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Month: October 2015

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Blog Lebanese Food Traditional Ingredients

The Mighty Mezze

Mezze

There is no greater symbol of Lebanese culture than the mighty mezze, as not only does it involve eating lots of healthy and delicious food (usually in the form of a smorgasbord-like spread), but it is all about enjoying quality time with family, friends and loved ones. While the word itself is derived from the Persian term “maze” – meaning ‘to snack’ – don’t let the name fool you, because an authentic mezze is certainly no appetizer. While there are no strict rules regarding what a mezze should comprise, to be considered an authentic Lebanese version the following elements are a must.

best mezze inner west
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No one knows how to enjoy a quality meal quite like the Lebanese as every dish is viewed as a reason to celebrate.

Bread

You simply can’t have a traditional mezze without fresh baked bread as it provides the perfect vessel with which to enjoy all of those delicious dips and tasty morsels. While pita is the most popular bread commonly included on a mezze table you may also find a plate or two of paper-thin bread known as marqouq.

Manoosh lebanese bread sydney
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Haloumi

If you like cheese you will absolutely love haloumi and any self-respecting mezze will always feature a plate or two of this heavenly hard white cheese. Although not strictly Lebanese in origin, Haloumi has now become a Lebanese staple. Made from a combination of sheep and goat’s milk, haloumi is perfect for grilling and its wonderfully salty flavour will keep you coming back for more.

Tabbouleh

This classic Lebanese dish has been part of our cultural cuisine for thousands of years and is an essential element of any mezze. Featuring bulgur wheat, tomatoes, parsley, mint, cucumber, olive oil and lemon juice, tabbouleh is healthy, delicious and provides a touch of freshness perfect for those hot summer days.

the secret of terrific tabbouleh

Falafel

No mezze table can be considered authentic without falafel. Apart from providing a great source of protein, vitamins, minerals and a taste that is impossible to match, falafel balls provide the perfect way to enjoy all those delicious dips, making them so easy to devour and enjoy.

best mezze inner west

Hommus

A traditional mezze needs to have plenty of tasty dips and none are more important than hommus. This classic mezze mainstay is made from a blend of chick peas, tahini, lemon juice, garlic and a healthy drizzle of olive oil, and it is as full of flavour as it is good for you.

Baba Ghanouj

This mouth-watering eggplant delicacy is always one of the most popular elements of any authentic Lebanese mezze. Baba ghanouj has a unique flavour and personality that goes perfectly with fresh bread, falafel or even a slice of grilled haloumi.

Olives

Lebanese people are rather fond of their olives and so you can expect to see both the green and black varieties on any mezze table. When enjoying mezze in Lebanon it is common to be treated to a selection of fresh olives that have been grown by your host, or at least by a friend, neighbour or cousin.

lebanese mezze

No one knows how to enjoy a quality meal quite like the Lebanese as every dish is viewed as a reason to celebrate. If you’d like to enjoy an authentic mezze with your friends or family drop by OOSHMAN (formerly known as Manoosh) or order from us online. We have the best mezze in the inner-west and are experts in the art of modern and traditional Lebanese food

Categories
Blog Lebanese Food Traditional Ingredients

The Secrets of Terrific Tabbouleh

tabbouleh

Few dishes are more closely associated with Lebanese culture than tabbouleh and you won’t find a fresher, healthier or tastier food anywhere in the world. Here we will take a brief look at the history of this amazing food as well as some of the secrets behind its popularity.

the secret of terrific tabbouleh

Few foods have won over the hearts of their fans quite like tabbouleh, particularly in Lebanon where there is even a national day celebrated in its honour.

What is Tabbouleh?

Refreshing, healthy and delicious, tabbouleh is often referred to as a salad though many Lebanese view it as a dish in its own right. Regardless of how you define it, tabbouleh is one of Lebanon’s most popular foods and is perfectly suited for those long, hot Mediterranean summers.

The Origin of Tabbouleh

The name tabbouleh comes from the Arabic word ‘taabil’ which means to season or spice and tabbouleh is thought to have first been eaten in the mountains of Lebanon and Syria more than 4000 years ago. Ancient scholars believe that herbs known as ‘qadb’ formed a crucial part of the Arab diet throughout the Middle Ages and were used as the basis of many popular dishes, including tabbouleh.

Variations of tabbouleh can be found throughout the Middle East and beyond, from the Armenian ‘eetch’ to the Turkish ‘kisir’ right through to the Cypriot ‘tambouli’. Lebanese immigrants even introduced a version of tabbouleh to the Dominican Republic known as ‘tipile’.

best tabbouleh sydney
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The Secret Ingredients…

As with most Middle Eastern food, the secret to authentic tabbouleh is based on fresh local ingredients and while there are many different versions, the following should be considered essential elements.

Bulgur – One of tabbouleh’s most recognizable ingredients, bulgur is made from wheat berries that have been partially ground, cooked and dried. The best wheat for making bulgur is grown in the mountains of Lebanon, Syria and nearby Jordan and is known as salamouni.

Parsley – Tabbouleh’s greens are provided mostly in the form of fresh parsley; however, mint, green onions and even cucumber are sometimes added as well.

Tomatoes – No tabbouleh is complete without a healthy dose of finely chopped tomatoes and the fresher they are the better.

Seasonings – Quality olive oil is an absolute must as is a serious splash of freshly squeezed lemon juice. If you are looking for a little extra kick add a clove of garlic or two.

the origin of tabbouleh
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Health Benefits

Tabbouleh isn’t just delicious; it is extremely good for you as well! Apart from the vitamins and minerals provided by the fresh greens, tomatoes and lemon juice, bulgur is a fantastic source of protein, fibre and essential minerals. Olive oil comes with countless benefits as well, from helping to lower blood pressure right through to reducing the risk of Type 2 diabetes.

A Salad Worth Celebrating

Few foods have won over the hearts of their fans quite like tabbouleh, particularly in Lebanon where there is even a national day celebrated in its honour. The first Saturday of July each year is known as National Tabbouleh Day, with people getting together to enjoy this beloved dish in homes, parks and restaurants all over the country.

Life simply isn’t complete without a bowl of tabbouleh every now and again. If you’d like to try authentic Lebanese tabbouleh made the way it was meant to be, drop by OOSHMAN (formerly known as Manoosh) or order online, because when it comes to fresh and healthy Lebanese food we simply can’t be beat.

Categories
Blog Lebanese Food Traditional Ingredients

The Secret of Superb Sambousek

Sambousek

Whether you are a fan of falafel, a lover of lahembajin or a connoisseur of kebbeh, no Lebanese food experience is truly complete without a sambousek or two. Here we will take a closer look at one of the Middle East’s most beloved snacks – prepare to meet your new favourite food.

best Sambousek sydney
CC image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Many countries, cultures and families have their own secret recipe and special technique for making Sambousek

What is Sambousek?

Also known as sambousik, sambousak or samboosak, sambousek is essentially a small pastry filled with either meat or cheese. In Lebanon, lamb is the meat of choice and cheeses can range from haloumi to nabulsi right through to feta. Onions, herbs and spices provide the flavour while pine nuts add a deliciously nutty texture and taste. These popular pastries can be either baked or fried and are often served as part of a classic Lebanese mezze spread.

A taste of Persia

As with many of the Middle East’s most popular foods, there is much contention surrounding who created the sambousek; however, it seems almost certain that it was first eaten around the 10th Century in Persia. Early records refer to a poem recited in honour of sambousek at a 10th Century banquet in Baghdad, while Persian historian Abu’l -Fazl Bayhaqi makes mention of sambousek around the 11th Century in Tarikh-e Beyhaghi, his written history of the Persian Empire.

best sambousek inner west
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An influential snack

Ancient scholars believe that traders from Central Asia introduced sambousek to India sometime around the 13th or 14th century and not only did this tasty pastry quickly become popular, but after incorporating the local flavour and culture it would evolve into the much loved Indian samosa. Another version of sambousek created by Sephardi Jews spread throughout North Africa, Portugal and Spain, providing the inspiration for what would become one of Spain’s most popular foods, the mouth-watering empanada. Today you can find versions of the sambousek right across Central Asia, the Middle East and beyond.

best sambousek newtown lebanese food
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A Ramadan essential

This beloved pastry holds a special place in the hearts of Islamic people everywhere as it has long been considered an essential element of our iftar meal – this is the meal eaten to break the fast at the end of each day during Ramadan. Sambousek provides the ideal way to get the energy and nutrients your body needs without overburdening an empty stomach and you won’t find many foods that can compare with the sambousek for taste.

How to make sambousek

Every country, culture and family has their own secret recipe and special technique for making sambousik; however, the basics are as follows.

  • Prepare a simply pastry dough and roll it out flat.
  • Sauté onions and ground lamb in a large frying pan with oil, then add pine nuts and your favourite spices (baharat and za’atar are popular choices). Once the meat is browned, remove the mixture from the heat and allow it to cool.
  • Cut your dough into small discs (roughly the size of a measuring cup) and fill each one with your meat mixture. Fold them into crescent shapes and seal with your fingers.
  • Heat oil in a large frypan to roughly 180C.
  • Fry your crescent pastries until golden brown then place them on paper towels so that any excess oil can drain.
  • Your sambouseks are now ready to enjoy! Serve hot or cold with your favourite dip.

Whether you have been enjoying sambousek for years or are looking to try one for the very first time, nobody makes them quite like we do. Drop by OOSHMAN (formerly known as Manoosh) or order online, we are proud to have the best sambousek in Sydney and would be honoured to prepare a fresh batch for you.

Categories
Blog Lebanese Food Traditional Ingredients

A Look at Modern Lebanese Cuisine

Falafel Making

There is no more popular food in the world right now than Lebanese cuisine, so whether you are fiending for a falafel in Florida or have a hankering for some hommus in Helsinki, chances are good that you have a few delicious options nearby. This article takes a brief look at modern Lebanese cuisine and what the fuss is all about.

modern lebanese cuisine
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If you are one of the few who has yet to discover modern Lebanese food prepare yourself for a life-changing experience, and no one puts a modern spin on an ancient delicacy quite like we do.

Fresh and healthy

Middle Eastern food has always been based on using fresh, local ingredients, so now that a lot more people are trying to eat healthier it is no surprise to see the popularity of our food skyrocket. Whether you are looking for a tasty snack, a nutritious lunch or a sit down meal that will delight the entire family, you won’t find a fresher, healthier and more delicious option than Lebanese cuisine.

lebanese pizza sydney
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Traditional yet modern

In many ways Lebanese food is the same today as it was hundreds of years ago, embracing the same techniques, tastes and traditions. Spices such as za’atar date back to the time of the Pharaohs while our use of ingredients such as olive oil and chick peas are as ancient as the land itself. However, with Lebanese people now living all over the world many have begun incorporating local flavours and ingredients into their secret family recipes. This has seen traditional dishes embracing local influences like never before, putting a modern twist on ancient classics with delicious results, such as lobster hommus and kale fattoush.

best lebanese takeaway sydney

Award winning taste

Lebanese food has enjoyed an almost underground following for many years; however, with our restaurants now starting to win industry awards it seems that the cat is finally out of the bag. From New York City restaurant Ilili taking home the coveted Five Star Diamond Award this year to our very own OOSHMAN dominating Menulog’s Best Takeaway Restaurant category recently, it seems that Lebanese food finally has the attention of discerning modern diners.

Redefining pizza

It is fair to say that Lebanese food has now become part of mainstream cuisine worldwide, from food trucks in Toronto right through to fine dining in Paris, though one of its greatest areas of influence has been in the world of pizza. While pizza is certainly nothing new to Lebanese people – after all, we have eaten manoosh (a type of flatbread with za’atar and olive oil) for thousands of years – our ancient spices and flavours have proved to be the perfect complement for the modern pizza. No longer is it uncommon to see pepperoni pizza being sold alongside lahembajin and pizza lovers are discovering that combinations such as mozzarella and haloumi are indeed a match made in heaven.

best lebanese pizza sydney

If you are one of the few who has yet to discover modern or traditional Lebanese food prepare yourself for a life-changing experience, and no one puts a modern spin on an ancient delicacy quite like we do. Stop by OOSHMAN (formerly known as Manoosh) or order online and treat yourself to the best modern Lebanese cuisine in Sydney. We guarantee you will be glad that you did.