أهلاًAhlan, I’m Samira Kazan
I grew up in Taybe, a village in south Lebanon, cooking beside my mom and helping at our family’s falafel shop after school. I test every new recipe at least three times in my Oxford kitchen.
- Author of Lebanese Cuisine: The Authentic Cookbook
- Over 1,000 recipes on Alphafoodie
- Cooking for Alphafoodie since 2015
Browse Lebanese recipes
Start here
The Lebanese classics
The dishes you’ll find on almost every Lebanese table. If you’re new to Lebanese food, start with these.
My family’s recipes
From my mom’s kitchen in Taybe
After school I’d shadow my mom in the kitchen, peeling garlic, washing vegetables and running to the garden for whatever she needed. She can cook almost every Lebanese dish there is, and these are the ones I grew up on.
My family also ran a falafel shop in the village, The Sun Bar. I’d go straight there after school to help, and it’s where my falafel recipe comes from.
My cookbook
Lebanese Cuisine: The Authentic Cookbook
The Lebanese food I grew up with, in one book: dips like hummus and moutabal, salads like tabbouleh and fattoush, makdous and spinach fatayer, and the basics like tahini and za’atar. Every recipe has step-by-step photos and a vegan or vegetarian option.
مونةMouneh
The Lebanese pantry, made from scratch
In Lebanon, mouneh is the store cupboard you fill while things are in season: spice blends, molasses, pickles and labneh. Here’s how to make them at home.
Why you can trust these recipes
Meet Samira
I’ve been developing recipes for Alphafoodie since 2015. Before that I was a research scientist (I have a DPhil from the University of Oxford), and I still cook that way: I research a dish, make it roughly, then weigh, adjust and test it again before it goes on the site.
- Raised on itGrew up in south Lebanon, cooking with my mom.
- Wrote the bookLebanese Cuisine: The Authentic Cookbook, first published by DK in 2022.
- Tested 3 timesI test every new recipe at least three times before it goes up.
- Food safety trainedTwo Level 4 food safety qualifications, both with Distinction.
- Golden Apple winner, Channel 4’s Crazy Delicious (2020)
- Best Food Styling, Pinterest UK Food + Drink Awards (2018)
- Lebanese cooking session, Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival (2025)
Beyond Lebanese
More from my kitchen
Alphafoodie isn’t only Lebanese. You’ll also find kitchen DIYs, from plant milks to homemade cheese, and easy everyday recipes.
Kitchen DIYs
Latest recipes
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