Joanna James
Dubai is a cosmopolitan city with a large expatriate community; the food scene is vibrant, to say the least. You can encounter a variety of cuisines alongside the traditional Middle Eastern favourites. Here are a few recommendations of some of the best dishes out there.
It is the Middle Eastern version of pizza and is a speciality in Dubai and all across the Emirati. It makes for an ideal breakfast or a snack on the go! The stretched dough, which has the texture of flatbread, is loaded with exotic toppings like salted Akkawi cheese, zaatar – an aromatic herb blend – and olive oil. It is glorified as the best on the go dish in Dubai. Manousheh is available in vegetarian and non-vegetarian toppings.
The dish gets its name from a spoon! A large spoon called "Madrooba" is used to make this dish. It is prepared by using diverse types of salty, cured fish called "maleh". The fish is then combined and cooked in an assortment of condiments and spices. The nourishing and delightful Madrooba is an extremely familiar meal during Ramadan and other festive occasions. To make the dish, however, it takes long hours and is a labour-intensive preparation. The Madrooba is utilised to whip the concoction regularly to create a dense consistency. Despite that, it is a very satisfying meal and is eaten alongside, raqaq, which is a sort of flatbread.
Another traditional preparation in Dubai is Harees or Al Harees. It is comparable to a savoury porridge and made with simple ingredients like wheat, meat, and salt. It is yet another popular dish during Ramadan, nuptials, and religious celebrations. The wheat is ground up and cooked with salt first, and then followed by meat. The dish then gets simmered in the pot for long hours. It is accomplished by placing the pot in a pit loaded with hot coals. It gets mixed occasionally before dishing out and serving. It is decorated and eaten with a good helping of ghee.
Luqaimat is a popular delicacy in the Arab world. It is usually followed after breaking fast, known as Iftar during the holy month of Ramadan. This crispy dumpling is served slathered in sweet and sticky date syrup. It is made from flour, yeast and sugar and made to rise before frying it in oil. It is quite similar to a doughnut ball. In many Emirati homes, the host will serve it alongside coffee for visitors along with other goodies such as dates and fruits. During the month of Ramadan, many hotels and resorts will offer such delicacies during Iftar when the break of fast approaches.
Popularly called the queen of Arabic desserts, Knafeh is a gooey pastry made of sweet cheese. Rose-scented syrup and chopped pistachios are sprinkled on top. It is a classic dessert found in Dubai and elsewhere in the Middle Eastern region. You can find many of these tasty treats in Palm Jumeirah restaurants, as well as all over Dubai food courts as well. Many top-notch hotels such as Anantara The Palm Dubai Resort are also good places to explore the cuisine in Dubai.
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