Not many cultures can compare to the Lebanese when it comes to desserts. Decadent and delicious, these treats are a big part of traditional Lebanese cuisine. However, what exactly are Lebanese desserts? I’m sure many of you have heard about baklava, but rest assured that it goes beyond that little pastry. There is no better way to top off a great meal in a restaurant in Sydney than with a tasty Lebanese dessert. Once you have tried Lebanese sweets, you will never go back. 

Although we love baklava, there are so many other desserts the Lebanese cuisine has on offer. These top desserts are served in Middle Eastern restaurants around Sydney! We are going to reveal our top three Lebanese sweet treats.

Top Lebanese Restaurants in Sydney CBD serve “booza”

Lebanese ice cream is more commonly known as ‘booza’, filled with Middle Eastern aromas with a stretchy and chewy texture. 

Who doesn’t love ice-cream? Taking the taste and texture of ice cream to a whole new level, with intense flavours, ‘booza’ will transport you on a sensory journey to the Middle East. 

The stretchy and chewy texture of ‘booza’ comes from ‘salep’, a flour made from the tubers of the orchid roots. These tubers contain a nutritious, starchy element known as glucomannan. Mastic is also used, which is the resin extracted from trees and is a prominent ingredient in chewing gum. This gives the ice cream an elastic and stretchy texture.

This delectable ice cream is made from a mixture of milk, cream, spices, vanilla or saffron for flavouring. There are no eggs added to ‘booza’. Instead, mastic and salep are used to thicken the texture. Booza has a consistency similar to mozzarella cheese and is produced through a process of pounding and stretching in a freezer drum.

Mhalabiye is a must when you visit a top restaurant to eat in Sydney CBD

Traditional and flavoursome. Mhalbiye is a must-have Lebanese treat. What is Mhalabiye? It is a traditional milk pudding consisting of milk and sugar, thickened with rice flour or cornstarch. This dessert is served cold and can take on a range of flavours such as vanilla, mastic, cardamom, rose and orange blossom water. Garnished with caramelised pistachios, you can not go wrong when you indulge in this dessert. The addition of rose water and orange blossom water adds a light and fragrant touch. 

This dessert served best chilled after a large Lebanese feast at any restaurant in Sydney! The dessert is considered ‘light’ and does not weigh you down. It is the perfect late-night pick me up or a sweet treat (even if you feel like you can not eat anymore!). 

What makes this dessert unique is the simplicity of the method and its ingredients. Mhalabiye is a staple in every Middle Eastern household as well as served in some of the top restaurants in Sydney and all over the world. 

Nammoura, a Middle Eastern classic served in restaurants in Sydney

Nammoura, a slice with a beautiful fragrance derived from an aromatic sugar syrup made with rosewater and orange blossom water. This flavoursome slice also uses a ‘mahlab’ a powerful spice with notes of almond and cherry for additional dimension. 

This dessert is loved by many because it is so simple to make, perfect for a last-minute dinner party! Picture a moist, dense cake with a hint of yoghurt, the sweetness of honey and a hint of rose. An egg-free semolina cake, baked and while hot soaked with rose water. Absolutely mouth-watering. What is even better about this dessert is it contain no egg! So if you are allergic to egg, this one is perfect for you. It is also versatile, satisfying everyone’s sweet tooth by adjusting the amount of sugar syrup ‘attar’ added on top of the dessert. 

This dessert has many different names, with the Lebanese calling it Nammoura, the Palestinians call it Harisseh and the Egyptians call it Basbousa. We don’t care what you call it, just as long as you try this top dessert at a Middle Eastern restaurant in Sydney. 

Zahli, one of the top restaurants to eat in Sydney CBD serves some of the best Lebanese cuisine and desserts, delivering excellence in taste, service and unique experiences. 

At Zahli, we bring the Lebanese culture and experience to life through flavour. Awarded one of the top restaurants in Sydney, we know how to encompass unique taste in our dishes. 

Have you tried Lebanese dessert before? Make sure to visit Zahli to experience a sweet treat like no other. Reserve your seat today at (02) 9318 2228