Abu Dhabi is a city that offers an array of diverse attractions for the visitor. Undoubtedly, one of these is the mouth-watering local Emirati cuisine which presents a host of tantalizing dishes for foodies to savour. Emirati cuisine offers distinctive flavours that are the result of a combination of Arabic, Indian, Persian and Mediterranean culinary influences. Some of the outstanding dishes you should try out during your visit to this city are described below.

Image via needpix

An outstanding dish with which to commence your sampling of Emirati cuisine is the much-loved machboos which is noted for its delectable flavours. The main ingredients in this dish are rice, meat or seafood (typically lamb, beef, chicken, fish or shrimp), vegetables, onions, lemon and spices. Whilst being rather similar to Indian biryani, the special spices used in making machboos set it apart; these include cardamom, cumin, nutmeg, cloves, saffron, cinnamon, mace, chillies and turmeric which when combined, offer a divine taste. When making this dish, the meat will be cooked first, after which the rice and vegetables are cooked in the same stock which adds to the flavour.

Another outstanding Emirati specialty is khuzi which happens to be the UAE’s national dish. Whilst being commonly served at special events, it could also be found at local restaurants. Khuzi consists of roast mutton or lamb served on a bed of spiced rice; it is garnished using vegetables, nuts and raisins. Whilst traditionally an entire goat or lamb would be used to prepare this dish, today, you can obtain individual portions of this dish at Emirati restaurants. An important feature of this culinary creation is the use of spices like cloves, cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, saffron and so on in making it.

When it comes to local breakfast dishes, a special place goes to chebab which is commonly enjoyed by both Emiratis and foreign visitors. Chebab may be described as the local equivalent of pancakes and is always a pleasure to eat. You will find that this distinctive food is crispy, thin and delectable. It is prepared with yeast as well as special ingredients such as turmeric and cardamom. When eating chebab, it is typically drizzled with thick date syrup making it a delight for the diner in search of a sweet treat.

Although shawarma is commonly found in many countries in the Middle East, the Emirati version is particularly mouth-watering. Whilst this ever-popular street food may have originated in the region of Lebanon, it is undoubtedly much-loved in the Emirates. Shawarma basically consists of thinly sliced roasted meat with salad, tabbouleh, cucumber, tomato and sauces, all wrapped up in pita bread. An accommodation choice to consider where you could enjoy chicken shawarma and also engage in Sir Bani Yas Island activities is the pleasingly located Anantara Sir Bani Yas Island Al Sahel Villa Resort.

A rather different kind of dish is harees which is a distinctive specialty of the Emirates. The principal ingredients in this dish are wheat and a variety of meat, usually lamb or chicken. To make harees, the wheat is soaked overnight, after which it is boiled with butter in water till a porridge-like thick texture is achieved. Later, pieces of meat, vegetables, salt, cinnamon, pepper and various other spices are added.

Emirati cuisine also features several desserts and a great one to try out is the beloved luqaimat. This sweet treat may be described as balls of dough that are deep-fried so that they are fluffy and soft inside whilst having a crisp exterior. A plentiful serving of sweet syrup completes this exquisite dessert. Luqaimat is often prepared for the holy month of Ramadan as well as other noteworthy occasions and is worth savouring on your culinary adventures.