THE HISTORY OF EMIRATI CUISINE AND THE BEST DISHES TO TRY ON

“Simple, yet delicious or light yet satisfactory”, this is how we decided to describe the Emirati Cuisine.

UAE has taken a bit from the sea, from the mountains, the oasis, and the desert. And then all that came in the ships and caravans was put together and the Emirati Cuisine was formed.

The fact that we all know UAE’s location playing a strategic role in the Silk and Spice roads, makes it quite obvious for us to know that it has influenced its culinary lifestyle.

The traditional Emirati Cuisine had meat, dairy, cereals, and wheat in them. Earlier during Emirati weddings, camel meat was served. But, now with the growing modernity, there is a twist in this tradition where people are now offered specialties like camel burgers.

There is no doubt that UAE is any food lover’s paradise, and it’s only here where you will find cuisine from every part of the world – be it Indian, Italian, American – you name it, they have it. Amidst all this, people might have forgotten the local delicacies the Emirate has got to offer us.

So let’s guide you through this unique cuisine that pays tribute to its culture.

MAIN DISHES

1. HAREES

It’s one of the most popular Emirati dishes and is often served in weddings and religious holidays. This mixture has main ingredients of wheat and meat and the final result of it is delicious.

 

2. THEREED

It is a rich and comforting stew that is quite similar to that of Moroccan tagine. This stew usually consists of meat with a selection of slow-roasted vegetables. What makes it unique is the addition of the Emirati flatbread known as Rigag. This bread is usually placed at the bottom of the dish, with the stew layered on top of it.

 

3. MACHBOOS

A rich rice dish made with meat or fish that is quite similar to an Indian biryani. What sets it apart is the unique fragrances of the spices that are used to flavor this. The secret ingredient is the addition of a dried lemon known as Loomy that provides brightness and a zest to the dish.

 

 

 

THE DESSERTS

Over the years, Emiratis have developed an amazing collection of desserts and sweet. Some of them are:

1. LUQAIMAT

This is probably the most popular and the best traditional Emirati dessert that consists of small fried dumplings that are soaked in a sweet & sticky date syrup famously known as dibbs. It’s addictive, trust us when we say this.

 

2. BALALEET

A dish made of noodles and eggs. Its cooked with sugar and spices that create a salty-sweet dish that brilliantly gets you a crunch combination of noodles with the fluffiness of the egg that is added to the dish. It’s usually liked for the breakfasts.

 

Now that we have got your mouths watery, you might be curious to know where you can get these dishes, or where you can try the Emirati cuisine.

Here are our top picks:

1. Al Fanar

This restaurant has several branches across UAE, you can find it in The Dubai Festival City, Town Centre Mall and The Jumeirah Road. The food is the highlight but not to forget the décor is meant to mimic the inside of a traditional Emirati house that’s got the best ambiance.

 

2. Arabian Tea House

It’s primarily located near Dubai’s historic Al Fahidi district and is quite authentic with its ambiance. It’s a proper combination of local Emirati fare, Arabian favorites and a few international dishes like pasta, for the tourists.

 

3. Karak & Rigag

A budget-friendly option for those who wouldn’t want to spend more. You can always come here to taste some luqaimat that is served with a strong tea. There is also a selection of various Arabic bread that also have the filling of cheese or potato chips. Might not be completely traditional but it’s a great way to grab some modernized versions of the old choices.