Exploring Emirati Cuisine

Emirati Food Spread (2021) by Art Direction by Maitha HamdanDubai Culture & Arts Authority

Inspired by the recourses of its ground, and the various cultures that live on the land and surround it, Emirati Cuisine has a unique mix of beautiful tastes that you may have experienced but with a twist!

Emirati Food Spread (2021) by Art Direction by Maitha HamdanDubai Culture & Arts Authority

Dallah with arabic coffee cups

Look at a one-dirham coin, what you see is a Dallah! That is how important arabic coffee is to the Emirati culture. Welcoming guests with a cup of coffee is a must. Tip, don’t forget to shake your ‘Finjan – Coffee cup’ when you’ve had enough, or it will keep on coming!

Emirati Food Spread (2021) by Art Direction by Maitha HamdanDubai Culture & Arts Authority

Balaleet with eggs

Craving salty and sweet for breakfast? This dish has it all! A sweet vermicelli topped with a classic plain omelet. The perfect combination.

Emirati Food Spread (2021) by Art Direction by Maitha HamdanDubai Culture & Arts Authority

Dango with chili

Vegan and looking for an interesting snack? This Emirati chickpea recipe is perfect for you!

Emirati Food Spread (2021) by Art Direction by Maitha HamdanDubai Culture & Arts Authority

Emirati Food Spread (2021) by Art Direction by Maitha HamdanDubai Culture & Arts Authority

Khameer bread

Khameer literally means yeast, so imagine how fluffy and yummy this bread is. You can have it plain, with dips, topped with Zaatar or even stuffed with cheese. Be creative with this one!

Emirati Food Spread (2021) by Art Direction by Maitha HamdanDubai Culture & Arts Authority

Chebab bread

Simply, pancakes with an Emirati twist. Usually comes with cheese and honey on a side. A fun choice for all ages!

Harees

A Ramadan favourite! It is very similar to porridge but made with meat or chicken. A simple yet rich meal.

Mathrooba

Named after its meaning, Mathrooba is literally beaten rice with chicken and flavorful middle eastern spices. It takes a lot of time, patience and strength to cook, but it is well worth it!

Regag bread

If it is not thin or crunchy, it’s not a Regag! This type of bread takes a couple of minutes to perfect but requires so much technique and accuracy. It can be as light or as heavy as you wish by having it plain or with eggs, cheese, ‘meshawa – fish sauce’ and gee oil.

Baith Tomat

The Emirati phrase for scrambled eggs with tomatoes. A popular breakfast option or a light dinner.

Emirati Food Spread (2021) by Art Direction by Maitha HamdanDubai Culture & Arts Authority

Lugaimat

Imagine fried doughnuts but better. Those bites of heaven are usually best served warm and topped with date syrup and sesame seed. While visiting the UAE it is definitely a must.

Emirati Food Spread (2021) by Art Direction by Maitha HamdanDubai Culture & Arts Authority

Btheetha

Going back to the importance and popularity of dates in the Emirati culture, Btheetha is another form of date dessert. It is great for sharing, comes in the form of bites.

Emirati Food Spread (2021) by Art Direction by Maitha HamdanDubai Culture & Arts Authority

Khabisat Zayed

A sweet dessert made of a special type of flour, vermicelli and nuts which gives it a pleasant variety of textures.

Emirati Food Spread (2021) by Art Direction by Maitha HamdanDubai Culture & Arts Authority

Chaami

A snack or side dish that is a soft form of dairy topped with ghee. Most commonly served with dates to balance the sweetness.

Emirati Food Spread (2021) by Art Direction by Maitha HamdanDubai Culture & Arts Authority

Aseeda

Wheat that is cooked to a perfect texture with sugar and water. When simple tastes great!

Emirati Food Spread (2021) by Art Direction by Maitha HamdanDubai Culture & Arts Authority

Dates

You can already notice that most Emirati desserts are made of dates due to its popularity in the region and its health benefits

Honey

Honey is very popular as a dip in the Emirati culture. Can be added to almost everything!

Cream cheese

Cream cheese is perfect for balancing the sweetness of the Emirati ingredients.

Emirati Food Spread (2021) by Art Direction by Maitha HamdanDubai Culture & Arts Authority

Standing out with ingredients the ground of the United Arab Emirates is proud of, you get a taste of the culture not only food. Final tip, culturally Emiratis enjoy their food with their right hand. It’s called “bl-khams – with the five”.

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