Lebanese cooking is known for its fresh ingredients, bold flavours, and recipes designed to bring people together. While some traditional dishes may look impressive, many Lebanese recipes are actually simple to make once you understand the key ingredients and pantry staples commonly used in Lebanese kitchens.
If you’re new to Lebanese cooking, this guide will help you build a pantry with the essential ingredients used in many authentic Lebanese recipes.
Olive Oil
Olive oil is one of the most important ingredients in Lebanese cuisine. It’s used in salads, dips, cooking, and finishing dishes. A good quality extra virgin olive oil adds flavour and richness to many traditional Lebanese meals.
Lemon Juice
Fresh lemon juice is used constantly in Lebanese cooking to brighten dishes and balance flavours. It’s commonly added to salads, dips, soups, and rice dishes.
Chickpeas
Chickpeas are a staple ingredient used in popular Lebanese recipes like hummus and falafel. They’re versatile and commonly used in both vegan and vegetarian dishes.
Lentils
Lentils are widely used in comforting Lebanese meals such as mjadara and lentil soups. Brown and red lentils are both commonly found in Lebanese kitchens.
Tahini
Tahini is a sesame paste used in hummus, baba ghanoush, dressings, and sauces. It adds creaminess and a rich nutty flavour to many dishes.
Fresh Herbs
Parsley and mint are essential in Lebanese cooking. Fresh herbs are heavily used in salads like tabbouli and to add flavour to cooked dishes.
Sumac
Sumac is a tangy Middle Eastern spice commonly sprinkled over salads, meats, and dips. It adds a fresh citrus flavour and is one of the most recognisable spices in Lebanese cuisine.
Lebanese Seven Spice
Lebanese seven spice is a traditional spice blend used in many meat and rice dishes. It typically includes spices such as cinnamon, black pepper, cloves, coriander, cumin, nutmeg, and allspice.
Bulgur
Bulgur is used in dishes like tabbouli and kibbeh. It’s a staple grain in Lebanese cooking and adds texture to many traditional recipes.
Lebanese Bread
Lebanese bread is served alongside almost every Lebanese meal. It’s used for dipping, wrapping, scooping, and serving mezze dishes.
One of the best things about Lebanese cooking is that it focuses on simple ingredients used in fresh and flavourful ways. Once you have a few pantry staples on hand, you can create a variety of authentic Lebanese recipes at home.
Whether you’re making hummus, fresh salads, lentil dishes, or a full mezze spread, Lebanese food is all about sharing, tradition, and enjoying meals with family and friends.