Joanna James
From a tiny fishing village to an exotic cosmopolitan city, Dubai is home to almost 200 nationalities and keep offering a memorable experience to even more nationalities visiting the city. Be it at a shopping mall or even the world's tallest building Burj Al Khalifa, savour the Arabic cuisine.
Try these rounded patties made using ground chickpeas or fava beans flavoured with mixed spices and fried to become crisp. Enjoy it by itself or dipped in creamy tahini sauce. You are bound to crave for more. Falafel is a great finger food to have on the move as enjoyed by visitors at hotels in Dubai Deira as they explore the city.
This versatile Arabic preparation is so popular and will never lose its appeal. Bite into the soft rolled up length of pita bread to encounter a mouthful of tenderised meat oozing with the flavour of the meat and the aromatic spices, the crunchy lettuce and creamy tahini sauce add to the enjoyment. Served with a portion of fries this is a filling meal and is an absolute delight for the money spent.
An ideal snack or even considered the main dish for vegetarians. This is also used as an accompaniment with meat such as Shish Tawook. Fattoush is a healthy and invitingly colourful salad served at many restaurants such as at Avani Deira Dubai Hotel. Fist fulls of bread croutons are tossed with chunks of fresh tomatoes, strips of radish, cucumber wedges and sprinkled with pomegranate seeds and seasoning to complete a healthy dish.
Mouthwatering Shish Tawook or chicken skewers is another staple item in Arabic Cuisine. Chicken is marinated in a yoghurt based infusion containing mixed spices and dashes of lemon. The meat used can be different based on your preference, served with pita bread and a healthy salad the combination makes a complete and wholesome meal.
Umm Ali meaning 'mother of Ali', this dessert is considered as the Arabic version of British bread and butter pudding. Broken up pieces of bread are blended with coconut flakes, pistachios, raisins and sugar. Milk or cream is heaped over the mixture and baked until golden brown. Served either warm or cold garnished with flakes of pistachios this is a filling and favourite dessert enjoyed by visitors.
Whether it is with spicy roast beef, chicken, tuna, or meat and cheese combination or simply melting with cheese and greens, the creations are varied and keep evolving according to the taste of the customer. There are many restaurants in Dubai serving this Arabic version of pizza specially curated to please crowds of locals and visitors.
A famous starter at many restaurants in Dubai, the base of Hummus is chick peas to which garlic, lemon juice, olive oil and sesame tahini paste are added and blended. Served as a paste it can be also eaten with flatbread or as a spread on meat.
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.
