Top 5 Emirati Dishes to Try at Local Restaurants

You cannot imagine your holiday without enjoying the specialty of your vacation destination. When your vacation point is UAE, don’t forget to try the promising cruises this country offers. Emirati cuisine promises to delight your taste buds with the unique blend of Arabic, Persian, Indian, and Mediterranean influences. Their traditional dishes are simple, with a balanced flavor of ingredients that takes the consumer into the desert. These foods are the best combo served with fragrant spices of carbs and juicy meat that will melt in your mouth. Their unique flavors make them a must-try food for the foodies around the world.

Top 5 Emirati dishes

The Emirates is the land of the coast. People residing here enjoy the dishes that are balanced with spices, cooked on low flame and are on the dietary list of being a balanced meal. These dishes might be like a common dish found around the globe but these Arabs add their traditional touch to the dishes. This touch uplifts the dishes to a new height, adding a place on the do-try list. The locals are not only amazed by these dishes, but the internationals even try them and keep on trying them. Let’s dig into this blog, join us on the trip where you will learn about the hidden ingredients of these dishes that have captivated the hearts and palates of locals and visitors.

Chabab

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Let’s start our day with the first meal- the breakfast. Whether locals or visitors from around the globe, Chebab is the main dish that is found on the dining tables of residents and the breakfast menu at different shops. This is the Emirati version of pancakes. These local pancakes look similar to the traditional ones found around us. They are thin and round. Crisp from the outside and wholesomely delicious! These are made from the same ingredient- all-purpose flour. What makes it different from the traditional ones is the addition of cardamom and turmeric for local hit along with yeast for raising the batter. These cakes are enjoyed with date syrup drizzle at the top, making it a healthy setup to begin your day.     

Thareed and Regag

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The next meal you can enjoy of the day is lunch. On your trip, you will consider trying a local dish. When it comes to selecting a main course meal that is a balanced diet, Thareed is on the top list of Emiratis. A slow-cooked meal is always a thing that satisfies the taste buds of the residents. This dish stands out in satisfying the Emiratis’ taste buds- cooked for longer periods with fewer spices. The dish comprises of flavorful meat stew that is cooked on low heat. Adding to the dietary list, this meat stew is made diet-friendly for the foodies by adding large pieces of potatoes and vegetables. A versatile option dish! You can choose the meat according to your choice and availability. There is also the option of choosing veggies.

Adding carbs to the diet, Emirates prefers eating this dish with Regag- a crispy flatbread. As the word ‘Regag’ means ‘thin’, this bread aligns with its name. A waterless dough is not only served with this meal but at all the meals of the day. Considering the bread it is so popular among the residents and locals that you can find it in the Holy festival –Ramadan. The bread is served with all the traditional dishes cooked in local houses. Moreover, residents often use this bread in breakfast to enjoy it with egg and cheese.

Madrooba

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UAE is a coastal city so fish is often cooked by the people living there. When it comes to naming a dish that uses fish as the main protein- Madrooba is a traditional one. It is a combination of salted fish, spices, and a thick sauce. This is the traditional and most favored dish of Emiratis as it reflects the country’s deep-rooted affinity for fish. Served with flatbread- a hearty meal enjoyed by the locals. Its popularity is so strong that these residents prefer eating it during Ramadan as the most popular Iftar dish.   

Machboos

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As Emiratis prefer eating dishes that are cooked on slow heat for a longer time, Machboss is one of the frequently cooked dishes in each house. This dish is iconic and showcases the country’s rich cultural heritage and love for the aromatic spices. You can cook this dish with different meat options like red meat, chicken, or shrimp according to your preference. The process involves boiling the dish in a fragrant stock, infused with a special blend of spices and dried lime often known as ‘loomi’ in the local language. The slow cooking process allows the liquid to simmer with the protein absorbing the flavors into it to make it more juicy, served with rice as carbs. The dish is a balanced diet with chopped vegetables like onions, potatoes, and tomatoes- garnished to lift the beauty of the dish.

Lugaymat

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After you have experienced the flavors of all the savory items, there is always a dessert found on Emirati tables. Lugaymat is the most popular dessert that is enjoyed and loved by all generations. These balls do look like munchkins but are something out of this world. These balls are made of flour and yeast, and the batter is formed with water. These balls are deep-fried and are crispy on the outside but soft and fluffy on the inside. After they are fried, these balls are ready to serve with a drizzle of sugar syrup. For the syrup, Arabs use sugar, water, some drops of lemon, rose water, and orange blossom water. Imagine how flavorful they will taste with a balanced taste of sweetness and citric. This dessert is a traditional one and is served during Ramadan and other special occasions. The locals portray this dessert as the spirit of sharing and generosity that is rooted in Emirati culture.

The flavors of the Emirates

After reading through the complete blog, we can figure out these dishes are most common in the public restaurants of the UAE. Although all these named dishes do look similar to those found around the globe, but the authentic taste of Arab spices makes them stand out.

Remember! You need to try all these dishes on your next trip to the Emirates. Try making memories with these flavors that might feel strange to your taste buds at the initial level but you will fall in love with these dishes.