I am a chili head – I am known to put hot sauce on everything. Our dinner table is never without hot sauce, or some homemade chili sauce of some sort – regardless of the cuisine we’re eating. I see spiciness warnings on restaurant menus as a dare, and order my Thai food ‘Thai hot’…
Laban (yogurt) based dips and sauces are found across the Middle East and Indian subcontinent (for example, raita or pachadi) or the popular Greek ‘tzatziki’, and are an accompaniment to many dishes – such as kibbeh, fritters, or just as a stand-alone dip for bread or vegetables. Kh’yar (or Khiyar, or Khyar) bi Laban is…
Admittedly, I am not a big cheese person. Part of this stems from being lactose intolerant, so I didn’t grow up eating a lot of it as I always felt it made my stomach hurt. Cultured dairy, like yogurt, seems to be a bit easier on my stomach and so labneh, being made from yogurt,…
Toum is perhaps the most versatile Lebanese condiment; it consists only of fresh garlic, salt, oil, and lemon juice. When made correctly, it is light and fluffy – the consistency of a light mayonnaise – but packed with garlic flavour. It is good on meat, vegetables, in sandwiches – or even to dip French fries…
