Lebanese Winter Meals: Simple Ideas for Cold Days

The first rainy afternoon usually brings the same question: what’s something warm we can eat?

A salad might have been enough a few weeks ago. Now you feel like lentil soup with lemon, a stew with rice, or moghrabieh with a little extra broth.

You probably already have a few favourites. The hard part is remembering them when you’re standing in front of the fridge, trying to decide what to cook.

Lentil soup for an easy evening

Shorbet adas is the kind of dinner you can make without a special shopping trip. Lentils, an onion and whatever your usual recipe calls for. Some families add carrots or potatoes. Others keep it simple.

Put lemon wedges and toasted bread on the table so everyone can finish their bowl the way they like it.

If soup alone feels too light for dinner, add a cheese sandwich or some labneh and vegetables. There’s no need to turn it into a second cooking job.

Fasolia or bamieh when you want a proper lunch

A pot of fasolia with rice is an easy answer to “what’s for lunch?” The same goes for bamieh, bazella or loubieh bi zeit.

Choose the one your household actually enjoys. A familiar dish that gets eaten is more useful than a new recipe nobody is excited about.

Check the cupboard before you shop. If you already have beans, tomato paste and rice, you may be closer to lunch than you think.

And if you’re tired of cooking rice every day, loubieh bi zeit works well with bread, olives and a little salad on the side.

Moghrabieh for a family lunch

Moghrabieh takes a little more time, which makes it a good choice for a day when you’re home.

Chicken, chickpeas, onions and the smell of caraway coming from the kitchen. It’s a meal people tend to gather around before you’ve even called them.

Serve the broth separately so each person can add as much as they like. Some want their moghrabieh almost dry. Others want a bowl and a spoon.

If you’re cooking for guests, ask someone to bring the salad or dessert. You don’t have to prepare every part of lunch yourself.

A tray in the oven when you have other things to do

Kafta with potatoes, chicken with vegetables, or kibbeh bil saniyeh can make a busy afternoon easier.

There is still preparation, but once the tray is in the oven, you have time to clear the counter or sit down for a while.

Choose a simple side. Yogurt, a cabbage salad or sliced vegetables may be enough. A warm lunch doesn’t need several dishes to feel complete.

Keep one easy dinner in mind

Some evenings, even reheating a big meal feels like too much.

Keep a few ingredients for something quick: eggs for an omelette, cheese for a sandwich, or chickpeas for a warm bowl of balila with lemon and cumin.

These meals deserve a place in the week too. You don’t need a full pot of tabekh every night.

Choose tomorrow’s lunch before today ends

Before you finish cleaning up, decide what you’re eating tomorrow.

Check what’s left, what needs using and whether anything needs soaking or moving from the freezer to the fridge. A small decision tonight can save you another round of “what should we cook?” in the morning.

For the days you’d like lunch cooked for you, take a look at the Mahabati weekly menu. Choose something you’re looking forward to eating, and leave the cooking to us.

Chef MahabaFounder, Mahabati Catering

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