14 DELICIOUS Lebanese Breakfast Dishes 2024 → From a Local!

Engulf your senses with the tastiest, healthiest Lebanese food for breakfast. This curated list includes the most authentic recipes so you can make them at home.

Looking for traditional Lebanese breakfast dishes? I’ve got you covered! 

As a lifelong lover of all things Lebanon and a self-considered local to this gorgeous country, I’ve got all the Lebanese breakfast ideas you’ll ever need.

The all-famous Lebanese breakfast is, in my opinion, the absolute BEST in the world. It caters for every taste and diet and, if it’s done right, you’ll never want any other kind of breakfast.

I’ve sorted this post by eggs, dips, sweet breakfast, bakery, and a full Lebanese breakfast mezze option for when you’re entertaining – or just feeling fancy. Take your pick!

1. Eggs

Fried eggs with sumac

As far as simple breakfasts go, this is it! A typical Lebanese breakfast for simple, everyday moments, it’s as easy as frying up a bunch of eggs with a sprinkling of sumac. 

It’s quick, it’s easy, and it’s delicious! 

Fun fact – sumac is jam packed with health benefits! Think anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and pro-muscular strength 🦾

Eggs with labneh

The base of this is technically Turkish – but anything goes when it comes to labneh!

Labneh is different from standard yogurt. Labneh is the product of straining yogurt to the point of total submission! All the whey is removed in the straining process to form a much thicker version of yogurt, kind of like cream cheese. And it’s delicious!

Sounds like your jam? Poach 2 eggs and eat them with a generous serving of Labneh and minced garlic. 

If you’re feeling extra fancy, get some chili oil on there! 

Eggs with awarma

This is one of THE most popular breakfast dishes in Lebanon, and it’s easy to see why!

Awarma is lamb confit! It’s basically been cooked with a TON of fat, which sounds weird, but it makes it truly delicious. Don’t knock it til you’ve tried it!

The best advice I can give you? Watch this YouTube video for the step-by-step from Marc Abed. Seriously, you won’t regret it!

Shakshuka

Shakshuka entered the Levant from North Africa, and it’s more popular in Palestine than Lebanon, but it’s a favorite in many Lebanese restaurants in Beirut. So I just had to include it!

Shakshuka is a tomato-based sauce with dreamy poached eggs cooked right in the sauce. In my humble opinion, it’s one of the best (and healthiest) breakfasts you can eat.

The best recipe I’ve found is from Downshiftology. You can also alter the ingredients to make a green shakshuka with vegetables, or add some Soujouk (spicy sausage) for a real Lebanese taste!

Want more local delights? The list is endless, but these street foods recommended by The 961 are a great place to start!

2. Dips & laban

Fatteh

Fatteh is one of my husband’s favorite dishes. This Middle Eastern dish consists of yogurt, tahini, spiced chickpeas, deep fried pitta, and whatever topping you desire!

My husband loves eggplant and pine nuts as his topping, but you can also top it with beef mince, pomegranate seeds, flaked almonds or whatever else you fancy!

Foul medames

A gorgeous savory dish made from fava beans and chickpeas, this is the BEST Lebanese breakfast. 

Bonus? It’s super easy to make!

Foul (pronounced fool) most often comes ready in a tin. You can find it in most Middle Eastern stores, and it’s either fava beans on its own or mixed with chickpeas. Go for the chickpeas if you want that extra protein!

Fava beans, also known as broad beans, are an excellent breakfast choice to aid your digestive system. They’re super rich in folate, which helps the production of red blood cells which, in turn, help your blood transport oxygen around the body. Neat!

It’s as simple as throwing the contents of the tin into a small saucepan, mashing it down a bit with a fork as it cooks, then drizzling salt and olive oil over the top. 

Yep. It’s really that simple!

Hummus 

Okay guys, this one is super basic. Everybody knows about hummus. However, it’s arguably the most important part of your breakfast. 

Best way to make hummus? Check it out:

1. Drain 1 can of chickpeas and throw them into a food processor
2. Drizzle with olive oil, lemon juice, 1 large garlic clove and salt
3. Add a tablespoon of tahini and 2 ice cubes
4. Whiz it up! While you’re whizzing, drizzle more olive oil in through the hole in the top until you reach a creamy consistency

It’s really that easy. Just don’t forget the ice cubes – they help with the consistency!

Labneh

We’ve talked about labneh above, but having it on its own with some dippers (like cucumber and carrots) is the ULTIMATE way to enjoy it.

Throw it in a dish, use the round of a spoon to make a pretty pattern, and drizzle olive oil over the top. 

Don’t forget to add fresh mint and sumac for an authentic twist!

Wondering where you can buy labneh? You can make your own, but it’s kind of a long process! You’ll find it in most Middle Eastern stores – or check out Damaski for online delivery!

Makdous

Another of my husband’s favorites, makdous is basically just preserved baby eggplants stuffed with red pepper, garlic, chili, and walnuts. 

Preserved in olive oil, these are a classic side dish to eat with labneh! 

They’re tough to find if you don’t live next to a Middle Eastern store – but thankfully, you can find them on Amazon here!

3. Sweet breakfast

Knafeh

Anyone who tells you that you can’t eat sweet things for breakfast shouldn’t be allowed to talk to people.

Knafeh (the ULTIMATE hangover breakfast) is not for the faint of heart. Cheesy, carby, sweet, and savory all at the same time, this will have your heart in no time.

Making knafeh from scratch is no easy feat (especially if you want to get it exactly the way they serve it in Lebanon) but if you’re up for the challenge, go for it!

Otherwise, if you live near a Middle Eastern store they may have knafeh in their bakery section!

Arisheh

Are you a fan of sweet and savory? Arisheh is the star of the show!

I recommend making arisheh as part of atayef, which is a folded, stuffed pancake super popular during Ramadan.

A fantastic recipe for arisheh can be found here. It’s pretty simple to make, and with a drizzle of honey, you’ll be in sweet breakfast heaven!

Arisheh is pretty close in flavor to ricotta! You can enjoy it any way you want – with fried pitta and vegetables, on a pizza, in a bun, or just on its own with a spoon. 

4. Bakery

Manakeesh

This is my favorite part of any breakfast. Manakeesh (pronounced mana’eesh and the plural of man’oucheh) are simple, cheesy goodness and you can’t possibly enjoy a real Lebanese breakfast without it!

It’s similar to a calzone but the flatbread dough is super fluffy, and it’s typically enjoyed with zaatar and cheese, olives, fresh mint, tomatoes, and cucumber. 

You can also have cheese and turkey, cheese and soujouk, kishk, or anything else your heart desires. 

It’s hard to make it from scratch if you want it to be super authentic – the recipe is coveted by local bakeries in Lebanon and I’ve yet to find a recipe online that truly emanates the real experience – but Maureen Abood comes pretty close!

A similar breakfast is saj, a thin flatbread cooked on a circular metal stone. If any of your local Middle Eastern stores have it, try it! 

Mouajanat

Mouajanat is basically an assortment of savory breakfast bakes. 

It can include fatayer (spinach rolls), cheese rolls, sambousek (mini meat pasties), sfeeha (open meat pies), and lahm baajin (mince beef with parsley and tomatoes on flatbread).

You can choose 2 or 3 of these and have these along with your Arabic coffee. Seriously? They’re all delicious – cheese rolls are my personal favs!

Ka’ak + ka’ak sticks with tea or milk

These are GLORIOUS and my husband is always raving about them. Typically more popular in Syria, ka’ak sticks are essentially just…Lebanese breadsticks. Dip them in sweet tea and you’ve got yourself a Sunday morning treat!

Ka’ak, on the other hand, is basically a type of bread. It usually has a hole in the middle and is baked with sesame seeds

Ka’ak is shaped like a donut so that it can hang up to cool after it’s baked! It’s so crunchy and delicious!

Mezze board

A full Lebanese breakfast mezze board is essential if you’re entertaining. It’s a great option for feeding big groups of people!

It’s also a great option for those who just can’t choose which Lebanese breakfast food to enjoy. I disagree with the masses – you CAN have your ka’ak and eat it too!

Here’s a list of what I would put on my mezze board for the best Lebanese breakfast of your life:

• Lebanese or Turkish coffee (my favorite is Najjar)
• Labneh
• Hummus
• Manakish
• Fatayer
• Eggplant fatteh
• Eggs awarma
• Lebanese Olives
• Knafeh

Lebanese olives are a bit different from your typical Italian or Greek olives. They’re actually preserved in olive oil rather than brine, and they’re much more sour. For me, this makes them taste even better!

My husband’s family has a little olive grove at the back of their house near Saida, and every year they harvest the olives in HUGE tubs – the most exciting time of the year! They last for ages, so we always seem to have olives in the house, and they’re honestly so delicious!

FAQs about traditional Lebanese breakfast dishes

🇱🇧 What is traditional Lebanese breakfast?

Wondering what Lebanese people eat for breakfast? A traditional Lebanese breakfast consists of Labneh, ka’ak, eggs, makdous, and something yummy from the bakery. There are so many options to choose from!

🍲 What is Lebanon’s most famous dish?

Lebanon’s most famous dish might be hummus! Kibbeh, grilled meats, and baked goods (like manouche) are also pretty famous!

🍆 What are the best vegetarian Lebanese breakfast dishes?

If you’re a vegetarian looking for Lebanese breakfast dishes, I’d go with fatteh! Fatteh is perfect for vegetarians, super healthy, and the perfect way to start off the day!

🥗 What are the most healthy Lebanese breakfast dishes?

The healthiest Lebanese breakfast dishes are fatteh and foul. Fatteh has a ton of protein, and foul is rich in folates!

🇬🇷 What is the difference between Greek and Lebanese food?

The biggest difference between Greek and Lebanese food is the spice palate. Lebanese dishes use a different set of spices and they also use a lot more legumes like chickpeas and fava beans!

Conclusion

There you have it! The ULTIMATE list of traditional Lebanese breakfast dishes to blow your mind – and morning!

I’ve also included a few easy Lebanese breakfast recipes for you to try – I recommend you take the challenge! And if this has inspired you to taste more Lebanese food, don’t forget to check out my travel itinerary for the ULTIMATE 3 days in Beirut!

If you have any questions just let me know in the comments! I’d be happy to help, and if you have any recommendations of your own, I’d love to hear them 😁

Happy eating!

Lizzie