Baku Kitchen! An independent reference of traditional food

United Arab Emirates

Bedouin, Persian and Indian-influenced Gulf cuisine of spiced rice, dates and cardamom karak tea. That is the short version of what the United Arab Emirates cooks. Look for Machboos (spiced rice simmered with chicken, lamb or shrimp and loomi), Harees (wheat and meat slow-beaten into creamy porridge; Ramadan essential) and Luqaimat (crisp saffron dumplings drenched in date syrup). Gulf rice dish spiced with baharat and dried lime and cooked in one pot with meat or fish. This atlas has 29 United Arab Emirates dishes catalogued below, from everyday cooking to food kept for festivals and special occasions.

29 dishes.

AcharAcharGreen mango or lime cured with mustard oil, chilli and fenugreek.Aseeda bobarAseeda bobarpumpkin porridge with saffron, cardamom and date syrupBalaleetBalaleetcardamom vermicelli with saffron and eggBatheethaBatheethadate, flour and ghee sweet pressed into crumbly ballsCamel milkCamel milkfresh camel milk drunk warm, slightly salty, in the desert southCamel milk chocolateCamel milk chocolatepraline bars made with camel milk, dates and Arabian spicesChebabChebabThin saffron pancakes cooked on a hot plate, eaten with cream and date syrup.Fouga deyayFouga deyaychicken buried under spiced rice with dried lime and raisinsGahwaGahwacardamom-saffron coffee with dates, diwaniya essentialGhuziGhuziroast lamb over rice with raisins and nutsHareesHareesvelvety wheat-meat porridge topped with gheeKarak chaiKarak chaisweet cardamom milk tea sold in small paper cups day and nightKhalas datesKhalas datesAmber caramel-flavoured dates served with coffee to arriving guests.KhameerKhameerSoft slightly sweet yeasted bread topped with sesame, split and filled.KhanfarooshKhanfarooshSmall fried cakes of rice flour, saffron, cardamom and rosewater.LabanLabanSalted drinking yoghurt served ice cold with machboos and grilled fish.Lemon mint juiceLemon mint juiceLemon juice blended with fresh mint and ice into a frothy green slush.LuqaimatLuqaimatsyrup-soaked crisp fried dough ballsMachboosMachboosspiced rice with chicken or fish and dried limeMadroobaMadroobasalt-fish or chicken beaten into spiced rice porridgeMalehMalehSalted fish packed in brine, cooked with rice or eaten with bread.MehyawaMehyawaThin brown fermented fish sauce spiced with cumin, smeared inside thin regag bread.NakhiNakhihot boiled chickpeas dressed with cumin and limeRegagRegagcrisp wafer-thin bread with cheese, egg or honeySaguSagusago pearl pudding with saffron, cardamom and rosewaterSalonaSalonaeveryday spiced tomato stew of meat or fishSambusaSambusaDeep-fried triangle of pastry stuffed with spiced beef or beansShawarmaShawarmaStacked marinated meat shaved from a vertical spit into thin bread with garlic sauce.ThareedThareedThin regag bread soaked in meat and vegetable stew until soft.

  • Achar

    Green mango or lime cured with mustard oil, chilli and fenugreek. Ready in 40 min prep and 10 min cooking.…

  • Aseeda bobar

    Pumpkin porridge with saffron, cardamom and date syrup. Ready in 20 minutes prep and 45 minutes cooking. Serves 6. A…

  • Balaleet

    Cardamom vermicelli with saffron and egg. Ready in 10 min prep and 25 min cooking. 4 servings. A breakfast recipe…

  • Batheetha

    Date, flour and ghee sweet pressed into crumbly balls. Ready in 20 minutes prep and 20 minutes cooking. About 24…

  • Camel milk

    Fresh camel milk drunk warm, slightly salty, in the desert south. A drink recipe from Libya.

  • Camel milk chocolate

    Praline bars made with camel milk, dates and Arabian spices. Ready in 40 minutes prep and 20 minutes cooking. About…

  • Chebab

    Thin saffron pancakes cooked on a hot plate, eaten with cream and date syrup. Ready in 20 minutes prep and…

  • Fouga deyay

    Chicken buried under spiced rice with dried lime and raisins. Ready in 40 minutes prep and 1 hour 15 minutes…

  • Gahwa

    Cardamom-saffron coffee with dates, diwaniya essential. Ready in 10 minutes prep and 30 minutes cooking. Serves 6 small cups. A…

  • Ghuzi

    Roast lamb over rice with raisins and nuts. Ready in 40 min prep and 4 hr 30 min cooking. 8…