It is true that you can find any type of food you desire in Dubai. With the amount of top class hotels featuring their own extensive buffet restaurants and international chains, it would be possible to never even sample any of the local delicacies. In fact, one of the best meals I ate while I was in Dubai was a Lebanese feast (and a guilty trip to TGI Friday’s, simply because it was cheap and greasy…oops).
We all know it’s easy to use Cheapflights to get you to Dubai, but once there, the food choices can be overwhelming and expensive. For a true taste of Arabia, that won’t break the bank, then the following dishes should be some of the menu items you’ll want to look out for.
Shwarma
Shwarma is a style of kebab consisting of seasoned meat (usually lamb or chicken) cooked on a rotating spit and then shaved into small pieces, then served in an Arabic roti bread and accompanied by tomatoes, pickles and fries (among other things).
Mutton With Rice
Lamb and mutton are two staple ingredients in many local dishes. Mutton is traditionally served as a curry, although can also be served in fried rice dishes or as skewered kebabs. Other variations include ghuzi, which is a whole roasted lamb cooked on a bed of rice and nuts and matchbous, a spiced lamb served with fragrant rice.
Mahalabiya
Mahalabiya is an Egyptian milk custard dessert, often found in many restaurants in Dubai. It is made by boiling milk and sugar with rosewater and allowing it to set. It is then usually topped with crushes pistachios.
Falafel / hummus
Falafel and hummus are traditional dishes in much of the Arab world, and delicious ones at that. In Dubai there are chains selling only falafel-based meals, although the fried chickpea-based morsels can also be found as part of a main dish of other food treats.
Stuffed Camel
Yes, you read that right. Stuffed camel is considered a delicacy and thus usually only served at Bedouin weddings. The recipe calls for a camel to be stuffed with a sheep or lamb, which is in turn stuffed with a variety of other ingredients. This dish is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as being the largest meal in the world, however its actual origins and preparation method are sometimes judged with skepticism.
Al Harees
Al Harees is unusual in its porridge-like consistency and is made of boiled wheat and meat, which is then whipped into a paste. It is typically served during Ramadan and Eid and is garnished with cinnamon, sugar and butter.
Khabeesa
A traditional dessert or sweet breakfast item, khabeesa is similar to semolina in its taste and consistency, but flavoured with cardamon, rosewater and sometimes coconut.It is made by boiling toasted flour with the different flavour enhancers and milk and is usually served at room temperature.
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