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Author: Sean Freitas

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Blog Pizza

Have You Ever Heard of the World Pizza Championship?

There’s the Olympics, there’s the Soccer World Cup, there’s the Bledisloe, then there’s the World Pizza Championship.

world pizza champion

Have you ever heard of the World Pizza Championship? It’s the ultimate tournament where pizza-obsessives battle it out for eternal glory.

The World Pizza Championship is a gruelling contest that takes place annually in different locations across Italy, including Parma and Naples. It’s the ultimate test for those looking to take out the glorious title of the world’s best pizza maker (or pizzaioli).

The 3-day event has been running since 1991 and has a long and colourful history as the world’s biggest celebration of all things pizza. It is organised and run by the world renowned magazine Pizza e Pasta Italiana (Pizza and Pasta Italy) who pick the judges and curate the events.

This is by no means a small, one-task event. The World Pizza Championship is an arduous competition spanning an entire weekend. 2016 saw a record edition of the tournament, with 40 different nations represented, totalling over 700 participants. Not to mention the deluge of judges, industry professionals, sponsors and pizza aficionados (some 500,000 in 2016) that flock to the event each year. It’s a thrilling, passion-filled pizza experience.

Over the three days, 13 different cooking and acrobatic ‘races’ take place including:

• Classic pizza

• Individual free-style

• Gluten-free pizza

• Pan pizza

• STG Neapolitan pizza

• Pizza on the peel

• Largest pizza

• Pizza for two

• The world pizza team

• The Heinz Beck trophy

• The pizza triathlon

• The highest score by country

• Special awards

This spread of tasks means you see everything at the World Pizza Champions, not just your classic ham and pineapple (although this has been known to happen). There are dough-spinning events and even pizza masterclasses where you learn how to make the perfect pizza base.

For the winners, the title of World Pizza Champion is glorious. Last year saw Tony Gemignani from Tony’s Pizza Napoletana become the first American to ever win the Pizza In Pala division, his twelfth world pizza championship. “It was such a surreal experience to hear my name announced and feel the crowd erupt,” he said. “It was one of the best moments of my life.”

We’re not surprised it was.

world pizza championship

His winning pizza was a delicate concoction: his base a personal creation that uses seven different grains in its dough and ingredients that Gemignani has collected from his travels across Italy: wild board prosciutto, Grande and Aiello Mozzarella, black volcano salt, Stanislaus tomato, Durati Menú Tomato, basil, goat cheese and 30 month old Parmigiano Reggiano.

Nothing on our Charlie’s Special though.

Not all you see at the World Pizza Championship is what you’d expect though. Not always is it about the classics.

Last year, French pizza maker Ludovic Bicchierai took out the ‘classic pizza’ category with his Franco-inspired bouillabaisse pizza, beating Italian pizza legends Alfio Russo and Niccolo Cusumano to take out the top prize.

His french soup pizza was topped with tomatoes, bream carpaccio, mozzarella, courgette flowers, prawns and Tabasco sauce. And it was this kind of obscurity that helped him take out the top prize.

world pizza championship

Quite a few Australian’s have won the competition in the past, including Johnny Di Francesco owner of 400 Gradi in Melbourne, who won the Neapolitan pizza category back in 2014.

In 2016, Silvio Serpa, who owns Pizzaly in Preston, Melbourne, took out the top prize for his classic margherita pizza – the same that he makes everyday in his restaurant.

Maybe next year we will make the trip and show them all how it’s done.

Do you absolutely love pizza like we do? Then maybe consider making a pilgrimage to the World Pizza Championship. If that sounds like a little too much effort, need not worry. We have the world’s best pizza in Sydney right here in Enmore.

If you would like to try it, drop by OOSHMAN (formerly known as Manoosh) or order from us online. We guarantee you will love everything.

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Blog Lebanese Food

Why We Love Lebanese Food

Lebanese Food

We are absolutely infatuated by Lebanese food. It’s a rare kind of cuisine that is both delicious and healthy across the board and it inspires pride across the entire country. Traditional Lebanese traditions has snuck its way into modern food culture across the entire world too, birthing some delicious multicultural cross overs – such as our pizza. We are blessed in Australia to have some of the best Lebanese food options widely available and OOSHMAN (formerly known as Manoosh) are incredibly proud to be a part of that.

lebanese food

Lebanese food is absolutely incredible, with a deluge of modern and traditional flavours crossing over to create one of the best cuisines in the world.  Here why we love Lebanese food.

It’s Healthy

Lebanese cuisine has always utilised fresh local ingredients, ensuring that you get the maximum nutritional benefits from every bite. Fruits, vegetables, legumes and proteins form the foundations of traditional Lebanese food which are then embellished by an array of fresh spices.

Lebanese cooking is all about the use of olive oil instead of butters or fats, which reduces cholesterol intake. We also favour brown rice or lentils over other starches like heavy potatoes, noodles or white bread. Finally, the chick pea is a hero – adored for its amazing health benefits – in Lebanese cooking (think falafel and hummus). It is pure, natural cooking.
lebanese food

It’s Delicious

All of these fresh, healthy ingredients are in no way boring either. Although relatively simple and grassroots in nature, Lebanese cuisine is incredibly delicious. The heart of flavour in Lebanese food is spice. The spices used in traditional Lebanese cuisine make it truly irresistible – from the well-rounded flavours of za’atar and baharat to the tang of sumac, through to the freshness of mint and the sweetness of cardamom.

Every one of our spices plays a vital role in creating that authentic Lebanese taste. Add this to a deluge of core ingredients like chick peas, lamb, fresh veggies, grilled cheeses and fried sujuk and you have some damn tasty food.

lebanese food

It’s Vegan and Vegetarian Friendly

Lebanese food doesn’t deliberate when it comes to favouring meat or veggies, it strikes a perfect balance between the two. There are a plethora of vegetarian and vegan choices in our cuisine, whih can be eaten alone or with some delicious meats on the side. Hummus, falafel, manoushe, tabbouleh and pumpkin kebbeh are just a few of the delicious vegetarian dishes that are synonymous with Lebanese culture.

If you’re not across Lebanese food yet, you are truly missing out. It’s one of the most wholesome, satisfying cuisines out there to cook and eat. OOSHMAN are plating up some of the best traditional Lebanese food, vegetarian Lebanese food in Sydney and what we think is the best pizza in Sydney too. If you would like to try it, drop by OOSHMAN or order from us online. We guarantee you will love everything.

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Pizza Blog Lebanese Food

Why We Love Delivering Pizza in Enmore

pizza enmore

The inner west has been our home for years. We love delivering pizza in Enmore and being part of such a diverse and interesting food tapestry. Enmore Road is hotpot of culinary cultures and we are proud to sit on top of the hill serving up delicious pizza and Lebanese food that you won’t find anywhere else in the inner west.

pizza in enmore

Enmore Rd has such a rich history of food, culture and entertainment that we are thrilled to be a part of. We love delivering pizza in Enmore!

Enmore is much smaller than its bigger brother Newtown, but packs a massive punch when it comes to food choices. Newtown has been a hub for culture and entertainment for decades, and Enmore, being Newtown’s more residential neighbour, has seen a spillover of revellers looking for a bite to eat or a show.

The Enmore Theatre is a massive draw for the suburb when it comes to entertainment. Since opening in 1908, the theatre has drawn the commercial spread from the more well-known King St, with an array of shops and restaurants opening along the Enmore Rd strip to cater the crowds of show-goers.

pizza in enmore

Photo by For Food’s Sake

By the 1960s and 70s, the Enmore had become a mecca for students from Sydney University and other young people who came to Newtown and its surrounds for its vibrant food culture, pubs and entertainment. Though Enmore changed a lot in the following 40-odd years, this cross section of multiculturalism and bohemia is still present everywhere you look.

Over the past few years, there has been an explosion of new and exciting restaurants in Enmore. At OOSHMAN (formerly known as Manoosh) we are proud to contribute to this hotpot of cultures, offering up a selection of Lebanese street food, traditional Lebanese classics, modern Australian pizzas, an array of vegetarian and vegan options and desserts you won’t be able to find anywhere else (our vegan baklava is the best).

If you live in Enmore or are simply dropping by the area to see a show, be sure to give us a try. Give OOSHMAN a call right now. Simply order from us online or drop by and see us in person – we guarantee you will not be disappointed.

Or if you’re after top quality mobile pizza catering, get in touch today!

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Pizza Blog

OOSHMAN Are Plating Up Some of the Best Vegan Food Sydney Has To Offer

pizza delivery

Traditional Lebanese food is versatile stuff, offering up an array of options for meat eaters, vegetarians and vegans alike. We are particularly proud of the wide array of delicious vegan options we offer across the menu – including our incredible Lebanese pizzas! We may be biased, but we believe we offer some of the best vegan food Newtown has to offer, and we are up against some stiff competition. Here are some of the best vegan food options on our extensive menu.

vegan pizza

Don’t eat anything that comes from an animal? Not to worry, Manoosh proudly serve up some of the best vegan food Sydney has to offer – from pizzas to desserts and traditional Lebanese classics.

Our Vegan Cheese

Let’s start off with our special vegan cheese. When we first put our delicious Daiya vegan cheese on our menu, it sold out within a month – thus starting the great vegan cheese drought of 2015. We didn’t take any chances the second time around, so we ordered half a tonne of the stuff. We won’t be running out anytime soon.

Daiya are a fantastic Canadian-based company offering up a selection of delicious non-dairy alternatives to cheese, yoghurts and dressings. The vegan cheese we use is soft, stringy, bubbly and delicious in every way. You’ll be hard-pressed to find any differences between it and dairy-based cheese – we’re not quite sure how Daiya do it. And to top it all off, our vegan cheese contains fewer calories, less fat and less cholesterol than ‘real’ cheese. Score.

Our vegan cheese can be put on any pizza, opening up a plethora of vegan options from our extensive menu!  Our favourite is the Vegan’s Paradise: Spinach, mushroom, capsicum, tomato, olives, onion, garlic & oregano drizzled with tahini sauce with your choice of a za’atar or tomato base.

vegetarian pizza options

Traditional Lebanese Za’tar

If you’re not after a pizza, but still feel like warm, crusty and wholesome vegan Lebanese food we offer an extensive range of traditional za’tar wraps with lots of different vegan options available.

For those who don’t know, za’tar is a blend of herbs and spices typically including dried thyme, oregano, marjoram, sumac, toasted sesame seeds and salt. This mixture is then combied with olive oil, spread generously onto flatbread and cooked in a woodfire oven. This delicious vegan meal can be eaten on its own (ours are just $3) or topped with fresh ingredients such as labne, vegetables or even falafel.

One of our favourites is the za’tar with falafel – za’atar wrapped up with freshly cooked falafel, capsicum, onion, olives & tomato, then drizzled with tahini – just $8.

Another great vegan option is our spinach pie – a mix of spinach, tomato, onion & spices in a triangle pie – $5.

Manoosh

Speciality Wraps

There’s no reason why vegan food has to be flavourless or boring. Many traditional Lebanese ingredients are vegan and when combined together, can be truly delicious. Hummus is an excellent vegan option if you’re looking for something little indulgent that’s also incredibly healthy.

Falafel is great option for those looking for an alternative to just plain veggies. Our falafel wrap features freshly cooked falafel, hummus, lettuce, tomato & pickles drizzled with our tahini sauce.

Or if you’re not a fan of falafel (crazy), our Vegan’s Delight is packed full of veggies with tomato, grilled mushrooms, spinach, onions and olives drizzled with hummus, wrapped up in sesame-coated flatbread. Out shawarma wrap is delicious too!

what is shawarma
CC image courtesy of Basher Tome on flickr http://bit.ly/1L9FKzE

Something Else?

We have a selection of delicious sides to cater to vegans looking for something wholesome and healthy. Our pumpkin kebbeh is incredible with chickpea, spinach and onion filling encased in a burghul and pumpkin football. Or you can opt for our incredible classic falafel to compliment a wrap or pizza. We make our falafel using chickpeas, onions, parsley and spices – the recipe, however, is our secret.

If you’re feeling garlicy, our vegan garlic bread will blow your mind too, made using freshly baked dough that is smothered with vegan Lebanese garlic sauce and a hint of oregano. We also offer an array of vegan dips including hummous, garlic dip and babaghanoushj.

hummus

Something Sweet

We aren’t just about savoury food at Manoosh, we also offer some of the of the best vegan food Sydney has to offer when it comes to sweets. Our vegan baklava is a revelation. As is our halwala, which is a delicious blend of sweet tahini, pistachios and banana enclosed in puff pastry. To top it off you can also add our delicious vegan chocolate! For a classic we offer vegan peanut butter fudge, and an array of vegan icecreams from our friends at Booza!

everybody loves baklava

You don’t have to be a meat eater to enjoy eating at OOSHMAN (formerly known as Manoosh) , we firmly believe we offer the best vegan food Sydney has to offer and we love searching for new ways to cater for our vegan friends. If you’re feeling hungry – vegan or not – drop by OOSHMAN. Or if you’re after top quality mobile pizza catering, give us a call.

Check out our vegan and vegetarian pizza topping options while you’re here.

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Blog Lebanese Food Pizza

Why We Love Delivering Pizza in Wolli Creek

OOSHMAN Pizzeria

Wolli Creek is one of our newest delivery areas. We love delivering pizza in Wolli Creek – the whole suburb is expanding massively and we are stoked to be a part of such a vibrant up-and-coming neighbourhood.

pizza in newtown

We love delivering pizza in Wolli Creek; the whole suburb is expanding so quickly and that means that more and more people will be needing pizza!

For years Wolli Creek was mainly an industrial area until it was considered for mass redevelopment in the 90s. The suburb sits snugly mid-way between the CBD and Sydney Airport, meaning that it was the perfect place to be built up for residential purposes.

The new suburb was initially to be called North Arncliffe, but residents put their foot down, petitioning for it to called something a bit better. Wolli Creek was the most popular choicce – named after the stream of water to the north of the area – it officially became a suburb in 2002.

pizza in wolli creek

Photo by For Food’s Sake

Since then there have been loads of new apartments put up, parks cleaned and trimmed for use by residents, and most importantly for us, shopping villages built, providing central spaces for an array of new restaurants and cafes to set up shop. Now more and more people in the area are craving interesting and delicious food, and the demand for pizza in Wolli Creek there has never been higher.

These days there is a much bigger selection of good food in Wolli Creek and we are proud to contribute to this hotpot of cultures, offering up a selection of Lebanese street food, traditional Lebanese classics, modern Australian pizzas, an array of vegetarian and vegan options and desserts you won’t be able to find anywhere else (our vegan baklava is the best).

If you live in Wolli Creek or are simply dropping by the area to experience what it has to offer, be sure to give us a try. Give OOSHMAN (formerly known as Manoosh) a call right now. Simply order from us online or drop by and see us in person – we guarantee you will not be disappointed.

Or if you’re after top quality mobile pizza catering, get in touch today!

Pizza Newtown

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Blog Lebanese Food Pizza

The Manoosh Mascot is Named and Immortalised in Art

OOSHMAN Pizza

To celebrate the success of our new store in Marrickville, we decided to ask our loyal customers and hard working staff to help us come up with a name for our famous, beloved, yet previously unnamed mascot – And we’ve also had him immortalised in a mural on our Marrickville store wall!

Manoosh OoshmanNow you can put a name to that famous cheeky mustachioed face. The Manoosh mascot is named, and has been immortalised in a work of art!

We asked our followers on facebook to help us come up with some suggestions, then the final poll was down to our staff members (of course they have to work with him every day).

We were inundated with suggestions from Facebook. Some brilliant, some less so, some ridiculous, and some were just plain obscene! 🙂

In the end, our staff decided that our faithful mascot shall henceforth be known as:

“The Oosh Man”

manoosh_the_ooshman_mural_full

We’re extremely proud of the success of our new Marrickville store. It’s all thanks to our hardworking staff, our loyal customers, and of course, The Oosh Man himself. Orders in our new delivery suburbs Earlwood and Wolli Creek are rapidly rising – so if you know any poor souls out there who don’t know the delivery area has expanded, spread the word and let the OOSHMAN (formerly known as Manoosh) flow.

manoosh_marrickville_instore

Why not come and say “Hi” to The Oosh Man in person and  drop by OOSHMAN , or if the couch is feeling just too comfy at the moment,  order online and let us come to you. If you haven’t already, you can subscribe to our monthly newsletter to stay in the loop.

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Pizza Blog Lebanese Food

They See Me Rollin’… | Check Out Our Brand New Dough Rollers!

OOSHMAN Dough Roller

In order to make great pizzas, you need to start with the best quality, most perfectly rolled dough – which is why we’ve just imported two new dough dough rollers straight from Lebanon.

manoosh_dough_roller_1 You can’t make the best pizzas without the best dough rollers, and OOSHMAN has now got new dough rollers in each of our stores!

In order to keep up with ever growing demand, OOSHMAN (formerly known as Manoosh) has recently imported new dough rollers from Lebanon and also re-modified one to fit in the Marrickville store. These dough rollers are designed for high quality and high volume pizzerias. With the standard dough rollers, the motor is about a quarter of the size of the ones we bring from Lebanon. The dough roller at the Enmore store lasted 8 years before upgrading it these brand new, state-of-the-art rollers (exactly the same in both stores).

The old faithful roller has now gone back to Charlie’s parents house so his father can recondition it for us to use as a backup. Having backup rollers is essential, as Charlie knows all too well:

“You always have to have a couple back ups of your main machines. I remember once our dough roller broke down, so we brought in a back up, which also broke down 20 minutes later!  Just another day in the pizza business…”

manoosh_dough_roller_2

If all this talk of perfectly rolled dough is making you hungry, why not try the results of these super rollers for yourself –  drop by OOSHMAN or order online for the best pizza in Sydney and if you haven’t already, you can subscribe to our monthly newsletter to stay in the loop.

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Lebanese Food Pizza Blog

OOSHMAN Offer Some of the Best Value Eats in Sydney

order pizza online

If there’s one thing that OOSHMAN (formerly known as Manoosh) are renowned for it’s producing fresh, top notch pizzas that are incredible value for money. If you are looking for cheap eats in Sydney that don’t forsake quality, we have options to suit almost anybody; from our 100% vegan options to traditional pizzas to more obscure Lebanese delicacies that you may not have tried before. To get your mouth watering, here are a few of our best value options on our extensive menu that are tasty, filling and won’t hurt your wallet.

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OOSHMAN are proud to offer some of the best value eats you’re likely to find in Sydney, from our delicious pizzas, to Lebanese-style street food and delicacies that you won’t find anywhere else in the city.

Folded Sujuk Pizza – $7.50

Looking for a thick, meaty, delicious meal but don’t think you can take on whole pizza by yourself? Our folded sujuk pizza is just for you. Featuring fluffy folded crust filled with cheese, sujuk, olives, capsicum and tomato it’s a delicious alternative to a traditional pizza. Sujuk is Lebanese sausage, somewhat similar to pepperoni, made from ground beef, combined with a selection of exotic, spices like garlic, cumin, sumac and red pepper.

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Haloumi Pie – $7

You’ve never had a haloumi pie like this. Featuring heaps of melted haloumi stuffed into in a semi circle pie coated with sesame seeds, its warm, gooey and filling. It’s also a great vegetarian option for those looking for something a little more delectable. But hold on, melted haloumi you say? At OOSHMAN we use Lebanese haloumi, which is different from traditional Cyprus-style haloumi that is crusty and squeaky. Lebanese haloumi is woven and stretched into bundles and stored in olive oil, giving it a stringy texture more akin to mozzarella. So good.

haloumi

Lahembajin – $6.50

Lahembajin is a folded meat pizza, but with no cheese. Instead we top a crispy base with tasty minced lamb, finely chopped tomatoes and onions which are then combined with a selection of 7 herbs and spices including paprika, peppers, cumin, cinnamon, parsley coriander and mint. Served with a thick slice of lemon as a garnish.

lahembajin manoosh pizza sydney

Za’atar Bread – $3 to $8

Za’atar is at the very crux of Lebanese food culture. It is made from a blend of herbs and spices, usually thyme, oregano, marjoram, sumac, toasted sesame seeds and salt, which is then mixed with olive oil and spread on flatbread and baked in the oven. At OOSHMAN we offer a rage of toppings to go with our delicious za’atar bread, from haloumi to labhne, olives, capsicum, ricotta or falafel. Try our Beirut-style za’atar with haloumi, tomato, onion & chilli flakes. Many of these are vegetarian or vegan options and range from $3 for plain bread, to $8 for the deluxe falafel option.

Zaatar best Manoosh pizza sydney

Kebbeh

An excellent side option or snack, Kebbeh is a delicious Lebanese street food classic made from a minced lamb, pine nut and onion filling, encased in a burghul (cracked wheat) & lamb ‘football’. We also a super vegan option made from a chickpea, spinach and onion filling, encased in a burghul and pumpkin football. These are huge and at $9 for 6, or $17 for a dozen, great value (vegan options are even cheaper!).

manoosh pizza sydney lebanese kebbeh

Traditional Pizzas

All of our pizzas are incredible value, especially considering the quality of the ingredients and the generosity of the servings. Ranging from a classic pepperoni at $14, to our deluxe options peaking at just $18, you won’t find better value anywhere. We have a range of options for meat lovers, seafood fans, vegetarian or vegans (our Daiya vegan cheese is amazing) with 19 pizzas on the menu. The best things is, on Monday-Wednesday, all of our large pizzas are just $10!

vegetarian pizza options

Wraps $6.50-8

We also offer a selection of delicious Lebanese wraps to suit the tastes of any customer, with range of vegetarian toppings like falafel or za’atar, or delicious meat (shawarma) and sauces. None are more than $8!

wrap

This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to cheap eats at OOSHMAN – our menu is massive, with great value options to satisfy any hunger. Give OOSHMAN a call right now. Simply order from us online or drop by and see us in person – we guarantee you will not be disappointed.

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Blog

OOSHMAN ANZAC Day Opening Hours

OOSHMAN Pizzeria

The ANZAC Day long-weekend is upon us. These are our opening hours!

manoosh pizza

No need to worry, this ANZAC Day we will be opening and trading (even doing delivery) from 12pm. All will be ok.

Opening hours:

Friday 22nd of April – 12pm – late

Saturday 23rd of April – 12pm – late

Sunday 24th of April – 12pm – late

Monday (ANZAC Day) 25th of April  – 12pm – late

The OOSHMAN (formerly known as Manoosh) team wishes you a very happy long weekend! If you haven’t already, you can subscribe to our monthly newsletter to stay in the loop. You can order from us here for Enmore or here for Marrickville.

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Pizza Blog Lebanese Food

A Look At Some Delicious Traditional Lebanese Pizza Toppings

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There is something that is incredibly special about modern cuisine in its fusion of food cultures. The cross-pollination of ideas, traditions, techniques and ingredients opens up endless possibilities for new and exciting dishes. Traditional Lebanese pizza differs greatly from traditional Italian, due in part to the availability of certain ingredients that in turn influenced how we made our pizzas and what they were topped with. Over centuries of trading – be it ingredients or ideas – we are now left with a plethora of options for pizza toppings. Here are some of our favourite traditional Lebanese cuisine staples.

lebanese pizza

Traditional Lebanese toppings are what make Manoosh stand out from the rest. We do Lebanese pizza like no other and this is because we have woven what we know about the past into what we want to be the future of pizza.

Sujuk

Sujuk has many different names – soudjouk, sucuk, sudzhuk and even soutzouki. No matter what the spelling, they all mean the same thing: delicious sausage dating back to ancient times. The Turks are said to have been its inventors, however, the dish quickly spread through the Balkans, the Middle East, Central Asia and the Mediterranean, each region with its own variations, depending on local produce and ingredients.

Many people liken it to salami due its high fat content, and in many ways they are similar: dry and salty. Sujuk is traditionally made from ground beef, but other meats are known to be used (including pork, mutton, and even horse meat). The meat is then combined with a selection of spices like garlic, cumin, sumac and red pepper before being prepared inside a sausage casing. Traditionally the intestinal walls of sheep and goats were used, but nowadays we use both natural and artificial products. Like salami, the sujuk is then hung and dried for a period, usually longer than three weeks.

The dryness of the sujuk means that it is best eaten thinly sliced and cooked. The fats and oils burn quickly to give the sujuk a crispy texture with a soft centre. It’s often served with fresh tomatoes and some garlic sauce on pita bread. Delicious.

lebanese pizza

Za’atar

Za’atar is at the very crux of Lebanese food culture. It is made from a blend of herbs and spices, although what actually constitutes its makeup is still very much up for contention. One the herb front, za’atar is commonly accepted to be made from Origanum syriacum (Lebanese oregano) – but is also often made from herbs like wild thyme. Depending on the region the blend will differ due to different ingredients that are readily available, but a common combination would be dried thyme, oregano, marjoram, sumac, toasted sesame seeds and salt. What you get is a earth-coloured mixture that is fragrant and tasty. It is usually mixed with olive oil and spread on Lebanese bread. You will commonly find it on vegetarian Lebanese food as a substitute for tomato sauce as a base.

lebanese pizza

Minced Lamb

Minced lamb is a stable in any Lebanese diet. However, on its own can be relatively bland. In Lebanese cooking minced lamb (or beef) is usually embellished with a mixture of finely chopped vegetables and herbs such as capsicum, onions, tomatoes, mint, coriander and parsley. Spices are also added – usually a combination of sweet and spicy such as paprika and pepper, cinnamon and cumin. This mixture is commonly spread on flatbread and cooked in a woodfire oven. The resulting dish we call Lahembajin and it’s a Lebanese classic.

lebanese pizza

Labneh

An obscure pizza topping, but a delicious one if applied properly, labneh is an ancient Lebanese dish similar to a soft cheese made from the milk of  goats, sheep, cows, water buffalo and even camels. Lebneh is commonly used in traditional man’oushe style pizzas, and is absolutely delicious when coupled with za’atar.

lebanese pizza

Haloumi

Not specifically a Lebanese invention, haloumi is a staple of many Middle Eastern and Mediterranean diets. A delicious, salty cheese variation, haloumi is a magnificent addition to any dish – especially gourmet pizza. Haloumi is a hard, white cheese traditionally made from a mixture of sheep and goat milk, though nowadays cow’s milk is sometimes added too. It is often fried or grilled, giving it a crispy texture. Lebanese haloumi, however, is woven and stretched into bundles and stored in olive oil, giving it a stringy texture more akin to mozzarella. You can often find Lebanese haloumi at Arabic grocery stores.

lebanese pizza

Traditional Lebanese ingredients are a wonderful addition to any pizza. To get a taste Lebanon, drop by OOSHMAN (formerly known as Manoosh) or order from us online, because nobody does Lebanese pizza like we do.

Or if you’re after top quality mobile pizza catering, get in touch today!