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Month: September 2017

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Blog Lebanese Food

6 Traditional Lebanese Dishes From Our Menu You need To Try

Lahembajin

Lebanese cuisine has a long and colourful history. Fresh and delicious, using vibrant ingredients and age-old techniques, it is diverse, with a range of iconic sweet and savoury dishes that every food lover should try.

Here at OOSHMAN we bring the Middle East to the Inner West, offering a traditional Lebanese experience unlike any other. If you haven’t eaten Lebanese food yet, you are missing out. Here are 6 dishes from our menu that you absolutely have to try.

Lebanese dishes
Lahembajin – photo by B-Kyu

Lebanese food is absolutely delicious, and if you haven’t tried it yet, you are missing out. Here are 6 traditional Lebanese dishes from our menu that you need to try.

Sambousik

Sambousik is a small pastry filled with either meat and/or cheese. In Lebanon, lamb is a traditional choice, and cheeses can range from haloumi to feta. Onions, herbs and spices add more flavour while pine nuts impart a deliciously nutty texture and taste. These popular pastries can be either baked or fried and you’ll often find them on a classic Lebanese mezze spread.

Sujuk Pizza

Sujuk is spiced Lebanese sausage that is somewhat similar to salami, with its three main characteristics being that it is salty, dry and has a high fat content. It is traditionally made using ground beef (though mutton and pork are also used) combined with spices such as garlic, salt, cumin, sumac and red pepper before being piped into a sausage casing.

Our folded sujuk pizza is packed with cheese, sujuk, olives, capsicum and tomato. Yum.

Shawarma

Shawarma is the Lebanese variant of a Turkish kebab or Greek gyros. It is made from marinated meat that has been slow roasted on a vertical spit for many hours. Once cooked, the meat is carved off in thin, wide strips and stuffed inside a flatbread along with a variety of vegetables, such as lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes, onion, pickles and parsley. Condiments can range from garlic yoghurt to hummus to chilli.

Our shawarma is filled with juicy beef fillets, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles & parsley topped with our garlic yoghurt sauce.

Lebanese dishes
An assortment of kebbeh – photo by MilkTea Eats

Lahembajin

Lahembajin is made from flat bread topped with a mixture of ground meat, vegetables and herbs and baked in a wood fired oven.

The meat is commonly lamb or beef, the vegetables are usually onion, capsicum and tomato, and herbs can include parsley, mint and coriander. Just add a squirt of lemon, fold it up, and you have one mouth watering snack.

Kebbeh

Kebbeh is another Lebanese classic you will usually find as a part of a mezze spread. It is made from finely ground meat, onion, herbs and spices, combined with burghul (cracked wheat) and rolled into balls then deep fried to golden perfection.

There are even vegetarian versions of kebbeh made with hearty vegetables that hold their shape, such as potato or pumpkin, replacing the meat. Served with fresh hommus or a yoghurt sauce with garlic and mint, they are a delicious snack.

Za’atar Flatbread

OOSHMAN have some of the best za’atar bread in Sydney! This traditional dish, known as man’oushe or Lebanese pizza, is simple but delicious, featuring baked flatbread topped with olive oil and zaa’tar – a tangy mixture of herbs and spices, namely ground thyme, sesame seeds and sumac.

If you’re on the hunt for authentic Lebanese dishes in Sydney then look no further than OOSHMAN. Stop by OOSHMAN (formerly known as Manoosh) or order online – we guarantee you will be glad that you did. Or if you’re after top quality mobile pizza catering, give us a call.

Categories
Blog Pizza

The Way You Eat Pizza Says Loads About Your Personality, According To Body Language Expert

We’re all for diversity here at OOSHMAN. You’ll find something on our menu no matter what you like to eat, from classic pizzas to, traditional Lebanese food, heaps of vegan and vegetarian options, salads and desserts.

We also have observed over the years that everyone has their own way of eating pizza – some like to fold it and tuck in, others like to eat it with a knife and fork, and there’s those who do things a little different (say, eat the crust first).

The way you like to eat your pizza says loads about your personality, according to body language expert Patti Wood. Which personality type are you?

But did you know that the way you eat your pizza says a lot about your personality? At least, it does according to Patti Wood, a human behaviour expert who teaches at Emory University in the USA (and who the Washington Post has dubbed the “Gold Standard of Body Language Experts”).

According to Wood, “everything you do—and the way you do it—comes together to form a story about yourself,” including the way you tackle a slice of delicious Manoosh on a Saturday night.

She says there are four key character traits that can be identified by your body language, and the way you move and interact: are you a driver, an influencer, a supporter, or a careful corrector?

According to Munchies, the adherence to these behaviour traits is based on the DISC theory of American psychologist William Moulton Marston, which focuses on on dominance, inducement, submission, and compliance.

Cosmopolitan asked Wood to apply this critical approach to the way the people eat pizza. Here’s what she found.

If you tend to fold your pizza before getting stuck in, you are a “driver”, meaning you like to take charge, don’t like to mess around or “waste time”, and don’t necessarily care about following the rules, because for you, “being the best is top priority.”

If you like to eat the crust first, you are an “influencer”, meaning you “like to be dramatic, often talk loudly, and love getting attention through your actions.” You’re a trend setter, and are often to first to say something is cool before the rest of the world does.

If you like to eat it with a knife and fork, Wood says you are a “supporter”, meaning you are steady and stable, the kind of friend everyone needs in their life. You are “system-oriented”, “loyal, reliable, and resilient. And you make great party host!

Lastly, if you like to straight up bite it, you are a “careful corrector”, meaning you are a bit of a perfectionists who “like[s] to go with what you know works so you’re certain to get it right every time.” Wood says you’re also not one to take eating pizza lightly.

So, which one are you? Why don’t you drop by OOSHMAN (formerly known as Manoosh) or order from us online to find out. We guarantee you won’t be disappointed by our delicious range of pizzas, Lebanese food, desserts and more!

Categories
Blog Lebanese Food

What Are The Health Benefits of Falafel?

falafel

Falafel is a cultural icon in Lebanon. While there are many who can make a tasty falafel, few can match the fresh, healthy and authentic Lebanese version made from chick peas which are soaked, ground and mixed with spices, such as cumin, chilli, garlic and coriander, then deep friend to golden brown perfection.

is falafel healthy

We all know that falafel is absolutely delicious, but did you know it’s also super healthy? Let’s take a look at some of the health benefits of these golden brown balls of perfection.

Aside from being a delicious snack, falafel is very good for you, though it might be hard to believe how something so delicious can be healthy. To convince you, let’s take a look at the health benefits of falafel.

High In Fibre and Protein

Like other legumes, like lentils and beans, chick peas are high in fibre and protein, both of which have a multitude of health benefits including good heart health, muscle repair and development, weight management, digestive health and more.

Loaded With Vitamins and Minerals

Chickpeas are loaded with a range of vitamins and minerals crucial for heathy bodily function including calcium, iron, phosphorus, zinc, folate, potassium, B vitamins and magnesium.

Low in Calories

Compared to other fried goodies, falafel is very low in calories. Similar dishes, such as shawarma or doner kebabs all contain high calorie meats, whereas the chickpeas that falafel is made from offer a much lower calorie count.

Rich In Healthy Fats

Falafel is rich in what are known as “healthy fats” and does not contain any trans fats or saturated fats, which are two of the biggest contributors to high cholesterol.

Good For Blood Sugar Levels 

Foods that are rich in fibre also help control your blood sugar levels. Fibre slows down digestion, and lets sugar transfer slowly from your digestive tract into your bloodstream. This means there is no sugar “high” after eating falafel, and no fatigue or irritation from a blood sugar crash.

Low In Salt

Falafel is low in sodium. And maintaining a low-sodium dietary intake is essential for maintaining a low blood pressure.

While there are many who can make a tasty falafel, few can match the fresh, healthy and authentic Lebanese version. If you have fallen for falafel and are looking to indulge your newfound love, stop by OOSHMAN (formerly known as Manoosh) or order online, we’d be happy to prepare this delicious and healthy Lebanese food for you!

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Blog

Have You Indulged in Halawa Yet?

Halawa

Halawa is a blanket term for a variety of dense, sweet desserts from the Middle East, Mediterranean, eastern Europe and Central Asia.

Derived from the Arabic word for sweet confection or “sweetmeat”, many cultures have their own take on halwa, as well as their own spellings – you may know it as helva, halva, halvah, halwa, halawi. Nonethless, they all mean the same thing: a damn delicious dessert.

Halawa
Our take on halawa: sweet tahini, pistachios and banana enclosed in puff pastry via Insatiable Munchies

Have you indulged in halawa yet? A blanket term for a variety of dense, sweet desserts, you’re bound to get a damn delicious dessert.

A Little History

According to some sources, the first known recipe for halawa can be traced back to the Arabic Kitab al-Tabikh  – “The Book of Dishes” – which detailed several different variations. This was around the 13th century – a time during which similar dishes were being created in Spain. One in particular, found in a Spanish cookbook, was made with candy made from boiled sugar, honey, sesame oil and flour, rosewater, and ground pistachios.

Over the next few hundred years, the dish proliferated throughout the Middle East, Central Asia, eastern Europe and Mediterranean, with each region putting their own spin on it. Egyptians favoured pistachios, almonds or pine nuts, while Indians put in ghee, coconuts and dates.

One particular variation, created by chefs working for the Ottoman Empire’s longest- reigning sultan Suleiman the Magnificent (1520-1566), was made with tahini. And this is the kind that made its way to America and beyond in the early 20th century.

Healthy Halawa

As a confectionary, halawa is actually quite healthy, with a range of benefits for your body. The sesame seeds used to make tahini in halawa are nutritious – high in protein, vitamins and minerals – and have similar immune-boosting, cardiovascular-protective properties to other superfoods like olive oil and walnuts. Tahini is also gluten-free and paleo-friendly! You can read more about the health benefits of tahini here.

There is no better way to top off a great meal than with a tasty dessert and once you have tried Lebanese sweets you will never go back.

Our twist on halawa features a delicious blend of sweet tahini, pistachios and banana enclosed in puff pastry. You can even add vegan chocolate!

If you’d like to try the best baklavas and halawa in Sydney, simply drop by OOSHMAN (formerly known as Manoosh) or order from us online.

Categories
Blog Pizza

This Costume Designer Made a Pizza Dress Fit For a Queen

Pizza Dress

If you’ve always wanted to wear a pizza to a formal event like a graduation ceremony or wedding, your dreams are about to come true.

Pizza Dress

Cosplay costume designer Olivia Mears has made her most ingenious creation yet: a pizza dress fit for a queen.

Following up her ‘Taco Belle’ dress that made waves when it made its debut appearance on Instagram last year, outlandish American costume designer Olivia Mears has created a pizza-inspired dress. And it’s every bit as magical as you’d expect.

The dress features some standard pizza toppings – cheese, pepperoni, capsicum – and is made from pizza boxes, foam and hand-painted fabrics. She even made a throne out of pizza boxes to go with it.

Have a look below:

Mears even won an award for her creation!

If all this pizza talk is making you hungry, why not drop into OOSHMAN for slice or ten.  Drop by OOSHMAN (formerly known as Manoosh). Or if you’re after delivery or top quality mobile pizza catering, give us a call.