10 Authentic Lebanese Foods You Should Try at Least Once

Welcome to Arabella, the best Lebanese restaurant in Sydney, where we bring the vibrant flavours of Middle Eastern cuisine to your table..

1. Hummus

Hummus is one of the cold mezze choices featured on Arabella’s menu. Prepared with tahini, lemon, garlic, and olive oil, the dish has a smooth texture and a balanced combination of creamy, nutty, and zesty flavours. It is served with freshly baked pita bread, making it a natural choice for sharing at the table.

For anyone looking for the best Middle Eastern restaurant, starting with a dish like hummus can be an easy introduction to the flavours found across Arabella’s Lebanese menu. The combination of tahini, lemon, garlic and olive oil gives this classic mezze its distinctive character.

2. Baba Ghanouj

Baba Ghanouj brings a smoky element to the mezze selection. Arabella describes its version as an eggplant dip prepared by charring over an open flame before being blended with tahini and seasonings. This preparation gives the eggplant a deeper flavour while maintaining the creamy texture associated with the dish.

The smoky eggplant works particularly well alongside pita and other mezze. It also offers a different flavour profile from hummus, making both dishes worthwhile when sharing several starters.

 

3. Chilli Walnut Dip

For diners who enjoy stronger and more complex flavours, the Chilli Walnut Dip offers a different experience. The menu features roasted red pepper combined with walnuts and pomegranate molasses.

The roasted pepper contributes a rich savoury character, while walnuts provide texture and a nutty note. Pomegranate molasses adds a sweet, tangy element, creating a dip that stands apart from the more traditional creamy mezze options.

4. Shawarma

Shawarma is another notable option on Arabella’s menu. The restaurant prepares thinly sliced marinated lamb or chicken using a vertical rotisserie. The slow-cooking process allows the meat to develop a rich flavour and tender texture.

Arabella serves the shawarma with thin bread, garlic sauce, pickles and fresh vegetables. The combination brings together savoury meat, creamy garlic sauce, the acidity of the pickles, and the freshness of the vegetables.

Why Shawarma Is a Popular Choice

Shawarma offers several textures and flavours in a single dish. The seasoned meat provides the main savoury element, while the accompanying ingredients add freshness, acidity and richness.

5. Moloukhieh

Moloukhieh is one of the traditional dishes listed on Arabella’s menu. It is served with rice and shredded chicken breast fillet. The mallow plant is cooked with coriander, garlic, chilli, and lemon.

The combination creates a dish with herbal, savoury, and citrus notes. Unlike grilled dishes, Moloukhieh provides a more comforting style of Lebanese dining, particularly for diners interested in traditional preparations rather than only mezze and grilled meats.

6. Bamia

Bamia offers another traditional Lebanese preparation from Arabella’s menu. The dish features lamb shanks braised with okra in tomato sauce and seasoned with garlic, coriander and pomegranate molasses. It is served with rice.

The slow cooking method allows the lamb to become tender while the tomato sauce develops a rich base. Pomegranate molasses contributes a subtle tanginess that complements the savoury lamb and earthy okra.

7. Fasoulia

Fasoulia is another hearty traditional dish available at Arabella. It combines butter beans with onion and basil, creating a comforting preparation with a mild nutty character and fresh herbal notes.

The dish demonstrates how Lebanese cooking can create satisfying meals from beans, herbs and vegetables. Its softer texture and savoury flavour make it a distinct experience compared to the grilled meat and mezze options on the menu.

8. Fattoush

Fattoush provides a fresh option among Arabella’s Lebanese selections. The salad combines crisp vegetables and herbs with toasted pita bread and a dressing featuring sumac and pomegranate molasses.

The toasted pita adds crunch, while sumac contributes a tangy flavour. Pomegranate molasses adds another layer of sweetness and acidity. This makes Fattoush a suitable accompaniment to richer meat-based dishes.

9. Samakeh Harrah

Samakeh Harrah introduces seafood into Arabella’s Lebanese menu. The dish features whole fish prepared with a spicy tahini sauce, coriander and chilli.

Tahini provides richness, while coriander contributes an aromatic herbal quality. Chilli adds heat to the preparation, creating a seafood dish with a distinctive Middle Eastern flavour profile. It is an interesting option for diners who want to explore something beyond meat and traditional mezze.

10. Woodfire King Prawns

The Woodfire King Prawns are another seafood selection from Arabella’s menu. The prawns are seasoned with herbs and spices before being cooked over a wood fire.

Wood-fired cooking gives the prawns a characteristic grilled aroma and a lightly charred exterior while allowing their natural flavour to remain prominent. The use of herbs and spices adds a Lebanese-inspired element to the seafood preparation.

Exploring Arabella’s Lebanese Menu

From Mezze to Traditional Mains

Arabella’s menu provides several ways to experience Lebanese cuisine. Cold mezze such as Hummus, Baba Ghanouj and Chilli Walnut Dip allow diners to begin with smaller dishes. In contrast, options such as Shawarma, Moloukhieh, Bamia and Fasoulia provide more substantial meals.

Choices Beyond Meat

The menu also includes vegetable-focused selections such as Fattoush and Fasoulia, along with other vegetarian and vegan choices. This variety allows diners with different preferences to explore Lebanese flavours without relying solely on meat-based dishes.

Seafood With Lebanese Flavours

Samakeh Harrah and Woodfire King Prawns show how seafood can be incorporated into the restaurant’s Middle Eastern menu. Both options use herbs, spices, and traditional flavour combinations while offering an alternative to lamb and chicken dishes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Lebanese foods are available at Arabella?

Arabella’s menu includes Hummus, Baba Ghanouj, Chilli Walnut Dip, Shawarma, Moloukhieh, Bamia, Fasoulia, Fattoush, Samakeh Harrah and Woodfire King Prawns, among other selections.

Which Arabella dishes are good for sharing?

Cold mezze such as Hummus, Baba Ghanouj and Chilli Walnut Dip are suitable for sharing. Arabella also offers Mixed Plates that bring together several grilled meat options.

Does Arabella offer seafood dishes?

Yes. Arabella’s menu includes Samakeh Harrah and Woodfire King Prawns among its seafood selections.

Are there vegetarian choices on the menu?

Yes. Arabella’s menu includes vegetarian and vegan options, with dishes such as Fattoush and Fasoulia showcasing plant-focused Lebanese dishes. 


Eden Molle

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