Dubai Food

Traditional Dubai cuisine along with dishes originating from Iran, Lebanon, and Arabia are found in Dubai. Western food as well as popular fast food are found here. From vegetarians to non-vegetarians, Dubai offers food to suit every person’s taste.

Here are some of the popular dishes in Dubai.

Manousheh

Manousheh is a kind of local pizza, a staple Lebanese breakfast. It is made by filling stretched dough or flatbread with toppings like salty Akkawi cheese, zaatar herbs, acrid labneh and sweet stick, eggs, minced sheep and olive oil. It is popular with both tourists and locals.

Iranian Sangak

Typical Barbari or Persian bread, Iranian Sangak is very popular in Dubai. Nan-e sangak is a whole wheat leavened flatbread, either triangular or rectangular, which is topped with poppy and sesame seeds. The name sangak refers to the old method of baking the bread in a dome-shaped oven with a surface full of pebbles and stones. In Iran, the bread is often consumed with lamb kebabs, and it is a typical accompaniment to kale pache, a dish made with sheep’s head and feet.

It is usually eaten with some strained yogurt or Greek yogurt and some cheese or labneh. Simply delicious.

Chelow kabab

Chelow  kabab is of Iranian origin, consisting of steamed rice and one of the many varieties of Iranian kebabs. Chelow kebab is served with accompaniments such as butter, sumac powder, basil, onions, and grilled tomatoes.
Kebabs are made of cut up or ground meat sometimes with vegetables, and various other accompaniments. Kebabs are typically cooked on a skewer over a fire, some kebab dishes are baked in a pan in an oven or prepared as a stew such as tas kebab. The traditional meat for kebabs is most often mutton or lamb, but regional recipes may include other meats.

Al Harees

Al Harees is one of the most traditional foods in Dubai. This popular local dish is a combination of wheat, meat and just a pinch of salt, prepared to a porridge-like consistency. It is generally served Ramadan, Eid, wedding and special occasions.

Al Machboos

Al Machboos consists of some chicken, basmati rice, spices, and some sauce.It is a cross between biryani and risotto, where the rice is cooked in the spiced broth of the meat or chicken, melding the spices and ingredients.
This dish is popular not only in Dubai but also in the Middle East and in some African countries.

Mandi

Mandi is quite similar to other rice-based Asian dishes such as Biryani and Pilaf. It is basically a layered dish of meat and rice. The meat is cooked in the tandoor covered with clay and buried inside the ground. It tastes like biryani. It is one of the main dishes prepared during festivals like Ramadan and Eid.

Kabsa

Kabsa is considered the national dish of the Emirates. It is a fragrant mixture of basmati rice, lamb or chicken, mixed vegetables, cardamom, cinnamon, saffron, nutmeg and bay leaves cooked in one pot and often served in a huge mound at the centre of the table.
Kabsa has has the same rice-meat combination as Mandi but is differently flavoured due to different spices.

Oozie

Oozie is one of the best-known dishes from the Gulf region. It is made with rice and sometimes stuffed into delicate pastry pockets. It is usually served with chicken. Sometimes, it’s also served with salad and yoghurt, or garnished with a mixture of fried or roasted nuts. You will usually see this in weddings and Ramadan.

Margoogat

This chicken or lamb stew is tomato based and is cooked with turmeric, cumin and bezar (a local garam masala-like spice mixture).
Baby marrow and potato are also added to this stew. Different variations can be found across the city. This dish is often prepared and enjoyed at Iftar, the evening meal that breaks the daily fast during Ramadan.

Khubz

Khubz means bread in Standard Arabic. Khubz tannur is made in a tandoor oven. It is either leavened or unleavened flatbread made with  all-purpose flour. This bread has pocket like pita. You can fill the pocket with whatever you wish or even make a sandwich. Khubz can be enjoyed as a delicious wrapper or dipper for other foods.

Chebab

These delicious Emirati-style pancakes are normally served at breakfast time. Saffron and cardamom are two key ingredients of this pancake. The pancake is topped with sour cheese, cream cheese, butter and sweet date syrup. The sweet and sour elements of the ingredients combine well and give it a unique flavour. This bread is also called jabab.

Shawarma

Shawarma is made from slow-roasted and spiced chicken or lamb and served in the form of a Middle Eastern sandwich. Shawarma is served in an Arabic roti, along with vegetables, fries, tomatoes, pickles, and garlic sauce.

Esh Hasarya

Esh Hasarya or Asaraya is a rich and sweet cake served as dessert. It is in a class by itself and is described as “the bread of the harem”. Its texture resembles cheesecake, and it has a cream frosting. it’s one of the most popular desserts in all of Dubai.

Esh asaraya is made with sweet pieces of bread that is then topped with cream, and pistachio nuts which adds a nice crunch to the cake.

Luqaimat

Luqaimat is the most famous dessert in the UAE. It is served at weddings and tea parties, and it is eaten for breakfast along with tea. It is also one of the special dishes offered to guests (Fuwala). It is a a popular Emirati dessert, especially during Ramadan. These doughnut balls are drizzled with honey and topped with sesame seeds.

Balaleet

Balaleet is a traditional dish consisting of vermicelli sweetened with sugar, cardamom, rose water, and saffron, served with an omelet on top. It is sometimes served with sautéed onions or potatoes. It is usually a breakfast dish, but it is also served as a dessert during Ramadan, or as a light dinner.

Manakish

It’s a flat bread filled with cheese and baked in an oven on a pizza stone. It can also be served with cheese on top and thyme, or thyme and olive oil, meat and hot sauce. It’s a delightful breakfast dish and goes well with cardamom infused tea(karak).

Thereed

Thereed / Tharid is a very slowly cooked stew consisting of chicken, beef, lamb, or goat, and roasted vegetables and potatoes.  Some kinds of beans are also added to the stew to enhance the taste like chickpea, small peas, green peas, kidney beans etc.

It is served on top of an Emirati salted bread called Rigag.

Saloona

Saloona is a classic Arabian stew prepared with chicken, turmeric, olive oil, ginger, garlic, onion, chili, and many other spices. It is served with rice on the side.  Other types of meat such as beef or lamb, and fish can also be used as the main ingredient. It is a Friday lunch favourite.

Samboosa

This is a famous Indian snack. It consists of layers of thin pastry filled with different type of meat, vegetables, and exotic spices. A very popular street food. Sambusa is filled with a meat and onion mixture while the Indian version samosa is usually vegetarian consisting of potatoes and peas.

 Falafel

Falafel is a popular Middle Eastern “fast food” made of a mixture of chickpeas (or fava beans), fresh herbs, and spices that are formed into small patties or balls. It is commonly served in a pita, which acts as a pocket, or wrapped in a flatbread known as taboon.  The falafel balls are usually topped with salads, pickled vegetables, hot sauce, and drizzled with tahini-based sauces. Falafel balls may also be eaten alone as a snack or served in a tray as part of an assortment of appetizers.