Top 20 Traditional Dishes You Must Try in Dubai


Top 20 Traditional Dishes You Must Try in Dubai

With a combination of various cuisines like Iranian, Arabic, and Lebanese, you just can’t ignore the amazing flavors that Dubai has in store for you. Take a look at all the gastronomical delights that you must savor on your next trip to Dubai.

Options for Meat Lovers

1. Al Harees

This is a wonderful combination of meat, a pot of wheat, and a pinch of salt that undergoes a lengthy process to produce! Al Harees is a traditional food in Dubai that is prepared on all the major occasions like weddings, Eid, and Ramadan.

2. Al Machboos

This is another famous traditional dish of the UAE. The important ingredients include rice, meat, onion, traditional spices and loomy (dried lemon). You can also enjoy eating the dish in an authentic way where it is served on a platter from where many can eat at the same time.

3. Shawarma

This celebrated and perhaps the most eaten food in Dubai has increased in popularity in Asia as well. This dish is made from lamb or chicken meat, accompanied with a colorful array of vegetables, fries, pickle, and garlic sauce. In case you’re not too keen spicy food, you can add some mint sauce and salad to balance it out.

4. Stuffed Camel

Have you ever thought of eating a camel? Well, you should try it while you are in Dubai. Camel is a common and popular dish and is a key ingredient of many Emirati dishes. If you are looking for something adventurous, try the stuffed camel, a dish that holds Guinness Book of record for the largest known dish on any menu.

5. Ghuzi

A popular serve in the local restaurants, it can be counted among the best food items of Dubai. Roasted lamb served on top of rice, with vegetables and nuts will leave you craving for more.

6. Chelo Kebab

The national dish of Iran has paved its way into the list of the best Dubai cuisines. Aromatic saffron-scented rice served with a pat of butter on the many varieties of Iranian kebabs is a mouth watering delicacy you must try.

Few vegetarian options, perhaps?

Dubai is a delight for vegetarians as a large number of popular cuisines are vegetarian.

7. Manousheh

The Lebanese pizza is an apt choice to start your day. Stretched dough or flatbread, filled with exotic toppings like salty earthy zaatar herbs, Akkawi cheese, and olive oil is perfect for your breakfast.

8. Fatteh

This is another dish to try for breakfast. Fatteh is a Levantine dish of crumbled, toasted pita covered in warm chickpeas, stuffed aubergines topped with tangy yogurt or tahini sauce. This recipe dates back as far as the time of the Crusaders.

9. Tabbouleh

A salad made with fresh tomatoes, cucumber, green onions and seasoned with finely chopped mint and lime juice, Tabbouleh is a must-try dish.

10. Baba Ganoush

This is a Levantine dish of smoked eggplant mixed with tahina, fresh vegetables, olive oil and various seasonings. It is a wonderful vegetarian appetizer.

11. Falafel

This mouth-watering dish is well known as ta’amia in the Middle East and is one of the most popular dishes in Dubai. This recipe, in essence, is a modified version of French fries with an Arabic touch to it! Usually served as a side dish, it is a combination of chickpeas, fava beans, or both mixed, and also various spices.

12. Fattoush

Looking for an option to try the local cuisine without gaining those extra pounds? Try Fattoush. It’s a classic Middle Eastern bread salad made from toasted or fried pieces of Arabic flat bread combined with mixed green vegetables and topped with sumac, and finely chopped parsley and mint.

13. Hummus

Made from chickpeas, olive oil, garlic, tahini paste, salt and lemon juice, Hummus is a popular dip in the Middle Eastern culture. Try it with shawarma or any of the vegetarian appetizers listed above and enjoy the unique taste.

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And now it’s time to satisfy your sweet tooth

14. Luqaimat

This is an Arabian sweet dish commonly made during Ramadan. Luqaimat is small deep-fried dumplings dipped in honey or syrup and drizzled with date molasses (dibs).

15. Mahalabiya

Mahalabiya is one of the traditional Egyptian desserts. This dish is primarily a pudding that is served with a sprinkling of rosewater and pistachios.

16. Knafeh

Popularly known as the queen of Arabic desserts, Knafeh is a Middle Eastern cheese pastry soaked in rose-scented sugar syrup and topped with chopped pistachios. It’s a traditional favorite in Dubai.

17. Assidat al-Boubar

Served traditionally during Ramadan and Eid, this amazing pumpkin pudding (or Pumpkin halvah) is both sweet and savory. Cooked with milk, sugar, almond flour, butter, rose water, ground cardamom, almonds, raisins, and clarified butter, the dish tastes amazing when served hot.

18. Chebab

Try this Emirati Pancake while you are in Dubai. It combines traditional flavors of cardamom, saffron, and dates, and is pan fried to give an amazing texture.

19. Ranjina

Ranjina is a traditional baked dessert often served during Iftar. The dessert is made from a base of fresh peeled dates, filled with walnuts and almonds, and are served with a sprinkling of cinnamon, and powdered pistachios.

20. Basbousa

Finally, you cannot leave Dubai without tasting Basbousa. It’s a traditional Emirati semolina cake soaked in syrup and served with almonds.

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Conclusion

Are you already drooling? Well, wait till you have actually tasted these offerings.

So, enjoy your trip to Dubai and do let me know on the dishes you tried in the comments section below.

Happy Traveling!

Note: The article was originally published on Medium.