This is a guest post by Angela Davis.
Dubai has been world famous for its luxury life style, vibrant night life, and world class leisure and entertainment spots. Tax free shopping and indoor/outdoor adventure activities, theme parks and the allure of staying in luxury hotel, villa and resort, dining in restaurants and pubs that serving traditional and international cuisines have greatly enhance Emirate’s image as travel destination. Although, food of Dubai is not considered as the primary reason for its popularity, but one can’t ignore that tourists and visitors can’t help eating as food is the basic need for survival. Despite all of its progress in other sectors, Dubai is also striving to become culinary capital in the region of Middle East.
The diverse Muslim city is also getting famous day by day for proffering delightfully tasty food from Arabian and international origins. Like the cosmopolitan culture of this city, the food of Dubai also encompasses tempting food recipes from Italy, China, Mexico, Pakistan, India and Lebanon. In other words you can say the multi-ethnic culture of Dubai can be clearly observed in Dubai’s food. The availability of delicious food across the world adds up more value to the city and played major role in fostering Emirate’s image among best travel destinations that are capable to offer diverse range of tasty food to satisfy taste buds of tourists coming across the world.
In addition to offering a wide range of international cuisines, Dubai is also known for its traditional food. Most of the local recipes are made with fish, meat (lamb, camel) and rice. Traditional recipes of Dubai have been served across the city in dining outlets like food courts, hotels, restaurants and road side dining shops. Below I am sharing few famous traditional food of Dubai that I will suggest you must try.
Al Harees
Made with meat and wheat, Al Harees is a popular dish that has been served on special occasions like Ramadan, Eid and wedding feasts. Wheat with a pinch of salt has been mixed well to which meat is added. The mixture is cooked for hours in boiling water till both the wheat and meat mixed well to make smooth paste. After that the smooth paste will further cook over night in a covered clay pot in an oven especially made in ground after digging hole which has been heated with coal. Once the ingredients get mixed well the mixture has stirred with a special wooden spoon known as “midrib”. You can enjoy simple salty flavour of meat and wheat. Spices have been added to enhance the taste. Having topped with local ghee (clarified butter) the dish has been served in flat plates.
Al Machboos
The recipe has been adopted from Kuwait; Al Machboos has become a popular dish of Dubai and UAE. Originally chicken and rice are the main ingredients but in UAE it has also been made with lamb and shrimps. Other ingredients include onion, black dried lemon, spices, dry fruits and nuts. The rich ingredients have get this recipe categorizes among luxurious dishes in the region. The recipe has been served as main dish in family gatherings. Rose water is also added to give a pleasant smell. At first step meat has been cooked in boiling water bath with all spices and vegetables like onions, potatoes, tomatoes and green peepers. This mixture is cooked on low flame for short period of time till meat tenderizes. After that meat is separated from the mixture and rice is added. Cooked it well on low flame and again add meat in the mixture. Finally the mixture of all ingredients is cooked well on low fire. The rich ingredients of this recipe made it a Royal dish of Arab countries that has been served in feasts to delight guests.
Shawarma
Shawarma is a common street food which is made up of grilled shreds of chicken or lamb. It has been served with pickles, tomatoes, onions, garlic sauce and Arabian bread. It is a kind of Arabic fast food that tastes like Kabab. You can easily purchase it from road side restaurant and can consume while walking. Restaurants also served fries with Shawarma. Although it is an Arabic recipe but it has also become a famous fast food in Asian countries. Method and taste can differ from one region to other. A special fruit shake made from strawberry and banana has been served along Shawarma in Dubai. Traditionally it is cooked outdoors but it is now cooked indoor to maintain good hygiene.
Hummus
Hummus is a popular Arabic spread/dip that has been served a side dish. It is made up of chickpeas, tahini (sesame seed paste), olive oil, lemon juice, garlic and salt. All ingredients have been mashed well to form smooth paste. It is a perfect appetizer, which taste so unique. The low fat, high Vitamin C and protein made it a healthy snack for health conscious individuals. Today the dip is world famous across the globe. It has been also a famous dip in Turkey, North Africa, Morocco. You can enjoy Hummus with Shawarma and simply with Pita bread. To garnish and enliven, chopped tomatoes, pickles and pine nuts have been added.
Stuffed Camel
Guinness Book of Records has enlisted Stuffed Camel as the world’s largest meal. It has been occasionally served in Sheikh’s wedding. The whole camel is stuffed with lamb, chickens, boiled egg, fish and rice. All ingredients have been stuffed in a camel and cooked for 24 hours till the meat of camel turned to crispy brown. The boiled eggs are stuffed in fish and then fish in to roasted chickens and chickens in to lamb. At the final step this lamb is stuffed in a camel. It is an amazing dish of UAE typically served in the feast of elite Arab families. The dish has been known as “Camel Turducken”.
Numerous restaurants have been serving these traditional dishes to delight travelers who are looking to try the traditional taste of Dubai. I am sure you will enjoy having these delicious meals on your Dubai trip.
Angela Davis loves to write and gain insight in different genres of writing. She is always eager to learn new aspects of writing as she has been writing for a famous UAE based property management firm. She is actively involved in writing for travelling, health, beauty and fashion blogs.
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