Joanna James
The middle-east is famous for quite a few things, the world' largest deposits of oil, the ultra-modern cities of the desert, renowned Arabic hospitality, sites of great antiquity and importance to the Islamic, Jewish and Christian religions and delicious food.
If you are visiting Qatar be sure to stay at the state's capital – Doha, where you will find premier hotels like Banana Island Resort Doha by Anantara that have the best in-house dining options. Here you will have access to some of the best food and this dish definitely counts as one of them! Saloona is a staple in Qatar and is served with rice or is sometimes eaten by itself. It is a very simple dish; a spicy meat or vegetable broth which includes tomatoes, aubergine, carrots and potatoes.
Machboos looks very similar to biriyani and is prepared in quite the same manner. The dish can be described as a bowl of rice cooked with meat; the protein of choice can be anything from camel to fish or more commonly beef, mutton or chicken. This is a staple dish served at all Doha restaurants.
Ramadan is one of the most important festivals in the Islamic calendar and is celebrated by a month of fasting. Muslims will breakfast each day in the night and have communal meals with the family. A very famous dish during this time is Madrubha. The dish is a rice porridge that is stewed with either beef or lamb until it is mushy and creamy.
Luqaimat is a super-sweet dessert prepared by making little dumplings of butter, milk, sugar, saffron and cardamom. The little dumpling is then fried and coated with sugar syrup or honey for that extra sweetness. This dessert is a favourite during Ramadan and is sure to satisfy any sweet tooth, however severe it may be.
Ghuzi is one of the most extravagant dishes you might come across on your travels in the Middle-east. It is a dish that truly speaks volumes about renowned Arabic hospitality. The dish, simply described is a whole roasted lamb served on a bed of soft long grain rice and tenderly cooked vegetables.
Thareed is often called Arab lasagne but the dish is more similar to a stew than the lasagne. This delicious Ramadan favourite is prepared by slowly stewing vegetables such as carrots, beans and onions with chicken or lamb. Bread is placed at the bottom of the pot to soak u the flavourful sauces.
Kousa Mahshi is a popular dish all across the middle-east and it is very likely you'll come across this delicious meal at some point when travelling this part of the world. It is made by stuffing zucchini with lamb, mint and garlic and then baking it in an oven.
Balaleet is an Indian style dish that is often described as sweet pasta. The meal is often served with a saffron omelette on top of fried vermicelli which gives it a sweet but savoury flavour. Balaleet is eaten as a breakfast and also at times as a dessert.
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.
