Many people can be wary of exotic, unfamiliar cuisines, but when it comes to something really special, unique and absolutely delicious. Suspend your reservations and try out some of the UAE’s best traditional delicacies. It will be love at first bite! These are my 5 Must-Try Emirati dishes, you will love them!
Balaleet
For a unique breakfast alternative, try this stunning yet simple traditional dish. Balaleet is sweet and savoury. Finely chopped vermicelli, flavoured with rosewater and cardamom, topped with a small omelette. This dish is also a popular dessert. This yummy dish is a popular choice for Eid celebrations.
Khuzi
This is the Emirati national dish, therefore an absolute must-try. Not trying Khuzi in the UAE would be like going to Tuscany and not trying the wild boar ragu pasta – it would be a travesty! Khuzi may seem like a simple dish, roasted lamb or goat on a bed of spicy rice, but this dish is all about the garnishes (raisins, nuts, vegetables) and flavours, including cardamom, cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, saffron.
Tabbouleh with Khameer
Vegans and vegetarians rejoice! Here is an absolutely delicious and healthy traditional dish you can enjoy. Tabbouleh is a salad that includes cucumbers, tomatoes and bulgur wheat, seasoned with olive oil, lemon juice and mint. If making it at home, play around with the ingredients, and try quinoa, semolina or barley instead of bulgur.
Step aside, pitta, it’s time to try something a little different. Khameer is a traditional Emirati bread that is often lauded as the softest in the world. Seasoned with fennel and saffron and topped with sesame seeds, this is a two-layer puffy flatbread. It is the perfect accompaniment to your salad, or any other dish on the menu.
Shawarma
No, we’re not talking about a greasy kebab you might pick up after a heavy night out. We’re talking about the real deal. The UAE is the birthplace of Shawarma, aka kebabs the way they were MEANT to be done. Authentic Lebanese shawarmas boast the freshest vegetables, succulent meat wrapped in traditional flatbread. And served with garlic and lemon yoghurt. Filling, easy and exquisite. Don’t fancy cooking yourself? Click here for an amazing list of some of the top restaurants in the UAE, with unforgettable offerings from Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Luqaimat
One of the most popular street foods and a yummy dessert, Luqaimat is the UAE’s easy and absolutely finger licking answer to the donut. Made of simple ingredients of milk, sugar, butter, and flour, these little balls are fried to perfection to give a crunchy outside and a melt-in-your-mouth inside. Traditionally, luqaimat is topped with a date syrup and sesame seeds, but you could opt for any other toppings you fancy. This is a super sweet, very calorific dessert, but the perfect choice for a once in a while treat, which you can enjoy on the go or with a relaxed cup of tea or coffee.
