The cuisine of the United Arab Emirates is known as Emirati cuisine and follows traditional Arabic food customs. This cuisine features aromatic dishes seasoned with spices and herbs such as saffron, turmeric, cinnamon, cardamom, coriander, and thyme.
In traditional Emirati cuisine, meat, grain, and dairy are commonly used. Key ingredients include dates, roasted nuts, and dried limes, known as “loomi”. Due to the country’s desert environment, vegetables are less prominent in local dishes.
In the UAE, people frequently eat chicken, small fowl, goats, and lamb as their primary meat sources. As a coastal country along the Persian Gulf, fish and seafood are also popular in the local diet. Camel meat is not commonly consumed but reserved for special events.
Dubai and Abu Dhabi are diverse and widespread tourist destinations, resulting in a wide range of international cuisine. However, there are also numerous traditional Emirati dishes to savor in the United Arab Emirates, as this list will demonstrate.
Dishes you must try!
Khobz Al Khameer
Khobz Al Khameer is a popular breakfast dish in the UAE, consisting of a yeasted flatbread with a golden color. It is often cooked with ghee or egg wash and topped with sesame seeds. The ingredients used are similar to those in yeast bread found in other regions of the world.
Khobz Al Khameer is then a type of yeast bread typically made with additional spices like cardamom and turmeric and sometimes saffron for color. Instead of using liquid milk like in the West, it is common to use milk powder.
Chebab
The chebab is a yeasted Emirati pancake that can be compared to Moroccan baghrir. However, it has a more robust flavor and aroma due to the addition of spices such as cardamom and saffron.
These tasty spiced pancakes are a popular breakfast option, typically accompanied by cheese and date syrup.
Balaleet
Balaleet is a well-known breakfast dish in the Emirates that consists of noodles and can be served in both savory and sweet variations. It is a delicious, savory-sweet dish typically enjoyed as a breakfast meal, but it can also be served as a dessert.
To make Balaleet, start by sauteing and boiling vermicelli noodles. Once cooked, add sugar, cardamom, turmeric, and saffron-infused rose water for sweetness. It is typically served with an omelet or scrambled eggs on top for breakfast.
Rigag
Rigag is a traditional Emirati flatbread that is thin, unleavened, and wafer-like. It is perfect for breakfast or as a side dish to stews like tharid. With only three ingredients – flour, water, and salt – it is trendy during Ramadan.
Rigag can be enjoyed as a main dish by cooking it on a pan and topping it with cheese, eggs, honey, and other ingredients. It can also be served as a side dish by incorporating it into meat stews or with a side of yogurt.
Sounds tasty? Going to the UAE is the perfect option if you want to see and taste the fantastic Arabian food.
