A Guide to Traditional Emirati Dishes

Emirati cuisine represents a mix between ancient traditions and contemporary influences that result in a new, incomparable culinary experience mirroring the rich historical and cultural history of the UAE. Rooted from the Arabian Peninsula, it blends flavors from neighboring regions with its spices, fresh herbs, and ingredients taken directly from the desert and coastline. 

Traditional dishes are spiced rice with meat or seafood called machboos and luqaimat, sweet dumplings with date syrup. Being the country's heritage, seafood, meats, dates, and aromatic rice are the main ingredients used, and these meals are typically enjoyed in groups, which reveals the great priority given to family, hospitality, and social cohesion in Emirati culture.

Balaleet

This sweet and savoury breakfast is prepared by cooking vermicelli, eggs and spices - notably cardamom and saffron. Garnished with fried onions, it can sometimes be served with bread, with cinnamon, rosewater and cardamom infusions, as well. It is one of the highly loved dishes owing to its combination of sweetness and saltiness combined in one food product.

Chabab

Chabab are Emirati pancakes fragrant with cardamom and saffron. These pancakes are usually served with date syrup or honey, making them a delightful start to the day.

Khameer

It is soft, almost sweet Emirati bread. The dough has been fermented and often laced with dates or saffron. The dish itself can be more flexible by using cheese, honey, etc. It is widely popular because of the simplicity behind the dish.

Machboos

This is a traditional rice food similar to biryani, but it is made with a spice mixture along with rice and chicken or lamb or fish. It has an aromatic rich taste and is always served with salad or curd. This is even viewed as the UAE's national dish. Dry lemon forms an ingredient in this. The dish is also renowned outside UAE. Mainly because it is easy to prepare and its serving portions are sufficient for a big group. 

Harees

Harees is prepared using wheat that has been crushed and mixed with meat and then cooked until it achieves a porridge-like consistency. It happens to be one of the major dishes during the month of Ramadan and other big occasions.

Tharid

Tharid is a stew made with meat and vegetables. It is served over thin, crisp pieces of bread called regag. The bread absorbs the flavor of the stew, giving it a satisfying touch. It is a staple in many Arabian households. Potatoes are also used for this dish.

Salona

Salona is a type of Emirati stew, which is traditionally prepared with vegetables and meat. In this dish, local spices are used to spice it, and rice or bread is used to eat it with.

Salona is usually accompanied by rice or bread, which is used to scoop up the savory stew. It is comfort food for any Emirati family on special occasions or when the family comes together, almost a taste of tradition and hospitality.

Samak Mashwi

Samak Mashwi literally means 'grilled fish,' which is extensively prepared in all coastal areas of the country by marinating fish with spices and herbs and then grilling it over fire. It is often served with rice or flatbread; Samak Mashwi is a staple in Emirati coastal cuisine and reflects the affinity between the people and the sea.

Jasheed

Jasheed is a dish made from shark meat prepared with a spice mix, onions, and at times rice. This is one of the stranger dishes and very flavorsome, reflecting the maritime heritage of the UAE.

Luqaimat

Luqaimat dumplings are deep-fried and drizzled with date syrup or honey. These sweet, crispy outer and soft inner treats have a great reputation among Emirati desserts.  It is a very famous dish during the Ramadan season as well. This is used to break the fasting during this time.

Asida

Asida is a simple yet delicious dessert prepared from flour, sugar, and ghee. It is flavored with cardamom and saffron mostly. It's served hot. The texture of it is similar to fufu. 

Knafeh

Knafeh is a Middle Eastern dessert popular in the UAE. It has  a thin noodle-like pastry, soaked in sweet syrup, and layered with cheese or cream. This got even more popular with the viral dubai chocolate bar . It was filled with kunafa flavour and pistachio cream.

Gahwa (Arabic Coffee)

Gahwa is a traditional Arabic coffee flavored with cardamom and saffron. It is an integral part of Emirati hospitality and is often served with dates. The brewing method sets apart this coffee and is unique to the Emirati.

Karak Tea

Karak tea was a strong and spiced tea just like that of Indian chai. It is prepared using black tea, condensed milk, and several spices such as cardamom and cinnamon. They were introduced into the UAE in the 1960s. Therefore, it is a very comforting and fresh refreshment for all the mornings of the individuals.

Ouzi

Ouzi is rice cooked with peas, lamb, and various spices. It can be served in weddings and all the festivities and is always topped with an entire roasted lamb at some times. Ouzi dish is very aromatic because of all the spices used in this dish. Because of the rich flavor of the lamb, it keeps you satisfied until the end.

Madrooba

Madrooba is a thick porridge of fish and flour cooked in a combination of spices. It is a traditional recipe; therefore, it is usually made at special occasions. Rice and a sort of meat form its main components. The general consistency of this dish is somewhat like a mash.

Emirati cuisine is celebrated in a variety of restaurants within the UAE, where both locals and tourists get to enjoy the delicacies. The following are some of the important ones:

●    Al Fanar Restaurant & Cafe: One does actually travel down memory lane to the 1960s when one enters this place-a time when the UAE was still a nascent nation that had just harnessed the treasure of petroleum. 

Al Fanar serves a multi-ethnic array of Emirati cuisine, ranging from Machboos and Harees to Balaleet. The facility hosts some old photographs, traditional furnishings, and models of historic buildings to add to its nostalgic ambiance.

●    Logma is set in the heart of Dubai and is a reimagination of traditional Emirati classics for the modern palate. This restaurant offers revised Khameer and Chabab to suit international tastes that appeal to the cosmopolitan clientele. 

The vibrant and trendy atmosphere, added to the creative presentations of food, makes Logma one of the most frequented restaurants to enjoy Emirati cuisine in a modern setting.

●    Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding (SMCCU): The SMCCU provides a dining-for-understanding concept to bring about cultural exchange. This takes guests through traditional Emirati meals in a shared setup while being enlightened on local customs, traditions, and history. 

The motto of this center is "Open Doors, Open Minds," truly true to its aim of achieving cultural understanding through interactive educative dinners. This will make SMCCU not only a place to taste Emirati cuisine but also a platform for cultural dialogue.

Emirati cuisine characterizes the eclectic tapestry of culture in the UAE, a blending of flavors and ingredients that is part of the tale in history and tradition. You can contact us at Arabiers to know more details about what’s in store for you in Dubai. 

Every course-from the main hearty courses to sweet desserts-has its own peculiar flavor profile which tickles your senses. It's not merely about the pleasure of tasting good food when one undertakes research about traditional Emirati dishes, but also one perceives a feature that relates to cordiality and hospitality. Be it family congregations or seasonal festivals, these dishes have become synonymous with the taste of the UAE's culture.