I found this book at the library a couple of weeks ago. As the name suggests, it's a Lebanese recipe book by Cassie Maroun-Paladin.The first time I tasted Lebanese food was in Kuwait, about 15 years ago! It was hummus and pita bread but naturally. Since then I have developed a great liking to Middle-Eastern cuisine. My all-time favorite is perhaps the ‘Shawarma’. I can still remember our summer vacations in Kuwait and the local vendors with their conical ‘shawarma’ stands.
Back to the book. It takes you through every appetizer, entree and dessert possible. There's also a special section for pickles, breads, yoghurts and refreshing drinks. My favorite section is perhaps the 'Kibbi'. Kibbi refers to a kind of ground meat preparation and is apparently the monarch of Lebanese cuisine. You can eat it stuffed, fried, with gravy or as meat balls. I would really love to try this dish. The book has an ample section for meats, poultry and vegetables. I’ve learnt that Lebanese cuisine is similar to Indian, in that they use comparable ingredients, are curry based and are served over rice. Last but not the least, dessert! I’ve eaten many kinds of Lebanese dessert. The desserts are all very rich and use dry fruits. This book has recipes to many delectable petite fours, the most popular being the ‘knafie burmah’. This dessert is common to Greece and Lebanon and you know what, I’ve even seen a variation of it at Costco!
