When most people think of Lebanese food, they think of tantalizing lunch plates and delicious kabob dinners. However, at Sidon Lebanese Grille and Bakery, there are plenty of tasty Lebanese breakfast options just waiting to be discovered! Today, we’re going to give you a brief overview of Lebanese breakfast, and share some of our favorite options with you. Whether you’re craving a sweet cheese pastry or a savory dish of labneh, there’s something for everyone.
Lebanese Breakfast: A Brief Overview
An authentic Lebanese breakfast is usually simple and prepared with only a few ingredients. Most recipes aren’t complicated, and take only a few minutes to put together. This means that you’ll spend more time enjoying your food and less time working in the kitchen!
Furthermore, Lebanese people realize that sharing a meal is great way to prepare for the day. This means that breakfast is often a social occasion that’s meant to be shared with family and friends.
There are Many Exciting Lebanese Breakfast Options
In Lebanon, there are plenty of delicious breakfast options to choose from. Additionally, many Lebanese breakfasts include tea or Turkish coffee, which both provide an extra jump-start to your morning. Here are some of our favorite breakfasts that we’ve enjoyed time and time again:
The classic labneh and zaatar breakfast is a great start to the day. If you’ve never had labneh, you’ve been missing out on one of the best and simplest dishes the Middle East has to offer. This cool, refreshing yogurt dish has the consistency of a soft cheese. It can be drizzled with olive oil for some extra flavor—and at Sidon, we also love sprinkling some zaatar on top. Our zaatar blend has plenty of health benefits, and will awaken your senses with every bite.
Foul, a dish prepared with olive oil, chick peas and fava beans, is a slightly heartier breakfast option. This fresh, filling breakfast will keep you going well into the afternoon.
If you’re craving something sweet, try a delicious knefeh pastry from Middle East Market. These cheese-filled pastries are covered in a sugary syrup, and are sure to alleviate your sugar cravings throughout the day.
Lebanese Breakfasts Have Many Health Benefits
Aside from being delicious, you’ll be happy to know that Lebanese breakfasts have many health benefits. For example, labneh is considered a probiotic food, which is great for the immune and digestive systems. It’s also a great source of protein and healthy fats. Zaatar also has many benefits, such as the ability to boost energy and improve memory and circulation, and enhance mood. By combining these two Lebanese classics every day for your breakfast, you’re sure to start your day off right!
Many other Lebanese breakfast options have health benefits as well. Olive oil contains necessary antioxidants, and can also help prevent strokes and heart disease. And since olive oil is used in so many other Lebanese breakfast dishes, you’ll be able to enjoy these benefits with countless other foods.
Enjoy a Classic Lebanese Breakfast at Sidon
If you’re craving a hearty plate of labneh and zaatar, you’re in luck. You’ll be able to enjoy this delicious combo, along with countless other Lebanese classics, at Sidon Lebanese Grille and Bakery! We open every morning at 10am, so you’ll be able to savor the breakfast of your dreams every day of the week. We’re looking forward to preparing a classic Lebanese breakfast for you and your family!
FAQs
For example, labneh is considered a probiotic food, which is great for the immune and digestive systems. It's also a great source of protein and healthy fats. Zaatar also has many benefits, such as the ability to boost energy and improve memory and circulation, and enhance mood.
How to serve labneh for breakfast? ›
Traditionally, labneh is served as a dip with pita bread or as a spread in sandwiches. My mother-in-law makes the best Labneh sandwiches. She puts a dollop of labneh on the bread and spreads it evenly.
Is labneh healthier than cream cheese? ›
Labneh is a soft cheese, similar in texture to cream cheese, made from strained yogurt and very popular in Middle Eastern cuisine. You may see it spelled lebneh, lebnah, labaneh, labane, labne, or labni. At about half the fat and calories of standard cream cheese, it's a healthier alternative.
Is it okay to eat labneh every day? ›
Our labneh is safe to consume everyday. Although, I wouldn't recommend it. To ensure you are getting a variety of nutrients and minerals from your food, it is beneficial to practice food rotation. Food rotation advocates eating different foods daily.
Can I eat Zaatar everyday? ›
There have been studies claiming that regular consumption of za'atar in your diet can improve your brainpower and cognition. The spice blend contains circulation-boosting power due to its rich mineral content that can enhance your brain and incite neural activity.
Which is better labneh or Greek yogurt? ›
But the real question is, which one is better? Well, that all depends on what you're making. If you're looking for a protein-packed dressing with herbal notes, then labneh is the way to go. But if you want a smooth, spoonable breakfast, then Greek yogurt is the choice for you.
Is labneh good for gut health? ›
Contains Beneficial Bacteria to Strengthen Your Gut Health
Labneh cheese is a good source of probiotics, which are a type of beneficial bacteria that support gut health. Probiotics are linked to a multitude of benefits.
How long does labneh keep in the fridge? ›
Store labneh in a tight-lid container in the fridge and use as a spread, like any cream cheese. Labneh will keep this way up to 2 weeks.
Is zaatar anti inflammatory? ›
Anti-inflammatory Properties: Many of the herbs in za'atar, like thyme and oregano, contain compounds that possess anti-inflammatory properties, potentially aiding in reducing inflammation in the body.
What is the English name for labneh? ›
Strained yogurt is known as labneh (labna, labni, labne, lebni, or labani; Arabic: لبنة) in the Levant, Israel, Egypt, and the Arabian Peninsula.
So it's recommended to buy small quantities of za'atar, or store it in the fridge. And it's not just the za'atar — you should also be storing your sesame seeds in the fridge, or even the freezer, to preserve their freshness.
What to eat with labneh? ›
Aside from a classic plate of labaneh with some bread, or even just eating it with a spoon (one of the reasons it doesn't last very long in my fridge—it's that satisfying!), you can also use it in place of other types of cheese, spreading it on a sandwich or rolling it into balls and tossing them into salads.
Does labneh cause bloating? ›
The lack of an enzyme in digesting the lactose can cause stomach pain, diarrhea, bloating, and even indigestion. However, the straining process used in making labneh cheese lowers the lactose content. Therefore, it makes digesting labneh cheese easy for people suffering from lactose intolerance.
Why does labneh have no protein? ›
Labneh cheese is a cultured dairy product that is typically made using ingredients such as yogurt or kefir. The whey protein is strained out to create a thicker, creamier and more cheese-like final product.
How healthy is labneh? ›
In addition to its delicious taste, labneh is considered a healthy food. It is a good source of protein, calcium, and probiotics, which benefit gut health. Labneh is also lower in fat and sodium compared to cheese or packaged dips, and it adds a lot of calcium to the diet.
Is za'atar a superfood? ›
Za'atar herb properties boast significant health-enhancing properties, since sumac, thyme, and oregano are all chock full of flavonoids, organic compounds that are important dietary sources of antioxidants that can protect cells from damage.
How many calories does za'atar have? ›
Mid East Zaatar (2 tbsp) contains 7g total carbs, 3g net carbs, 7.6g fat, 5g protein, and 100 calories.
Is za'atar with oil healthy? ›
Folk medicine in the middle east prescribes a zaatar plant's essential oils for diverse benefits including helping immune system, mental focus, increased energy, digestion, reducing infection risks, and others benefits.
