Joanna James
Middle Eastern cuisine boasts of nutritious, aromatic, wholesome and fresh food items that you can dig in all day long. Here are some of the most popular food items in the Arabian Peninsula.
We start this list with the age-old Arabian food item, the Manakeesh. Manakeesh is basically a type of pizza. So, you can expect a rolled out baked bread with a delicious filling on top. The filling makes all the difference in the world. It incorporates ground meat, cheese and zaatar (herbs). You can have it for breakfast or lunch, or breakfast and lunch! You'll be grabbing for Manakeesh wherever you go, for sure!
It is quite rare to see a dip on a "popular food list". But Hummus deserves a place. The chickpea spread is all people want when tasting any kind of Arab food, be it the grilled meats, salad, or as a spread on to the top of freshly baked bread and buns! For a good authentic dining experience, you must check out some of the best restaurants in Abu Dhabi. You can head out to properties like Anantara Sir Bani Yas Island Al Sahel Villas for buffet styled dining.
The Ful meddamas is made out of olive oil, fave beans, garlic, lemon and onion. Truth be told, it doesn't look all that appetising, but the taste really makes up for the lack of creative presentation. And that is the reason why you cannot judge a 'dish by its cover!' The ful meddamas stands as a testament to this statement!
We have all heard of the falafel. Every Arab food stall whips up a falafel plate in any corner of the world. But tasting it in the Middle East is a different experience altogether. These are the best falafels out there, and the authentic flavours with local spices and herbs, need to be tried!
The most common misconception is that Tabouleh is just for the vegetarians out there. That cannot be more wrong. This fascinating combination of parsley, mint, bulgur, tomatoes and onions, make up for a salad rich in nutrients and exquisite in taste! And guess what? You might just as well swap an entire meal for this brilliant salad! It is that good!
This is another dip that deserves a place on this list. This dip is spiced up with a good amount of chilli and gives you the 'zing' you look for in a dip!
The Fattoush is another popular salad in the Middle East that deserves your attention. The crunchy pita, fresh lettuce, tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, lemon, garlic, mint and olive oil, deliver a salad you haven't tasted anything like before!
Well, wondering where the shawarma went, did you? We definitely did not forget the shawarma. How can one? It is the highlight of any Arab cuisine! The skewered meats, garlic, salad all wrapped in fresh pita, is all you'll be grabbing when going around exploring the Middle East.
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.
