Culinary traditions of the United Arab Emirates
Emirati cuisine
is the local traditional Arabic cuisine of the
United Arab Emirates
. It is part of
Eastern Arabian cuisine
and shares similarities with cuisines from neighboring countries, such as
Omani cuisine
and
Saudi Arabian cuisine
, as well as influences from different
Middle Eastern
and
Asian
cuisines.
As a major international hub, the United Arab Emirates today has a
multicultural
variety of cuisines from different parts of the world.
History
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Origins
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Cultivation of
date palms
in the area can be traced back to the mid-third millennium BC (commonly referred to as the Umm al-Nar period in the United Arab Emirates) from which many date seeds have been found in
Umm al-Nar sites
. The presence of grinding stones and fired clay ovens in archaeological sites indicate that grain processing was also performed. Studies of human dental remains dating back to the third millennium show a high level of attrition which is believed to result from the mastication of dry bread.
[2]
Modern historical history
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The cuisine which originated in the area that is now the United Arab Emirates and was previously the
Trucial States
is formed by a similar Arabic and Middle Eastern cuisine which is consumed in the wider
Arabian Peninsula
. The food is a mixture of a
Bedouin
diet, consisting of
meat
and
camel milk
, a fisherman's diet, consisting mainly of fish common in the Persian Gulf, and a farmer's diet, consisting mainly of
dates
. A blend of these diets as well as a mixture of spices such as
cinnamon
,
saffron
, and
turmeric
formed the basis of the common dishes consumed in the Trucial states region and the current traditional Emirati cuisine.
[3]
The
traditional food
of the United Arab Emirates uses much
meat
,
grain
, and
dairy
.
Vegetables
that are easy to grow in fertile soil, such as
cucumbers
and
tomatoes
, are strongly featured in the diet.
Mangos
are also grown, usually in the northern emirates in villages such as
Masafi
. Meats traditionally used are
chicken
or small
fowl
, such as Houbara bustards, and goats. As camels are highly prized for their milk and transporting ability, the eating of
camel meat
is normally reserved for special occasions.
The dishes are usually like stews, as everything is often cooked in a single pot.
Saffron
,
cardamom
,
turmeric
, and
thyme
are the core flavors used in Emirati cookery.
Rice
was added to the diet when traders moved to the region.
[
when?
]
Leaves from indigenous trees, such as the ghaff, were also used to stuff small birds for enhanced flavor.
Traditional dishes include
maq'louba
,
margooga
,
harees
,
machbous
,
frsee'ah
,
fireed
,
jisheid
, and
mishwy.
Breakfast
in the UAE usually features breads like
raqaq
,
khameer
, and
chebab
, served with
cheese
,
date syrup
, or
eggs
. These were made over a curved hot plate, resembling a stone, which would have been used by the
Bedouins
.
Balaleat
is another dish, but its advent began with the traders, who introduced
pasta
.
Sweet options include
luqeymat
, a deep-fried ball of
pancake
batter that is rolled in
sesame seeds
and then drizzled with
date honey
. Other desserts include
khabeesa
, bread crumbs blended with
sugar
,
cardamom
, and
saffron
, or bethitha, semolina blended with crushed
dates
,
cardamom
, and
clarified butter
.
At the close of the meal, it is usual to serve a red tea infused with
mint
as a digestive. Other mealtime traditions include a welcome with
dates
and
gahwah
(
Arabic coffee
), which are offered on arrival and are kept available throughout the guest's visit.
Levantine cuisine
is sometimes confused with Emirati/Gulf, but
shawarma
,
hummous
,
tabbouleh
, and mixed grill, whilst having similar characteristics, are fairly recent additions to the Emirati diet.
[
citation needed
]
Foods and dishes
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Seafood
has been the mainstay of the Emirati diet for centuries.
[4]
The United Arab Emirates cuisine is a reflection of an Arabian heritage and exposure to other civilizations over time. As the consumption of
pork
is forbidden under Muslim law, it is not included in most menus. Hotels frequently have pork substitutes such as beef, chicken, sausage, and veal rashers on their breakfast menus. If pork is available, it is clearly labelled as such.
Meat
,
fish
, and
rice
are the staple foods of Emirati cuisine.
Lamb and mutton
are the more favored meats rather than
goat
,
beef
, and
camel meat
.
Dates
are usually consumed with meals.
Popular beverages are
coffee
and
tea
, which can be supplemented with
cardamom
,
saffron
, or
mint
to give it a distinct flavor.
[5]
Alcohol
is generally only served in hotel restaurants and bars (but not in
Sharjah
). All nightclubs and golf clubs are permitted to sell alcohol. Specific supermarkets may sell pork in a separate section of the market.
[6]
Dishes forming part of the Emirati cuisine include:
[7]
[8]
[9]
Beverages
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Events
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Dubai Food Festival
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The inaugural
Dubai
Food Festival was held from 21 February to 15 March 2014.
[12]
According to
Vision
the event was aimed at enhancing and celebrating Dubai's position as the gastronomic capital of the region. The festival was designed to showcase the variety of flavours and cuisines on offer in Dubai featuring the cuisines of over 200 nationalities at the festival.
[13]
References
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External links
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Sovereign states
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States with limited
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Dependencies and
other territories
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Arab
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Non-Arab
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Ethnic and religious
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Related cuisines
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