Tag Archive for: United Arab Emirates Cuisine

Lebanon, United Arab Emirates – Za’atar Manakeesh

Manakeesh is a flat crispy bread topped with different seasonings and served with different sauces and vegetables. It is like a pizza but in Arabian style. It is eaten in breakfast and also be served as a snack and even in lunch and dinners. In Lebanon, Za’atar is the must for Manakeesh. This dish, Manakeesh is originated from Lebanon but now it is famous all over the Middles East. The word Manakeesh is the Arabic word Manqushah. MANQUSHAH is formed by the word NAQUSH that means ”CRAVE OUT”. This dish is originated in the Fertile Crescent.

The United Arab Emirates – ASIDA

This dish is the old traditional cuisine of the state ” Al Andulas ”. It is actually a dessert rich or honey, butter having a lump of cooked dough. This dish is popular on Muslim / Islamic traditions like Eid, Shabrat, Aqeeqa etc.

United Arab Emirates – Baklava

Baklava is a pastry dish that is layered with the nuts filled in each layer or the center of each piece. This is more like a Filo pastry. Filo is a pastry of many thin layers. This dish is originated from Ottoman Empire. The word Baklava came from the Mongolian Language, also known as BAGLABA in the Persian language. Meaning of the word Baklava is ”TO TIE UP”, ”WRAP UP”.

Jordan, United Arab Emirates – Mansaf

This dish is very royal having different ingredients together on a plate. This is a very delicious dish, very popular throughout the UAE. It is an Arabic dish and as we knew, Arabs have many royal dishes with the use of a huge amount of meat especially lamb meat or mutton, and dry fruits, nuts, saffron, etc. Atwa (truce) and Ja’ha (peacemaking process) are the two main events of Jordan and this dish is also very important in these events. In the 20th Century, Joseph Massad declared this dish as the traditional and national dish of Jordan.

The United Arab Emirates – Baba Ghanoush (copy)

Baba Ghanoush is actually a starter/ appetizer dish that is also served as snacks and a side course. This is originated from Levantine cuisine from Lebanese. This is usually a vegetarian appetizer, which can be served according to the event like dinner or tea time snack

United Arab Emirates – Shirin Polo

This dish is a very sweet and nice dish of rice. It is special Persian sweet rice served at weddings and special festivals, also known as Wedding rice and Royal rice. Shirin Polo is a very unique name, in which SHIRIN means SWEET and POLO means RICE. This dish has many names complementary to their characteristics and ingredients.

United Arab Emirates – Kibbeh

This is like a unique concept of Croquettes of Middle East Cuisine. It is considered as national dish of SYRIA and LEBANON. This dish has four main components, that add up together and form a nice dish. This word is derived from Classic Arabic Word KUBBAH, which means ball or dome.

United Arab Emirates – Kanafeh / Kunafe

Kunafa or Kanafeh, is actually a sweet dish/ dessert from the United Arab Emirates. Kitab al tabikh is a book of Dishes from Persia and Arabs. The word Kunafa is mentioned in this book. Kitab Al Tabikh Al Magrib Wal Andalus is also a book from MAHGREB and ANDULAS. In this book, Kunafa is described as thin crust, crepes are made layered with Cheese and rose syrup, topped with nuts.

United Arab Emirates – Kofta

Kofta is a member of Meat Balls and have name derived from Persian word, KUFTA. This is shaped especially into balls as a KOFTA but different shapes can be made out of the same batter of meat. Kofta can be made up of even vegetables like cabbage, potato, mixed vegetables, calabash, unripe bananas, etc. There is a huge variation of the same element of the dish and included in many countries’ national cuisine.

United Arab Emirates – Mahalabiya

Mahalabiya is a sweet dish which is commonly liked by many people all over the West Asian countries such as United Arab Emirates and Turkey. Many people likes to eat this sweet dish in the month of Ramadan after aftar. This sweet dish was first introduced by a Persian cook in the seventh century.