Joanna James
From spongy bread and delectable pastries to Arabic coffee and delicious camel burgers, Emirati cuisine has perhaps been one of the most underrated for reasons unfathomable. Here is a list of 5 foods you must try when in Dubai.
These profiterole-looking hot dumplings are truly all the rage in Dubai. With a very similar texture and taste to doughnuts, these little balls of happiness are a must-try on your food expeditions of the Emirates. Cafes make fresh batches every morning and we can completely understand- they sell faster than hot-cakes! Topped on top of each other typically to build up a pyramid of sorts, they are served with a sticky date sauce and topped with sesame seeds and pistachio flakes for added crunch. Most Ibn Battuta restaurants serve up these lip-smacking treats as a mid-morning snack along with some quality Emirati coffee.
Believed to have originated in Palestine back in the day, this pastry has become an all-time favourite with the Emiratis. The delightful pairing of tang sour cheese, sweet sugar syrup and dough, is best-had piping hot right off the flat pan. During the Ramadan season, orders for this delicious dessert simply sky-rocket given people love to serve it during Iftar – the sun-down meal consumed by Muslims for breaking their day-long fast. After all, what better treat can you think of to break your day-long fast than with this delightful treat!
Here is something you never would have imagined – camel meat is simply delicious! Camel meat was usually not consumed by the Emiratis for the longest time and it is only now that the modern chefs are beginning to explore their culinary marvels with different variations of camel meat from camel sliders and biriyani to burgers and stews and everything in between. On the other hand, camel milk has been a treasured luxury for the Emiratis throughout time and is precious given its extremely attractive health benefits. The only off-putting fact may be that it is a tad saltier than the regular cows' milk. If the saltiness does not sit too well with you, you may want to consider trying some of their delicious camel milk ice creams available in a variety of different flavours including chocolate, pistachio, and dates! From smaller cafes to big-time restaurants of hotels the likes of Avani Ibn Battuta Hotel Dubai, a dish with camel as its star is never too hard to find!
Now, this is something that you would more typically expect to be popular in India, but the Emiratis have a taste for it as well. These hot pastries are generally stuffed with meat, vegetables, and spices. However, the most popular local version is one that is stuffed with three different types of cheeses that pack a definite tickle to your tastebuds.
Last but most certainly not least, Chebab is simply a treat of heavens if I may say so myself! These Emirati-style pancakes are a breakfast favourite among the locals and are crammed full of sour cheese and sweet date syrup and then heated up to infuse the flavours together. The perfect marriage of tangy and sweet is everything that you are going to want to dance around about the day you try out this pillowy, gooey and wonderful treat!
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.
