06 Spicy Foods to Eat in Doha – Exotic Flavours to Relish

Spiced rice is always a winner and Machboos will certainly not disappoint. The dish is made up of flavoursome rice which is mixed with either, seafood or meats, amongst which chicken, fish, lamb and even camel are often favourites. The rice is often served with a dash of lime juice and rose water sprinkled on top and for those of you who really want to spice up the meal, a side-dish of salsa is offered.

Very similar to a thick porridge, Harees is made by boiling ground wheat, butter and meat. Extremely popular during the Ramadan period, this dish is one of the most widely available meals across the GCC and must be ordered for a taste of authentic Arabic food. Traditional dishes are often served within the themed restaurants of Doha hotels like those which are a part of Souq Waqif Boutique Hotels by Tivoli enhancing your traditional meal with vintage décor and age-old Arabic settings.

A comfort dish, Thareed is very similar to a hearty stew. Made with carrots, beans, potatoes and meat, the stew is a marvellous blend of spices and herbs. Chicken or lamb is the favoured meat while mopping up the thick gravy with chunks of fresh bread is a treat you will not forget. In fact, the dish is made by placing chunks of bread at the bottom of the dish before the stew and gravy, a mixture of tomato sauce and spices is poured over. Think of it as the Arabic version to lasagne.

Beguiling to the taste-buds this dish could pass-off as a dessert or a savoury; a favoured breakfast dish offering a treat of both sweet and salty to the taste-buds the dish is a combination of fried vermicelli which is cooked in sugar, saffron, cinnamon and cardamom. It is served topped with a savoury omelette over which nuts are often sprinkled. For more breakfast treats you can visit a Lebanese restaurant Doha has to offer for treats like hot flatbread and creamy curries.

For all you soup lovers out there, Saloona is a very spicy broth that is often a vegetarian dish, although meat is added at times. The dish is a thick soup made with aubergines, carrots, tomatoes, potato and lots of spice. The best way to eat the broth is poured over rice.

For some healthy food when staying at a hotel in Doha, you can order a side of Margoong, lauded for its essentials of fibre and vitamins. The dish consists of zucchini, eggplant, carrot, tomato, potato and very tender meat. Raw bread dough is rolled flat, cut up and boiled with the stock, until it has soaked up the rich broth and is a juicy delight to eat.