This is what the Lebanese holidays are all about: the food! We have the specialties, like the ones we make only on certain holidays, and the constants like Hummus, Tabbouleh, etc.
Easter this year might not be as festive for many with all the ongoing. Some traditions will be forcefully missed out. However, the essence of Easter remains as it has done throughout history in the land of survivors.
The feast is always gonna be there, in sickness and in health. The culinary traditions keep on, and families will be celebrating around a special lunch to commemorate The Resurrection.
And because these are not normal times, we’re starting with the desserts!
#1 Maamoul
What is Lebanese Easter without Maamoul? Who cares about all the sugar sprinkled on top, diabetes, and body fat at this time? They don’t exist around Easter in Lebanon. These ‘cookies’ are usually filled with dates or nuts and come in different shapes and forms, and they are an absolute delight!
#2 Kaak b Halib
“Semsoum Aw Bala Semsoum?” (With or Without Sesame?) This is the most famous question during Easter in Lebanon. Kaak El Eid is exactly as it sounds, Kaak that is only made during holidays in Lebanon.
They come in two types: yeah, you guessed it, with and without sesame. This will be your breakfast for weeks and weeks to come (and your snack in between meals).
#3 Easter chocolate
These are what we live for. These are our childhood and our memories. Chocolate covered in colorful wrappers, shaped like little eggs, and served on a tray decorated with bunnies and more eggs. I don’t know about you, but the huge chocolate eggs are my all-time favorites.
#4 Baklawa and Petit-Fours
More sweets! Who would’ve thought? We’ll get to the real food soon, but these are all very important to mention. Baklawa is a classic during holidays in Lebanon, a delicious sugary one.
Have fun with these ones, but not too much fun because you are going to need several visits to the gym afterward.
#5 Petit-Fours
The petit-four, in its series of shapes and tastes, is another classic of the Lebanese holidays and maybe the most prevailing. Lebanese mothers start preparing and baking them a week earlier… and not just a dozen or two.
This will also be your sweet snack for weeks and weeks to come. Have we mentioned that they are super delightful?
#6 Kibbeh in all its shapes and forms
Lebanese Kibbeh is not only food, it is also a form of art. It is said that the kind of Kibbeh you prefer says a lot about who you are as a person and, on Easter, there’s bound to be every kind of Kibbeh ever discovered on the table.
Raw Kibbeh (tartare), Kibbeh Bel Saniyeh, Kibbet Batata, Kibbeh Zghartewiyeh, Kibbeh Laqtin (Pumpkin), fried Kibbeh, grilled Kibbeh, and… okay I should stop now.
#7 Rez a3 Djej
For most, Easter comes after a long period of fasting with many also cutting off meat from their food intake on weekends. Either way, big Lebanese lunches mean that Lebanon’s most famous dishes will be prepared, and the most famous of all is the traditional Lebanese chicken with rice.
#8 Masheweh
Masheweh (Grills) will be present just because they are always a reason to bring families and friends together for an easy-going enjoyable time, and because it’s Sunday. And Lebanese and Sunday, that means grill reigns!
#9 Fatayer
The beauty of Lebanese Fatayer is that you never know what you’ll get, but you are fine with everything because they are delicious. Spinach, Meat, Labneh, Kechek, and even hot dogs (not so Lebanese, this one), each one is special in its own way. Bring them all, we don’t mind.
#10 The obvious: Fattouch
Not just any Fattouch, but the specially decorated Fattouch that has pomegranate in it. You can eat delicious Fattouch any day of the year, however, you only eat beautifully made, masterpiece Fattouch on special occasions like Easter.
#11 Wara2 Aarish/Enab
Stuffed Grape Leaves are a celebratory dish in the Lebanese culture; a dish that takes time to make, and that is succulent. It is often present on the Lebanese holidays’ tables. It makes people even happier on a special day like this one.
The beauty of this dish is that you can make it with meat or vegetarian, and it is yummy either way.
#12 Moghrabiyeh
It is usually either this or the Lebanese Chicken n Rice as a main dish, but how can a person decide? People hungry for chicken will have both, and who can blame them.
This is a lot, but it’s not everything. These are the highlights of every Lebanese Easter.
