Joanna James
Finally heading off to contemporary Dubai for a taste of the Middle East? Get your taste-buds ready for a mega treat, for not only is the city known for its many splendid attractions, but it's also a hub for tasting Lebanese, Iranian and Arabic food. Do read on!
The perfect fix for those of you hankering for Dubai specialities, Manousheh is for the discerning palate. The piquant dish, very much like a pizza is made up of flatbread, that's topped up with some exotic ingredients. These include Akkawi a salty cheese, olive oil and good sprinkling of earthy zaatar herbs. It's the must-try street food of Dubai and should be tried with its alternative of sweet jam and minced lamb. You won't regret it and in fact, you will be taking some back to your hotel, which by the way is fine if you are considering alternate accommodation at one of the furnished hotel apartments Dubai has to offer. The modern trend, these accommodation options are for tourists who love to explore and run to their own schedule; a trend many places like Citadines Metro Central Dubai cater to.
Are you a bread lover? Who isn't, and here's a fab treat! Definitely a favourite amongst Dubai's line-up of cuisine, Iranian Sangak is leavened flatbread made from whole-wheat. It's generally served plain, cut into triangle shapes and is a favourite amongst the health food fanatics. The best combination is Sangrak with basil and Bulgarian feta!
A gorgeous and fragrant rice dish, Chelo Kebab is a made up of soft basmati rice served with a knob of butter on which savoury kebabs rest. Enhance the dish with fragrant dill and the sour zereshk berries for that out of this world flavour.
A marvellous combination of meat, wheat and salt, makes this dish a star in Dubai. Often cooked for special occasions such as Eid, Ramadan and weddings, Al Harees takes hours to prepare. A very traditional dish, the wheat and meat are boiled for hours until it all melts into each other to create unique flavour which will have you asking for more. Try it with samen a type of butter and powdered cinnamon. Those of you with a sweet tooth, try it with a sprinkling of sugar.
Some truly stimulating flavours have helped add this dish to the best Dubai cuisine list. It's made with a combination of rice, well-seasoned meat, onions, spices and dried lemon. The taste is rich and packed full of flavour, don't forget the heavenly aromas. Try it with raita and salad for the best experience.
Hey, Dubai is kind to the vegetarian too, and Taboulleh is a delicious option. It's a fresh salad made from tomatoes, cucumber and green onion which has been seasoned with lemon juice and fresh mint. The perfect option for both the vegetarian and health food freak, this is one example of the lovely salads available in Dubai. Try it with corn and blueberry while the stuffed grape leaves version is pretty heavenly too.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
