From Tabbouleh to Shawarma, How to Make Restaurant-Worthy Lebanese Food at Home

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. 

Jump to the recipes

According to data from Rentech Digital, the US is currently home to more than 1,000 Lebanese restaurants, with more than 100 of those located in California. But while these eateries undoubtedly serve up flavor-laden, delectable 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, for example, form the basis of many traditional dishes. Take tabbouleh, which is one of Lebanon’s most famous culinary exports. The super refreshing salad is made up of herbs, like parsley and mint, which are mixed with lemon juice, olive oil, grains, and tomatoes.

Unsplash

RELATED: Fuel Your Veganuary with These 31 Delicious Plant-Based Breakfasts

Another super 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 often consists of sliced meat in pita with spices and garlic sauce or tahini.

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. You can learn more about how to do just that below. 

Vegan Lebanese recipes

Find some of our favorite plant-based Lebanese recipes below, from tabbouleh to hummus to baba ghanoush.

Chris Shoebridge

1 Easy Vegan Lebanese Tabbouleh

As highlighted 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 a few minutes.
Get the recipe

Sarah Bond

2 Easy Vegan Bulgur Tabbouleh Salad

Another easy yet totally flavor-packed tabbouleh recipe. This one, created by Live Eat Learn founder Sarah Bond, is just as light and refreshing thanks to key ingredients like parsley, mint, and diced cucumber. It’s delicious all year round, but it’s particularly perfect for the spring and summer months.
Get the recipe

Plant Based Folk

3 Lebanese Spiced Rice With Toasted Nuts and Vegetables

Lebanese spiced rice, or pilaf, is aromatic, fragrant, and incredibly satisfying to make. 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.
Get the recipe

The Plant Bowls

4 Vegan Lebanese Style Hummus

Hummus is not just a Lebanese favorite. It’s loved across the Middle East, and indeed, the rest of the world, too. While variations differ from place to place, 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.
Get the recipe

One Arab Vegan

5 Vegan Seitan Shawarma

From Lebanon to Jordan to Turkey, shawarma is one of the most beloved 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 some fresh salad vegetables.
Get the recipe

Bianca Zapatka

6Baba Ganoush

As mentioned earlier, baba ganoush is an incredibly popular eggplant-based dip. Again, 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.
Get the recipe

Elavegan

7 Mujadara

This tasty Lebanese dish is incredibly simple. 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 incredibly tender. It’s also simple to pull together and reasonably quick, too.
Get the recipe

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 set to become one of your new favorites.
Get the recipe