The alluring Emirate of Abu Dhabi is always a fascinating place to visit. If you are considering luxury hotels in Abu Dhabi a splendid choice would be the Eastern Mangroves Hotel & Spa by Anantara. This sumptuous hotel is well known for its quality accommodations and selection of luxurious amenities.
Amongst Abu Dhabi’s many attractions are its distinctive culinary traditions. No visit to the Emirate would be complete without sampling the typical dishes that invariably make a positive impact on the visitor.
Harees is a customary dish that is elaborate to prepare yet provides a delectable meal for the food lover. It is made from simple ingredients – chicken, wheat and salt – but is very time-consuming to prepare. Cooked until the meat has dissolved into the simmering wheat, the dish is then roasted in a clay vessel, creating a unique flavour and texture.
Another local favourite is machboos, which is basically meat, such as chicken, goat, beef, lamb or shrimp accompanied with rice. The secret to its preparation is the cooking method, in which the meat is marinated in spices, and then cooked with chopped onions, a selection of vegetables, tomatoes, potatoes and peppers.
The local cuisine also makes great use of the delectable fresh seafood that is available plentifully in the local waters. One of the customary local seafood dishes is madrooba, which is made using fish that has been cured with salt; the fish is cooked in water with spices, creating a delicious savoury broth.
Another typical local highlight is the delightful salona, which is in fact a tasty soup that is made from meat, onions, fresh vegetables, tomato paste and spices. Another local favourite is roast camel, which is accompanied by various side dishes. At elite local weddings you may find stuffed camel, which as its name indicates, is made with an entire stuffed camel. These splendid dishes make Abu Dhabi a highlight for food lovers.
Uditha Dharmawardhane is a travel writer who writes under the pen name Roland Lefevre. He specializes in creating features on leisure as well as business travel destinations across the globe.