From the ancient Phoenicians to the Ottoman Empire to the French, many civilizations and countries have influenced Lebanese food over the centuries. That’s why, today, the cuisine is incredibly diverse, full of bold flavors and fresh ingredients. Due to the Lebanese diaspora, the food of Lebanon is also incredibly popular around the world—and the US is no different.
The US is currently home to more than 3,000 Lebanese restaurants, with several hundred of those located in California. But while these eateries undoubtedly serve up flavor-filled, traditional recipes, if you’re not looking to head out to eat, it is possible to create your own Lebanese-inspired feast at home.
What is traditional Lebanese food?
Like many Middle Eastern cuisines, Lebanese food revolves around many fresh, plant-based ingredients, which are often served mezze style. Olive oil, fresh herbs, lemon juice, garlic, and spices form the basis of many traditional dishes such as tabbouleh, one of Lebanon’s most famous culinary exports. The refreshing salad is made up of herbs like parsley and mint, and mixed with grains, lemon juice, olive oil, and tomatoes.
Another popular Lebanese dish is baba ghanoush, which is made with eggplant, lemon juice, garlic, and tahini. There’s also kibbeh—which combines bulgur wheat and onions with ground meat—and shawarma, which consists of sliced meat with spices and garlic sauce or tahini, all tucked inside fresh pita or lavash bread.
Like kibbeh and shawarma, many traditional Lebanese dishes do contain meat. But it is possible to make them plant-based with a few simple swaps.
Plant-based Lebanese recipes
Find some of our favorite plant-based Lebanese recipes below, from tabbouleh to hummus to baba ghanoush.
Chris Shoebridge
1 Easy Lebanese Tabbouleh Salad
As mentioned above, tabbouleh is one of Lebanon’s most famous traditional dishes. And the best part is it’s already totally plant-based. Learn how to make it for a Middle Eastern-inspired mezze or a light lunch by following this easy recipe from Veganuary, which comes together in just minutes.
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Sarah Bond
2 Fresh Bulgur Tabbouleh Salad
Another easy yet flavor-packed tabbouleh recipe is this one created by Live Eat Learn founder Sarah Bond. It’s light and refreshing thanks to ingredients like parsley, mint, and diced cucumber, and is delicious year round.
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Plant Based Folk
3 Lebanese Spiced Rice With Toasted Nuts and Vegetables
Lebanese spiced rice, or pilaf, is aromatic, fragrant, and incredibly satisfying. It’s often made with meat in traditional recipes, but in this version from Plant Based Folk, Lebanese-Australian recipe developer Janelle Hama will walk you through how to make it with simple plant-based ingredients like toasted nuts and frozen vegetables.
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The Plant Bowls
4Lebanese-Style Hummus
Hummus is not just a Lebanese favorite. Yes, it’s beloved across the Middle East, but the rest of the world as well. While variations differ from country to country, this Lebanese version will show you how to make the creamy dip with a spiced tempeh mince (in Lebanon, hummus is often topped with ground beef). It’s a delicious dip or appetizer that is guaranteed to be a hit with your loved ones.
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One Arab Vegan
5Seitan Shawarma
From Lebanon to Jordan to Turkey, shawarma is one of the most popular street food dishes. While it’s nearly always made with seasoned meat in these countries, you can also make it just as juicy and tender without it. The key, as this recipe from One Arab Vegan demonstrates, is seitan, which has a meaty mouthfeel and texture. It’s perfect with pita or flatbread, a drizzle of tahini, and fresh vegetables.
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Bianca Zapatka
6Baba Ganoush
As mentioned earlier, baba ganoush is a ubiquitous (and cherished) eggplant-based dip. It’s naturally plant-based, as it’s made with ingredients like tahini, olive oil, eggplant, and lemon juice. In this recipe, Bianca Zapatka adds extra juicy flavor, color, and nutrition with a pomegranate topping.
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Elavegan
7 Mujadara
This tasty Lebanese dish is incredibly simple to make. It consists of just three main ingredients: rice, lentils, and onions. But don’t let that trick you into thinking it’s not full of flavor. As this recipe from Elavegan shows, it’s hearty, tasty, and tender. It’s also simple to pull together and reasonably quick, too.
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Plant Based Folk
8 Tofu Shish Taouk
In this recipe, Hama will show you how to take a meaty Lebanese classic, shish taouk, and make it 100 percent plant-based. The key is tofu, which is skewered and cooked just like traditional meat before it’s mixed with a zesty, dairy-free yogurt marinade. It’s tangy, packed with flavor, and will quickly become one of your new favorites.
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Charlotte is a VegNews editor and writer based in sunny Southsea on England's southern coast.
