Zaatar and Zaytoun - Lebanese Recipes and Food Blog

So you love Lebanese food but you are overwhelmed with all the ingredients and specific cooking techniques?

Here are 3 super easy Lebanese recipes for beginners that require basic cooking skills. If you don't have the will to learn the basic cooking skills then I can't help you.

You can make foul mudamas from a can, loubia b'zeit from fresh or frozen vegetables and Fatteh from basic pantry ingredients.

Just because these recipes are basic enough for beginners doesn't mean they are not fabulous!

1. Foul Mudamas from a Can

A can of foul (fava beans) can be such a blessing at a time like this. It's quick to make and you can have it any time of the day not just at breakfast.

You can actually make this either with chickpeas, just fava beans or a mix of both. I've simplified the recipe below. You can freeze garlic and lemon juice in ice cubes.

Heat up a can of foul (or chickpeas) in a pot with water just enough to cover for five minutes.
Crush a garlic clove in a deep serving pan, add some salt, a pinch of cumin and a squeeze of lemon juice.
Scoop out the heated foul/chickpeas with a fork onto the garlic and a little of the water. Half mush the beans so some are squished and others are whole
Adjust the seasoning and drizzle on some extra virgin olive oil.

For the full recipe click here

2. Green Bean Stew (Loubia b'zeit)

You can make this amazing green bean stew using freezer and store cupboard ingredients.

You won't believe how close to the fresh version it is. Use fresh or canned tomatoes and regular cooking olive oil.

Sauté an onion in some olive oil with a clove or two of garlic until golden
Add the frozen green beans and some cooking olive oil and sauté for another fifteen minutes.
Add salt and pepper, along with a can of tomatoes and stew for half an hour on low heat

For the full recipe click here

3. Fatteh with Chickpeas

Fatteh was created to be made from leftover ingredients such as stale bread and other store cupboard staples like chickpeas and pine nuts.

You can fry or bake your bread and make a garlicky yoghurt sauce with some tahini. This dish will soon become one of your family favourites and is a great crowd pleaser.

Fry or bake the bread and toast the pine nuts
Make the sauce by combining garlic, yoghurt, tahini and salt
Heat a can of chickpeas, save the chickpea water to quickly dip the bread in and to thin the yoghurt sauce if necessary
Layer everything up and sprinkle with toasted pine nuts