In this video, I’ll be taking you on a culinary journey right from the heart of Lebanon. Ever heard of the famous Labneh sandwich? It’s a staple in our culture, and today, I’ll be showing you how to make one from scratch. We’ll delve into the ingredients, from the creamy labneh to the aromatic za3tar, and I’ll share some local tips on how to assemble the perfect sandwich. Whether you’re familiar with Lebanese cuisine or it’s your first time hearing about it, by the end of this guide, you’ll be well-equipped to create your own Labneh sandwich, just like the locals do. So, let’s dive into the flavors and traditions of Lebanon together!
Transcript:
Introduction
Hello guys! So me and my friends are hungry, and we’re thinking about making a snack; a sandwich, and it’s very famous here to make labneh sandwich.
What is Labneh?
Labneh is a cream cheese and it’s very delicious. There are two kinds of labneh, or two shapes:
- The round shape, usually made of goat.
- The spreadable form, made from cow milk.
Ingredients for the Lebanese Labneh Sandwich
- Bread: It’s Arabic bread. We call it “khebez 3arabeh”. Because “bread” means “khebez” and “Arabic” means “3arabeh”. You might also know it as pita bread. There’s a second kind of Arabic bread called “khebez mar2ou2”, which is larger.
- Labneh: You can use either the round shape or the spreadable form.
- Vegetables: Cucumbers (khyar) and tomatoes (banadoora).
- Mint Leaves: Fresh mint from the garden.
- Olives: Both black and green olives can be used.
- Thyme (Za3tar): A pinch of za3tar adds flavor.
- Salt: To taste.
- Olive Oil (Zeit Zaytoun): A drizzle to finish.
Making the Sandwich
I’m going to use pita bread and the round shape labneh. You can spread the labneh with a knife, but I prefer the traditional method my grandmother and mother use: taking a small piece of bread to spread the labneh. After spreading the labneh, add the vegetables, mint, olives, thyme, salt, and olive oil. Fold the sandwich and it’s ready to serve!
Closing and Homework
The labneh sandwich is made from khebez, labneh, khyar, banadoura, na3na3 (which means mint), za3tar, mele7 (salt), olives (zaytoun), and olive oil (zeit zaytoun). When you serve it, you can say “sa7tein”, which is similar to “bon appetit” in English.
Homework: Make your own labneh sandwich, take a picture, and post it on my blog. Thank you, bye bye!
Words Recap:
| English | Lebanese (Latin Letters) | Lebanese (Arabic Alphabet) |
|---|---|---|
| Bread | khebez | خبز |
| Arabic | 3arabeh | عربي |
| Cucumber | khyar | خيار |
| Tomato | banadoora | بندورة |
| Mint | na3na3 | نعنع |
| Thyme | za3tar | زعتر |
| Salt | mele7 | ملح |
| Olive | zaytoun | زيتون |
| Oil | zeit | زيت |
| Olive Oil | zeit zaytoun | زيت الزيتون |
| Labneh | labneh | لبنة |
| Pita Bread | khebez 3arabeh | خبز عربي |
| Large Bread | khebez mar2ou2 | خبز مرقوق |
