Lebanese Ingredients
Essential ingredients for authentic Lebanese cooking
5 ingredients
Tahini
Sesame Paste, Sesame Butter
Tahini is ground sesame paste—the creamy, nutty base of hummus and halva. Quality tahini should be pourable and silky, not thick and bitter.
Za'atar
Zaatar, Middle Eastern Spice Blend
Za'atar is the Levantine spice blend of wild thyme, sumac, sesame seeds, and salt. It's drizzled with olive oil on flatbread, sprinkled on labneh, and used on everything.
Sumac
Rhus, Sicilian Sumac
Sumac is the tangy, fruity ground spice from sumac berries. Before lemons reached the Middle East, sumac provided acidity. Its unique tartness is irreplaceable.
Pomegranate Molasses
Pomegranate Syrup, Dibs Rumman
Pomegranate molasses is reduced pomegranate juice—thick, tangy, and fruity. It adds complex sweet-sour depth to savory and sweet dishes alike.
Rose Water
Gulab, Rosewater
Rose water is distilled rose petals—the fragrant essence that perfumes desserts, drinks, and savory dishes across the Middle East and South Asia.
About Lebanese Cooking
Explore the essential ingredients that make Lebanese cuisine unique. From traditional spices to specialty sauces, discover what you need to cook authentic Lebanese dishes at home.