Joanna James
Qatar represents a unique balance of epitomising history, culture and deep-rooted traditions whilst stepping up with innovation and modernisation arousing the curiosity of discerning travellers. One of Qatar's heartwarming traditions is its food, enticing visitors to savour the vibrant offering.
Being the national dish of Qatar, Majboos is relished by visitors thronging restaurants in Wakra. This tasty and aromatic dish of rice with your choice of meat is slowly cooked with a variety of spices resulting in a tantalizing and filling dish. Garnished with toasted almonds or pine nuts and raisins, a dish of Majboos is relished by visitors just as much as by the locals.
Made with roasted vermicelli, this dessert has pleased generation after generation of Qataris with its creamy, delicate taste tinged with a subtle touch of sweetness. Roasted vermicelli is mixed with dried fruits and sugar over which a creamy custard is generously dribbled and refrigerated. Once chilled well, it is cut into wedges and garnished with pistachios making an endearing sweet treat enjoyed by guests at Souq Al Wakra Hotel Qatar by Tivoli.
A popular dish in most Middle Eastern states, Qatari shawarma is similar yet uses more innovation with extra flavours being packed into the pita bread or wrap used, such as shawarma shrimp and shawarma fish flavours thus introducing seafood to the usual flavourful stack of beef, mutton, chicken or lamb. The heady flavours keep drawing visitors to enjoy this street food, a must-try in Qatar.
A favourite dish for breakfast Balaleet is unique due to the combination of sweet and savoury tastes. Made with vermicelli sweetened with sugar, with a dash of rose water, saffron and cardamom and served with a freshly made omelette. The rose-flavoured carbohydrate and the golden-hued omelette are eaten with delight.
A wholesome dish enjoyed regularly in most homes in Qatar, this is prepared as a vegetarian dish or with the meat of your choice at many restaurants too. Using a tomato puree seasoned with onion, garlic and ginger as a base, vegetables and meat are slowly simmered until well cooked and devoured with rice or bread.
The meat of your choice is made into a puree with wheat to which cinnamon, sugar, cardamon and butter are added to enhance the flavours as it is slowly cooked resulting in a popular meal. Harees is mostly consumed during the holy month of Ramadan.
This unofficial national drink of Qatar is a must-savour drink. The preparation of Karak is a profound feature of Qatari tradition. Strong black tea Leaves are boiled with water, milk, sugar and ground cardamom and simmered on a slow fire to extract the flavours. The process may be slow as patience is required to simmer until it reaches the perfect flavour. You would spot swarms of vehicles making their way to drive through tea shops to savour this heavenly brew.
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