Located off the Mediterranean Sea is Lebanon, a small country filled with beauty, charm, and culture. Lebanon is considered the melting pot of the Middle East because of the number of civilizations that settled there over the course of history. These civilizations introduced the diversity of food that is now at the heart of every generation in Lebanon.
Food is at the center of every Lebanese family’s tradition. It provides a space for the women of the family to socialize. It gathers the family together every evening, bringing them closer together.
Due to the melting pot qualities of Lebanon, it has similar food to the countries around it. Lebanese food shares traits with food from countries such as Israel and Greece but you can rely on Lebanon to offer its own wonderful version.
We have included 8 of our favourite Lebanese dishes on our menu that are sure to please your taste buds. If you haven’t tried the following dishes you are missing out on the wonderful tastes Lebanese cuisine has to offer.
1. Baba Ghanoush
Baba Ghanoush is a dip served with pita bread that is made with Tahini, making it similar to hummus. The key difference is the main ingredient. Whereas hummus is made with pureed chickpeas, Baba Ghanoush is made with Pureed BBQ eggplant. This gives the dish a beautiful smoky flavour.
The diversity of the toppings you can garnish Baba Ghanoush with lends subtle flavour profiles to the dish. It is common to see it garnished with pomegranate, giving it a light fruity flavour. At Basha’s Shawarma, we garnish out Baba Ghanoush with olive oil, chopped parsley, chopped tomatoes, and paprika.
2. Shish Tawook
Another Lebanese cuisine staple that you must try is Shish Tawook, also known as a chicken shish kabob. What makes this dish wonderful is the spices and the marinated chicken. The chicken sits overnight in a marinade of lemon juice, garlic, paprika, yogurt, and tomato paste.
We serve Shish Tawook on plates with Fattoush, garlic sauce, pickles, pita bread and your choice of rice or fries. You can also find shish Tawook on our menu to enjoy in a sandwich, on a plate, or as a side option.
3. Falafel
A vegetarian alternative to shawarma or shish kababs, Falafel is a deep-fried mix of crushed chickpeas and spices. Served with Tahini, this classic Lebanese cuisine staple is delicious and will please both vegetarians and meat-eaters alike.
At Basha’s, we serve Falafel as an appetizer or on a plate with Fattoush, garlic, tahini, pita bread, and your choice of rice or home fries. It also comes on our vegetarian plate which includes Fattoush, grape leaves, a spinach pie, hummus, and Fattoush salad. You can also find our falafel in our veggie bowls, in a sandwich, or as a side option.
4. Tabbouleh
Tabbouleh is a filling salad made with bulgur, tomatoes, onion, and parsley. It’s mixed with a dressing of olive oil, lemon juice and salt. Enjoy this salad alone for a healthy meal option or with a side for a full meal.
5. Fattoush
Fattoush is a traditional Lebanese salad. Instead of croutons, crushed fried pita bread is mixed in giving this salad a wonderful crunchy addition. The Basha’s Fattoush salad is made with a mixture of tomatoes, cucumbers, fresh mint, parsley, and toasted whole wheat pita. We lightly dress it in a mixture of lemon, garlic, sumac, and olive oil.
You can order Fattoush at Basha’s as a stand-alone salad or as a side to our plates, hamburger and on our platters.
6. Shawarma
Shawarma is the most popular Lebanese Cuisine Delicacy in the Windsor-Essex community. Traditionally cooked on a rotating spit, the spiced meat is shaved off and served in a shawarma sandwich with tahini and vegetables. You can choose chicken or beef shawarma, and both are equally as great.
At Basha’s Shawarma you can order shawarma as a sandwich, on top of salads, in pies, and on plates served with Fattoush, garlic sauce, pickles, pita bread with your choice of rice or home fries. You can also enjoy beef or chicken shawarma in a stir fry, in a bowl or as a side option.
7. Shish Kafta
Kafta is a Lebanese cuisine made of ground lamb and beef mixed with garlic, parsley, onions and traditional spices. This popular dish has made it as far as Turkey where they enjoy it with a yogurt dip.
You can enjoy Shish Kafta at Basha’s on a plate served with Fattoush, garlic sauce, pickles, pita bread and your choice of rice or home fries. You can also enjoy Shish Kafta in a sandwich with mixed veggies, as a side or on our platters.
8. Baklava
The traditional Lebanese dessert, Baklava is a pastry made of filo dough, honey and assorted nuts. Often mistook for originating as Greek food, Baklava is Lebanese and looked upon by the culture with the fondness of gold. If you haven’t tried Baklava yourself, you’re missing out on joy in life.
If you haven’t done so already, we encourage you to step out of your comfort zone and try the delights that Lebanese cuisine has to offer. Not only does it offer many health benefits, but it offers something for everyone, no matter what your diet restrictions are.
