Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Foodies will love this selection of Lebanese food in the Lebani Beirut Box! The mix of different ingredients make a welcome change to the Christmas puddings, mince pies and jars of tea that are so common and instead, inspire you to cook different foods based on Lebanese recipes.
Inside the Beirut Box you’ll find:
- Jar of Lebnani Sumac
- Jar of Lebnani Zaatar spice mix
- 250ml Bottle of Zet Zeytoun Lebanese Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 250ml Bottle of Chtoura Pomegranate Molasses
- Jar of Mrabba fig jam with roasted sesame seeds
- Jar of pickled wild cucumbers
- Pistachio Backlawa
- Recipe card from Chef Jad Youssef
- 250ml bottle of Chtaura Orange Blossom Water
All of the ingredients keep in the cupboard for ages, but you’ll find the recipe card has a mixture of included ingredients and some fresh that you’ll need to buy. You can of course, use the ingredients however you wish!
The Sumac and Zaatar spices are particularly good to experiment with as they’re not found in supermarkets easily. Sumac has a slightly tangy flavour and is used in meat dishes and hummus but can also be added to salads and other savoury dishes. Zaatar is a mix of spices, including sumac and is used in dishes such as roast chicken or as a seasoning for baked sweet potato or salads.
Most of the Lebanese recipes which include the spices and seasonings also include the Zet Zeytoun Lebanese Extra Virgin Olive Oil. These olives are picked from the Lebanese mountains by hand it is known to be rich in texture and buttery, with a cut-grass-like aroma. I am particularly partial to the Mrabba fig jam too. Figs are not only my favourite fruit but fig jam is great with any scone or on toast and can be added to recipes such as brownies or cookies to give both texture and sweetness. I didn’t realise that Lebanese fig jam is in another league though! The Mrabba fig is not the garden fig variety we have in the UK so this was a pleasant surprise to find how fruity and sweet it was.
Chtoura Pomegranate Molasses is used in Mediterranean cuisine to add fruitiness to savoury dishes, much like sumac and zaatar. There’s a running theme in this box that the ingredients add not just some sweetness to recipes but a real flavour of the Mediterranean to everyday cooking. Pomegranate molasses is no exception and with the sweetness of the sauce, you get a great mixture of flavours to add to any humble dish like a salad, which is also one of the recipes included in the recipe card from Chef Jad Youssef – the Tatbila Salad including onions, tomatoes sumac and the pomegranate molasses.
The picked wild cucumbers are suspiciously like the gherkins we have in UK supermarkets but these are smaller and no less tasty! Adding zing to your salad or as a side dish they’re deliciously juicy. The Orange Blossom Water from Chtaura was a surprise which I didn’t know what to do with. Its water distilled with orange blossom petals to give another sweet addition to many dishes, both savoury and sweet. I think this one would be perfect for adding to sweet desserts instead of a sugary essence like vanilla or making a custard a little bit more exciting.
Finally, the last and most delicious piece in the Beirut Box is the Pistachio Backlawa. I’m not normally a fan of backlawa but this was an education thanks to the 3 pieces included in the food box! The cake-like sweets are dense and sweet with layers and layers of flakey pastry filled with the pistachio sweet filling. There’s no nutty flavour to it but a slight texture and oh my goodness – it was delicious! I’m sure other backlawa I’ve tried before isn’t this satisfying but I really felt like this was a wholesome, filling treat in the afternoon with a cup of coffee and is a dessert or treat which brings about joy! The box alone is worth it just for the backlawa and I could easily have eaten all 3 pieces in one go. (don’t worry, I didn’t!)
Anyone with an interest in Lebanese or Mediterranean cuisine will love this box. If you’re a food lover and want to experiment with different flavours and textures, then this is a great introduction and the recipe card is a great way of getting involved and trying out some of their ideas. The mixture of ingredients also ensures that you’re covered for both savoury and sweet meals and the spices, olive oil and orange blossom water especially will last a long time.
It’s been great fun trying out the ingredients and thinking about different ways to use them!
Available online for £38 plus delivery of £6.95 per hamper at: https://lebnani.co.uk/eventsbookings/the-beirut-box
The Review Studio 