The United Arab Emirates or UAE is a land of culture, tradition and heritage. A rich cultural heritage that is largely represented through the Emirati culinary landscape, the Dubai traditional food is a blend of Middle Eastern, African and Asian flavours all at their best. Displaying a range of historical and cultural influences, the Emirati cuisine is what largely shapes the significance that the UAE traditions hold. Food prepared from the finest local ingredients and spices, boasting of rich flavours and aroma, the Dubai popular food is a lifestyle in itself. A cuisine that displays an amalgamation of dishes from around the world, the Emirati traditional foods are truly exceptional. A cuisine that as very well stood the test of time and remains as incredible as ever, here are some of the famous dishes of Dubai for you to indulge in.
Traditional food in the UAE you absolutely cannot miss out on
Shakshuka
A popular part of the Emirati cuisine, shakshuka is a dish that is largely consumed for breakfast in the UAE and other Arabian regions. A simple and delicious recipe that is prepared mainly from eggs and tomato, shakshuka can either be made out of poached eggs or scrambled eggs and is cooked along with a number of spices and herbs, and tossed in olive oil and tomatoes. A Dubai popular food that has also gained quite a lot of recognition across the globe, shakshuka is a beloved Emirati dish that is absolutely worth the try for all egg lovers.
Harees
An extremely famous dish of Dubai, harees is a classic dish hailing from the Emirati cuisine. A recipe that is long and laborious, harees is traditionally prepared during the holy month of Ramadan. A nutritious and appetising dish, having harees feels just like a blessing when you are fasting, however, preparing this dish requires a lot of skill to master in addition to all the hard work that goes into making it. A form of a porridge, harees is prepared from beaten, and skinless wheat and meat, usually that of chicken or lamb. The preparations for this dish needs to be started the night before, and everything is slowly cooked in a pan and requires constant stirring. A traditional Emirati food that is truly wholesome and prepared with a lot of love and good faith, harees truly stands out.
Khuzi
Regarded as the national dish of the UAE, khuzi is prepared from roasted mutton that is placed on the top of a fragrant bed of rice and vegetables and garnished along with raisins and roasted nuts. A dish that has a slightly sweet flavour, there are a number of spices that go into the preparation of khuzi. The traditional recipe of khuzi is made from lamb which is stuffed with rice, vegetables, spices and nuts before being cooked in a charcoal pit. A recipe that requires slow cooking, khuzi is a staple in many Dubai restaurants and is widely enjoyed across the Middle East.
Khobz al Khameer
A classic Emirati bread that is a staple during breakfast in the UAE, Khobz al Khameer is a golden-coloured bread that is topped with sesame seeds and seasoned with saffron. A form of yeast bread that is light and hollow on the inside, Khobz al Khameer makes for the perfect pocket to be had alongside a stuffing of delicious meat or vegetables.
Balaleet
A Dubai popular food, balaleet also makes for a great breakfast dish in the UAE. a noodle dish prepared from vermicelli, balaleet can be made both sweet or savoury depending upon your taste. A traditional Emirati food that is also often had as a dessert, balaleet is prepared from sauteed and boiled vermicelli noodles, which is then sweetened with sugar, cardamom, turmeric and saffron induced water. The savoury form of balaleet on the other hand is served along with an omelette or scrambled eggs on the top.
Madrouba
Madrouba, or madrooba is a kind of Emirati porridge dish that is prepared from rice and chicken. Quite similar to harees, madrouba is traditionally prepared by beating the rice into a smooth paste. Another Dubai traditional food that requires a lot of labour and skills to cook, madrouba is a truly wholesome dish. Nutritious and filling, madrouba is a kind of comfort Emirati food.
Tharid
A Dubai popular dish that is mainly consumed during Iftar in the holy month of Ramadan, tharid is a kind of thick stew that is prepared from your preferred type of meat, which is then mixed along with potatoes and seasonal vegetables. Typically served alongside rigag, which is a traditional Emirati flatbread, tharid is a melt-in-your-mouth dish. A recipe that involves slow cooking and is heavily infused with a variety of flavours, aromas and textures, tharid is truly among the best Emirati traditional food.
Disclaimer: The details mentioned throughout this blog are sourced from publicly accessible platforms. At Zeezest, we intend to share factual and verified information. Should there be any inconsistencies or variances in the information provided, please understand that these are entirely unintentional and not meant to mislead.