanese Food, mezze recipes!
1. Tabbouleh
Tabbouleh is a Levantine vegetarian salad made of tomatoes, finely chopped parsley, mint, bulgur, and onion, and seasoned with olive oil, lemon juice, and salt. Tabbouleh is traditionally served as part of a mezze in the Arab world.
2. Fattoush
Fattoush is a classic Lebanese dish made from toasted or fried pieces of Arabic flat bread combined with mixed greens and other vegetables, such as radishes and tomatoes. . It is often eaten by itself as a starter or light lunch.
Get the Recipe: Fattoush
3. Hummus
A widely popular dip, hummus is not only delicious, it’s super healthy. This hummus is made using homemade tahini paste, which is easy to make, cheaper than store-bought, and tastes so much better!
4. Baba Ghanouj – Roasted Eggplants With Garlic and Tahini
Baba Ghanouj is made by mashing roasted eggplants with Tahini paste, some garlic, and a bit of white vinegar to help lighten the color. It is served as a cold appetizer dip along with pita bread and some salted Lebanese pickles such as cucumbers, chili peppers and turnips.
Get the Recipe: Baba Ghanouj – Roasted Eggplants With Garlic and Tahini
5. Kibbeh Nayyeh
Kibbe Nayyeh stands for “raw Kibbe”, Kibbe being the patties made from ground meat, burghul (cracked weat) and spices.
Learn How to Make Raw Kibbe Nayyeh Like a Pro. This recipe is an Authentic and Traditional Version of the Lebanese Kibbe Nayyeh (spicy raw ground meat).
Get the Recipe: Kibbeh Nayyeh
6. Sambousik
This recipe is for the Lebanese version of a meat pie, but these fragrant pastries don’t require tomato sauce. You can freeze uncooked sambousik wrapped in plastic wrap for up to one month. Stand frozen at room temperature for 10 minutes before frying.
Get the Recipe: Sambousik
7. Warak Enab (Stuffed grape Leaves)
8. Balila
Balila, also known as Cumin Chickpeas, consists of boiled chickpeas mixed with garlic, salt, cumin and olive oil. It is usually served as a hot Mezze dish.
Get the Recipe: Balila
9. Labneh
Lebanese call it “Labneh” or “Labne,” other folks from the Middle East call it “Labna” or “Lebni” and in the US it’s known sometimes as Kefir Cheese. Whatever the name is, Labneh is one of our favorite dips ever!! It is a simple dip made by filtering plain yogurt overnight and reducing its whey content. You can prepare it easily at home by placing yogurt in a filter overnight while keeping it in the fridge. To save time we tend to buy it from Middle-Eastern grocery stores and our favorite brand is “Arz” by Karoun Dairies, because of its beautiful authentic taste, and because they use milk not treated with hormones or antibiotics.
This recipe is for preparing a very refreshing and tasty Labneh dip.
1. Tabbouleh
Tabbouleh is a Levantine vegetarian salad made of tomatoes, finely chopped parsley, mint, bulgur, and onion, and seasoned with olive oil, lemon juice, and salt. Tabbouleh is traditionally served as part of a mezze in the Arab world.
Get the Recipe: Tabbouleh
Fattoush is a classic Lebanese dish made from toasted or fried pieces of Arabic flat bread combined with mixed greens and other vegetables, such as radishes and tomatoes. . It is often eaten by itself as a starter or light lunch.
3. Hummus
A widely popular dip, hummus is not only delicious, it’s super healthy. This hummus is made using homemade tahini paste, which is easy to make, cheaper than store-bought, and tastes so much better!
Get the Recipe: Hummus
Baba Ghanouj is made by mashing roasted eggplants with Tahini paste, some garlic, and a bit of white vinegar to help lighten the color. It is served as a cold appetizer dip along with pita bread and some salted Lebanese pickles such as cucumbers, chili peppers and turnips.
5. Kibbeh Nayyeh
Kibbe Nayyeh stands for “raw Kibbe”, Kibbe being the patties made from ground meat, burghul (cracked weat) and spices.
Learn How to Make Raw Kibbe Nayyeh Like a Pro. This recipe is an Authentic and Traditional Version of the Lebanese Kibbe Nayyeh (spicy raw ground meat).
6. Sambousik
This recipe is for the Lebanese version of a meat pie, but these fragrant pastries don’t require tomato sauce. You can freeze uncooked sambousik wrapped in plastic wrap for up to one month. Stand frozen at room temperature for 10 minutes before frying.
7. Warak Enab (Stuffed grape Leaves)
Stuffed Grape Leaves is an amazingly creative, tasty and healthy Middle Eastern dish. It is made of rolled grape leaves with rice and vegetable stuffing slowly boiled in lemony water. Stuffed Grape Leaves can be served alone as a full meal, or it can also be served as a “Mezza” appetizer along with other dishes. It goes well with a side of plain yogurt.
Get the Recipe: Warak Enab (Stuffed grape Leaves)
Balila, also known as Cumin Chickpeas, consists of boiled chickpeas mixed with garlic, salt, cumin and olive oil. It is usually served as a hot Mezze dish.
Get the Recipe: Balila
9. Labneh
Lebanese call it “Labneh” or “Labne,” other folks from the Middle East call it “Labna” or “Lebni” and in the US it’s known sometimes as Kefir Cheese. Whatever the name is, Labneh is one of our favorite dips ever!! It is a simple dip made by filtering plain yogurt overnight and reducing its whey content. You can prepare it easily at home by placing yogurt in a filter overnight while keeping it in the fridge. To save time we tend to buy it from Middle-Eastern grocery stores and our favorite brand is “Arz” by Karoun Dairies, because of its beautiful authentic taste, and because they use milk not treated with hormones or antibiotics.
This recipe is for preparing a very refreshing and tasty Labneh dip.
10. ZA’ATAR MAN’OUCHE
Za’atar, a Middle Eastern spice mix of wild thyme, sumac, and toasted sesame seeds, tops chewy flatbread in this iconic Lebanese snack.
Get the Recipe: ZA’ATAR MAN’OUCHE
Za’atar, a Middle Eastern spice mix of wild thyme, sumac, and toasted sesame seeds, tops chewy flatbread in this iconic Lebanese snack.
11. Falafel
Falafel is a very delicious Middle-Eastern gourmet appetizer that has become popular in the West over the past several years. It’s made from a deep fried paste of chick peas, fava beans, and a mix of onions and different herbs and spices.
Get the Recipe: Falafel
Falafel is a very delicious Middle-Eastern gourmet appetizer that has become popular in the West over the past several years. It’s made from a deep fried paste of chick peas, fava beans, and a mix of onions and different herbs and spices.
12. Pita Bread
Pita bread is a staple in Middle Eastern food. It can be used for dipping, or to make delicious sandwiches in the pocket. In the Middle East, pita is made in brick ovens, where very high heat can be achieved. It is very hard to duplicate in a home kitchen, but this recipe, combined with high heat comes very close.
Ge the Recipe: Pita Bread
Pita bread is a staple in Middle Eastern food. It can be used for dipping, or to make delicious sandwiches in the pocket. In the Middle East, pita is made in brick ovens, where very high heat can be achieved. It is very hard to duplicate in a home kitchen, but this recipe, combined with high heat comes very close.
Absolutely Love these recipes. Thank you so much. There is NOTHING more delicious than Lebanese cuisine. :)
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