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Tag: kafta

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Blog Lebanese Food Traditional Ingredients

5 Examples of Lebanese Street Food That You Want Right Now

Street food has been part of Lebanese cuisine for thousands of years and is particularly popular during summer when the streets of every city and town in Lebanon are filled with the aroma of fresh, healthy food and the sounds of families, friends and travellers enjoying it together. While our cuisine has evolved considerably over the past few decades, the following can all be considered genuine Lebanese street food classics.

Whether you need a healthy meal in a hurry or you are just looking for something tasty for breakfast, lunch or dinner, it is hard to beat Lebanese street food.

Shish kebabs

These highly portable meals are easily among our most delicious and famous foods. The most traditional Lebanese version is made using lamb that is marinated in a mix of garlic, salt, pepper and your choice of spices, before being skewered along with vegetables such as capsicum, onions, mushrooms and cherry tomatoes, then grilled. Not only are shish kebabs the perfect food to eat on the go, but they make a fantastic addition to any summer barbecue.

best lebanese street food in sydney
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Shawarma

These classic Lebanese wraps can be found everywhere from Beirut to Brisbane to Bangkok. Shawarma is essentially a type of pita-based sandwich that contains strips of thinly sliced marinated meat that has been slow roasted for hours on a vertical skewer. Lamb is the most common meat of choice in Lebanon though chicken, beef or even goat are sometimes used. These delicious strips of meat are paired with ingredients such as lettuce, tomatoes, onion, pickles and a drizzling of tahini in a fresh baked pita.

awesome lebanese street food
CC image courtesy of Basher Tome on flickr http://bit.ly/1L9FKzE

Falafel

Whether you are vegan, vegetarian of just a fan on delicious food, a freshly made falafel wrap will hit the spot every time. The star of the show is obviously the falafel balls themselves, which consist of soaked and ground chick peas that are mixed with spices such as coriander, cumin, garlic and chili, before being formed into balls and fried. A handful of these delicious morsels are then wrapped in a fresh pita with lettuce, onions, pickles, peppers and, of course, a drizzle of tahini, creating a healthy, tasty and filling meal that is perfect for any time of day.

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Kebbeh

Not only is kebbeh considered Lebanon’s national dish, but it has been eaten in this part of the world for thousands of years. Kebbeh is made from burghul (a type of cracked wheat), diced onion, ground meat (usually lamb), chopped pine nuts and an array of spices that range from salt and pepper to cumin, cayenne and cinnamon. These ingredients are thoroughly combined and sometimes eaten raw, though it is more commonly formed into small cylinders, fried and eaten with a side of hommus.

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Kafta

Meat lovers looking for a delicious street food will fall head over heels for kafta, which scholars believe was introduced to Lebanon thousands of years ago by the ancient Persians. While there are countless different versions, kafta most commonly features ground lamb, beef or chicken that is seasoned to perfection, then formed into cigar shaped cylinders, skewered, and cooked over an open flame. You can eat your kafta straight off the skewer or remove it and wrap it in a pita with your favourite salad ingredients.

examples of lebanese street food

Whether you need a healthy meal in a hurry or you are just looking for something tasty for breakfast, lunch or dinner, it is hard to beat traditional Lebanese food. To get a taste of Sydney’s best Lebanese cuisine, drop by Manoosh or order from us online – you will not be disappointed.

Categories
Blog Lebanese Food Traditional Ingredients

What makes a great Kafta?

Described as everything from a type of meatball to meatloaf on a stick, kafta is perfect as a snack, ideal for summer grilling and has been part of Lebanese cuisine for centuries. However, we aren’t the only ones to fall in love with this delicious dish, as there are literally hundreds of different versions spanning countless cultures, known as everything from kufta to kofta to qofte. Here is a brief look at the greatest of them all; the mouth-watering, delectable and unforgettable Lebanese kafta.

what makes great kafta
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Making kafta is easy, but creating a truly delicious kafta is a whole other matter. In fact, almost every Lebanese family has their own secret recipe that has been handed down through the generations.

What is kafta?

In its most traditional form, kafta is essentially a mixture of seasoned ground meat that is shaped into balls or cylinders, skewered and cooked over a fire. It can be made from lamb, beef, chicken, seafood and there are even vegetarian varieties, but the traditional Lebanese version is always lamb. While some eat their kafta directly from the stick (as is the case on the streets of the Middle East) it is more commonly added to a pita with vegetables and condiments.

An ancient Persian dish

No one knows for certain when and where kafta was first made and eaten; however, it is safe to assume that cooking meat on a stick over an open fire is a rather ancient practice. Most scholars believe that it was the Persians who created the first kafta several thousand years ago, with the word itself coming from the Persian koftah, meaning ground meat. The Persians are thought to have introduced kafta to the Arab world many hundreds of years ago and from here it spread throughout the Mediterranean, North Africa, Asia, India, and beyond.

best kafta in inner west
CC image courtesy of Blondinrikard Fröberg on Flickr http://bit.ly/1QLfxib

A kafta to suit everyone

As kafta spread it evolved and adapted to suit the many different cultures it encountered, resulting in the myriad of kaftas made and enjoyed throughout the world today. For example; in Albania it is called kofta and is made from beef, pork or veal, while in Romania it is called chiftea, a mix of minced pork, mashed potatoes and spices, which are then deep fried. Many Indian versions are vegetarian, served in spiced gravy, and in Turkey kafta creativity knows no bounds as there are almost 300 different varieties!

How to make Kafta

Making kafta is easy, but creating a truly delicious kafta is a whole other matter. In fact, almost every Lebanese family has their own secret recipe that has been handed down through the generations. If you’d like to try making your own kafta, here is a brief look at what is involved;

  • In a food processor, combine freshly ground lamb, onion, garlic, parsley and your favourite spices (hint: cumin, coriander, cinnamon and baharat are popular choices).
  • Add an egg to the mixture, combine thoroughly and remove from the food processor.
  • Form your mixture into cigar shapes, thread onto flat metal skewers and lightly brush with oil.
  • Grill over low heat on the barbeque or in the oven, turning regularly.
  • Once cooked, remove your kafta from the skewers and serve with fresh pita, hummus, garlic yoghurt and your favourite condiments.

If all this talk about kafta has awakened your appetite, we can help, simply drop by Manoosh or order from us online. We have the best traditional Lebanese food in Sydney and we would be happy to prepare one of our many tasty dishes fresh for you.