Joanna James
From tantalisingly innovative fusion cuisine to Instagrammable twists on brunch favourites and delectably heartening street food, the cutting-edge desert oasis of Abu Dhabi will take your tastebuds on a joyride. Here are some flavour combos you can't afford to miss!
Abu Dhabi is a city of quaintly glamorous contrasts, from hospitable Bedouin-style desert campouts and breathtaking heritage fortress cities to dramatically avant-garde Ferrari Cavalcades, hydromagnetic tornado rafting in futuristic water parks, and Olympic-sized skating rinks. If you're looking forward to a jam-packed itinerary in this record-breaking metropolis, you need a go-to meal to energise and hype you up, and there's none more iconic or more delicious than the national dish of the UAE. This steaming platter of saffron-infused rice scented with the rich notes of spices is topped with meltingly soft mutton or lamb and sprinkled liberally with nuts, fried onions, raisins, and vegetables.
If you enjoy a good bowl of Harees, the humble yet surprisingly piquant traditional wheat-berry, vegetable, and meat porridge shared during special occasions, you'll also fall head over heels with its spicy seafood complement. Madrooba is best scooped up with buttery pita bread and is a decadently dense concoction of salt-cured fish, sauces, and spices known for being beaten vigorously into a thick consistency by a sizable wooden spoon!
For those with a soft spot for biriyani, this multi-layered rice dish with its tender assortment of meats, fragrant spices, luscious sauces, crunchy salad, and raita will take your palate to a whole other dimension of bliss! What sets this succulent dish apart from its Asian counterparts is a superabundance of locally sourced cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, turmeric, mace, and chickpeas, as well as adding the tart dried lemons called 'loomi' to the mix and luxuriantly thick sauces made of spicy peppers, chill, and tomatoes. If you're looking for sophisticated serviced apartments in Abu Dhabi proffering prime access to the city's culinary hotspots, venture no further than Oaks Liwa Executive Suites.
Abu Dhabi is a paragon of Insta-worthy spins on popular brunches; fluffy avocado waffles graced with delectable smoked salmon and halloumi to crispy shrimp cones in edible potato baskets slathered in tangy toppings and sourdough toast topped with a beetroot and feta emulsion with pine nuts for crunch and a creamy poached egg! But if you're craving something sweet, light, and whimsical, you can't go wrong with the delicately delicious and dreamily traditional sugared vermicelli dish of Balaleet endowed with rose water, pistachios, cinnamon, and cardamom with an omelette to finish off with a flourish!
For something succulently snackable as you zoom between the city's vibrant enticements, this crispy deep-fried street food staple stuffed with veggies, spices, and minced meat is an Arab take on the Southeast Asian 'Samosa' and just as irresistible! If you can't get enough fried Middle Eastern munches, falafel is a flavour-packed fritter to fulfil your foodie fantasies!
The Middle East has no shortage of subtly exotic desserts, and the fried Luqaimat dough balls dipped in sweet date syrup and gloriously spiced are the ideal way to end an Emirati banquet. If your tastes run closer to luxuriant cheesecakes, try the decadent Arabian version called Esh Asarya for creamy notes of rose, orange, dates, and caramel.
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.
