So you’re looking for Lebanese side dishes, well my friend, you’ve landed on the right recipe roundup.
I handpicked the best Lebanese sides you must try from within this blog (I specialize in Lebanese food) and from other gifted Lebanese food bloggers.
This Lebanese side dishes list is great for giving ideas for what to serve as part of your next friends and family gathering.
It has been created for easy navigation and sectioned into the following;
- Dips
- Dressings and Sauces
- Rice and Grains
- Salads
- Vegetables
Most of these recipes have been accessed from the vegan Lebanese recipe collection and complement this list of vegan mezze recipes.
Dips
Hummus
No Lebanese side dishes list would be complete without hummus. This chickpea dip is served with mixed plates, falafels, bbq's, grilling and so much more.
Baba Ghanoush
Also known as Baba Ghanouj, this creamy and smokey eggplant dip is also perfect with grilling, bbq's, falafel, sandwiches and so much more. One of the best side dishes due to its versatility.
Zucchini Flesh Dip
Aka Lib Koosa is a juicy and sour Lebanese zucchini dip made from cooked zucchini flesh in a lemon and mint sauce. It is often served as part of a breakfast mezze table.
Dressings and Sauces
Toum
Garlic lovers meet the iconic white fluffy sauce filled with huge amounts of garlic can be smeared on nearly anything. Think breads, grilling, vegetables, falafel, bbq's and so on.
Shatta
This hot sauce is one of those Middle Eastern dishes that can virtually be used on any savory foods. Featuring firey chili, copious garlic, fresh lemon juice and the best extra virgin olive oil. Whatever you can think of is where it can be used for an extra kick.
Tahini Sauce
This tahini sauce is one fits many. It pairs with shawarma, kebabs, veggies, wraps, sandwiches, salads and the list goes one. This sauce is a must in your arsenal.
Rice and Grains
Lebanese Rice
AKA Vermicelli Rice, this is such a popular and delicious side dish. It is always served as the go-to rice with stews and similar Lebanese dishes. Made with toasted vermicelli noodles and buttery white rice. A great way to amp up your side-of-rice game.
Potato Kibbeh
Featuring a delectable combination of herbed mashed potatoes blended with tender bulgur topped with extra virgin olive oil. Potato kibbeh will elevate any meal with a burst of Middle Eastern flavors. Try it with tabouli. Yum!
Lebanese Spiced Rice
The most requested type of rice in my Lebanese family. This Lebanese spiced rice features buttery rice seasoned with aromatic spices and is filled with veggies. It is then topped with toasted almonds, cashews and pine nuts. You'll love it!
Bulgur with Vermicelli
A classic Lebanese side, this is similar to vermicelli rice,. However, the rice is swapped for bulgur wheat. It is always served with potato stew. Think of nutty and buttery flavors.
Lebanese Squash with Bulgur
Yet another lesser known Lebanese meal. Picture tender, juicy Lebanese squash simmered in lemon, red bell peppers and nutty bulgur. This dish is great with salad and fresh Lebanese bread or as part of a mezze.
Bulgur Pilaf
A traditional dish of bulgur that has been simmered in a rich tomato broth. Good enough to eat as a main, this pilaf can be used instead of plain rice and can be paired with many foods.
Salads
Tahini Salad
No matter how much I tried to explain how I love this salad, it still wouldn't do it justice. It features simple diced vegetables that are swimming on a tahini dressing. Use on the side with rices, grilling, kebabs, bbq's and more.
Biwaz
Biwaz Salad is a punchy Middle Eastern parsley and onion salad tossed with lemon juice, olive oil, and sumac. Traditionally served alongside grilled meats, shawarma, or kebabs, it’s a zesty side that cuts through rich flavors and adds freshness to the table.
Fattoush Salad
If there were royal members of Lebanese salads, this is one of them. This salad features seasonal veggies, crispy broken pita in a sour dressing. It is commonly served with bbq, kebabs, kibbeh, mujadara and more.
Tabouli
Here's another royal member of Lebanese salads. The main ingredient is parsley tossed with tomato and bulgur in a sour dressing. It is also commonly served with bbq, kebabs, kibbeh, mujadara and more, but don't let these limit your imagination.
Quinoa Tabouli
Made for those who want to enjoy a fresh salad of tabouli with a gluten free grain. Serve this salad as you would any other salad.
Malfouf Salad
The simplest side of crunchy cabbage salad. Made with shredded cabbage and fresh parsley tossed through a sour dressing. It's similar to quick pickles, without the process and is great with rices, pilafs, grilling, bbq and similar.
Potato Salad
This is the perfect cold potato salad. Offering a comforting blend of creamy textures, fresh herbs and sour flavors, and versatility that complements a wide variety of main courses
Fresh Oregano Salad
If I could eat this every day, I would. I love to eat it wrap in pita bread. Generally, small amounts are eaten at any given time due to its potent flavor. It is extra punchy! Enjoy it with kibbeh, pilafs, mujadara and more.
Vegetables
Braised Green Beans
The simple recipe of green beans with onion, tomato and olive oil, aka, Loubieh bi Zeit. Good enough to eat in pita bread, but highly popular as a side dish to any mezze
Fried Cauliflower
Congratulations! You just found your new favorite way to enjoy cauliflower. The fried cauli florets are drizzled with tahini dressing and is generally served with other fried foods such as falafel.
Warak Enab
Tender Lebanese stuffed grape leaves, aka, warak enab, is filled with a rice, herbs and vegetable stuffing. It is almost always found at a mezze table, though it can be enjoyed as a main.
Lebanese Black Eyed Peas With Greens
A perfect example of simple wholesome ingredients to make a delicous meal. The black eyed peas are simmered in garlic, cilantro and onion and chopped greens. Then finished with fresh lemon juice.
Spicy Lebanese Potatoes
Honestly it is ridiculous how much of these spicy potatoes I could eat. Golden crispy cubed potatoes tossed through a herby garlic sauce. A mezze feast just wouldn't be right without these potatoes.
Ghallaba
A medley of garlicky spiced sauteed veggies that can be used as a side to rices, pilafs or as a topper to dips.
Green Fava Beans
Herby braised green fava beans (broad beans) are generally eaten with pita bread and sometimes pickles and plain yogurt. It's also delicious to enjoy them in a Lebanese plate filled with other foods.
Pickled Turnips
Get ready to fall in love with this Lebanese pickled turnips recipe. These pink turnips are perfect for bringing the acidity and crunch to any meal. Recipe by The Salt and Sweet.
Lebanese Greens
Lebanese greens are generally wild foods. Think chicory, dandelion, endive and similar. The greens are blanched and dressed in lemon, garlic and topped with caramelized onion. It is always served with pita bread, but I believe it would make a delicious addition to any mezze.
Other Lebanese Recipes
As you may have deduced the Lebanese cuisine is filled with many different types of side dishes to accompany many foods.
Some delicious Lebanese main course meals that will pair well with the above sides include the famous Lebanese lentils and rice, or vegetarian kibbeh in a tray
This list of vegan Lebanese recipes is filled with delicious traditional Lebanese foods or some that have been converted.
Check out this list of delicious Lebanese salads or perhaps this list of delicious stews from Lebanon to warm you up.
For foods that are comforting, this list of vegan Lebanese stuffed foods might interest you.
You might also be interested in this list of vegan Middle Eastern cuisine recipes.
Which one of these recipes caught your eye?
I'd love to know! Leave me a comment below or tag @plantbasedfolk on social media.
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