Back to normal? Sydney’s return to full-capacity indoor dining this season comes with its own set of considerations. While you are familiar with all the restaurants that were open before the pandemic, post-COVID restaurants will require fresh exploration.
As diners flock back to restaurants to get a taste of their favourite food and dishes, Lebanese restaurant in Sydney are ready to welcome them back. But it all comes down to which Lebanese restaurant near me to pick.
From creamy Labneh to irresistible Knafeh, those Lebanese restaurants near you will satiate your taste buds.
What makes Lebanese food the best Middle Eastern cuisine?
Let’s start with the fact that Lebanese cuisine has those foods you crave when you are away from home, or when you yearn for some tasty meal.
Lebanese foods are favourites for all nationalities because of the variety of dishes you can browse through. Foodies always appreciate the taste of Kibbeh and Hummus, Fattoush and mixed grills. These restaurants near you have a lot to offer.
With warm colours and modern finishes, Lebanese food lovers can have fresh, wholesome, healthy, rich, and aromatic experience. It’s no wonder that Lebanese cuisine has gained a global profile in the past few decades.
Why is Lebanese food one of the healthiest in the world?
Rated as one of the healthiest foods in the world due to its ingredients and cooking method, Lebanese restaurants near you offer so many low-fat options, using vegetables and olive oil as the base components of every dish.
To add to this, Lebanese food is also good for vegan and vegetarian people because of the variety of dishes that do not use meat or any animal product.
How to find the best Lebanese restaurants near me?
If you are living in Sydney and looking for authentic Lebanese food, you don’t need to head over to Beirut because you can satisfy your taste buds with an appealing spread of Lebanese dishes here in Sydney. Some of the best Lebanese restaurants are located right around the corner of your home; all you have to do is look for them.
You may tell yourself that you do want to “have breakfast, lunch, or dinner at a Lebanese restaurant near me and not have to go on a road trip to get what I want.” Well, this is possible due to delivery services, and you can always research the “Lebanese restaurants near me” by typing it on google. Et Voila! Your Lebanese food becomes within reach.
Discover Lebanese restaurants near me and get top Lebanese options delivered to your door. Since Lebanese foods are available in hundreds of cities around the world, all you have to do is enter your address to explore any delivery options near you. Next, browse restaurant menus and order food online from Lebanese restaurants nearby. Your Lebanese delivery options may vary depending on where you are in the city. View the restaurant’s opening hours to see if it will be open around the time you’d like to have your Lebanese takeout or dine-in order.
What do Lebanese restaurants have to offer?
Even if you haven’t trekked to Beirut, Lebanon’s rich food culture can be reflected in its worldwide restaurants.
Lebanon is the birthplace of earthy dishes like Baba Ghanouj, and meats also like Shawama. Lebanese restaurants can bring the taste of Lebanon closer, just near you.
Respecting seasonality, Lebanese restaurants would use the proper fresh mixture of ingredients and produce any food that is delicious and distinctive.
So, what are you waiting for? Enjoy all these healthy and delicious foods at one of Sydney’s tastiest Lebanese restaurants, sourcing ingredients from Lebanon itself, and have a taste of authentic Lebanese dishes.
Explore the soulful food gems of Sydney by tasting creative and generous traditional bites and dishes. Simple and rustic, Lebanese foods near you can offer you all the healthy fulfilling ingredients that your body needs.
In Sydney, we are fortunate to have cuisines from around the world available in our city. While all are delicious, some are not as healthy as others. With an increased, health-conscious society, many restaurants have chosen the route of providing healthy alternatives. However, which cuisine is authentically healthy? Lebanese food is well-known for being delicious, but, is it healthy? Yes, it is!
One of the advantages of Lebanese food, besides its health benefits, is the varied ingredients incorporated into each meal. From briny olives to creamy yogurt and smoky grilled meats, it’s hard not to get bored when you’re on a Lebanese diet. This element of Lebanese cuisine was brought about by the rise of different powers through Lebanon’s history. Whenever power changed, new ingredients were brought into the country. The history of Lebanon has culminated in the diverse cuisine that we enjoy today.
Let’s take a look at what makes Lebanese food the healthiest in Sydney.
Fresh Middle-Eastern salads
Lebanese cuisine incorporates many fresh ingredients. Fresh herbs, vegetables and fruits are incorporated into popular Lebanese salads like fattoush, tabbouleh and malfouf (cabbage salad). They are commonly dressed with lemon juice, olive oil and garlic–nutritional ingredients with little calories. Fresh herbs are also used as the base for many salads. For example, tabbouleh is made up mostly of parsley and mint, herbs that are not used in the same quantity as other cuisines. The incorporation of uncooked fruits, herbs and vegetables mean that many Lebanese dishes are nutrient-rich, as cooking often removes nutrients.
The traditional pairing of pickles
Mouneh or, Lebanese pickles are an important part of Lebanese cuisine. Often making an appearance at a mezze table or in wraps, mouneh can consist of turnips, shallots, Persian cucumbers and carrots. While vegetables are healthy, the benefit comes from the pickling process. Pickles are made by sitting in a salt-water brine for many days. During this time they undergo fermentation and healthy bacteria is created. This good bacteria have been linked to increased cardiovascular and gut health. Fermented foods may also help blood sugar spikes, a benefit for diabetic persons. The practice of pickling also preserves the nutritional benefits of the vegetables which can be broken when cooked.
Mediterranean ingredients
The Lebanese cuisine is similar to the Mediterranean diet in that they both use a lot of fruits, vegetables, herbs, nuts, legumes and whole grains. Both also specifically use olive oil over butter and have little use for milk and cream in their meals (milk, cream and butter are usually used for desserts only).
Like the Mediterranean diet, Lebanese food is rich in slow-releasing fibre, healthy fats and nutrient-dense foods, ingredients that lead to a lower risk of heart disease and metabolic syndrome, improved vessel function and maintenance of a healthy weight.
Spices, not sauces
Lebanese food is known for adding spices like sumac, za’atar and Aleppo pepper. You should note that because many of their dishes are beautifully spiced, sauces do not accompany meals. This is a health benefit on its own because sauces carry calories, sugar and sodium—culprits of cardiovascular disease. Fresh za’atar which is probably one of the most used and popular spices in Lebanon consists of sumac, dried thyme, oregano, marjoram, sesame seeds and salt. These spices have been linked to improvements in immunity, skin health, energy levels, circulation and inflammation.
So, even though you won’t find many sauces at a Lebanese restaurant, you won’t be short on flavour or health benefits.
Low-starch
Unlike many western diets, Lebanese food is traditionally low in starch side dishes like potatoes, pasta and bread. Though there are a few potato dishes present in the cuisines, you are much more likely to find whole grains like bulgur wheat or lentils, cauliflower, chickpeas and white beans. Foul, love falafel, Baba ghannouj, muhammara and meatballs are just a few Lebanese dishes that are filling but contain little to no starch.
But, why are starches bad for you? Well, to start, they contain more carbohydrates and calories than vegetables and fruit. Many modern starches available today are also full of refined sugars and hardly contain fibre and nutrients. You don’t have to avoid starches entirely, however, diets high in them could lead to diabetes, heart disease and weight gain. With vegetables, legumes and whole grains making up the bulk of meals, it’s not much of a wonder why Lebanese food is so healthy.
If you’re on the search for some of the healthiest food in Sydney then, search no more, a Lebanese restaurant is where you’re meant to be. With their use of herbs, vegetables, fruits, nuts and legumes, Lebanese cuisine is giving healthy food a whole new meaning.