Delicious dishes over Gulf area

As salamu 3alaikom my dears, 

today i wanna share with u some of the famous dishes eaten on the Gulf region. We arabs are well known of food minded people, we love to eat good, savory,  healthy food and for this reason most of our mothers spent a lot of time in the kitchen doing all the hard work for making her family pleased . In some families even we have got the maid servant, sometimes our mothers loves to show their admiration for the family members, by cooking herself and feeding us with food made by her hand :) ...that's pretty cool and very intelligent way of showing appreciation for her husband and kids....

In some other families, the mothers will start preparing the daughters at a "fresh" age familiarizing them with kitchen work, teaching them recipes, some secrets of a perfect meal ... and all this for the purpose in being ready to face alone the kitchen work when time to get married . 

They like daughters to leave the paternal house with a good knowledge of house work and marriage issues , so that the new husband will have nothing wrong to say about their daughter ( this is very common mentality over old families ). 

Other type of arabic families are the opposite, they are very open mind so the mothers love to  their daughters while they are in the paternal house, leaving the teachings for later on , when they will get married and being at their own houses , the mother will give "training" to the daughter at that time. 

In short this is the cooking matters in arab world, and now i will let u taste from the most delicious food consumed all over the Gulf area.

A quick desert !

VANILLA CREAM WITH BANANA 

I know is not looking nice, but i was really so busy and out of decoration idea. I just took a quick picture and prepared for my doctor appointment.U might ask urself if i'm fine taking in consideration that i went to doctor, well i will let u know that i'm ok , al7md allah just small medication need to followed.

Anyway leaving this behind, let's come back to our sweet.

INGREDIENTS:

* 1 packet of Dr.Oetker vanilla cream

* milk to make the cream ( read behind the packet to know the quantity of the milk u need to make the cream)

* 4 pc of Twix chocolate 

* caramel siroup

* cinnamon

PREPARATION:

First start making the vanilla cream and don't forget to add some little vanilla flavor and sugar in it.

Then u need to cut each banana into round shape.

In a bowl start picking up ur banana's and arrange it into levels.

First level - banana,on top cover it with vanilla cream, then on top of the cream smash 2pc of Twix chocolate,add some cinnamon and little caramel siroup. The first level it's done, now u need to repeat the same steps for the second level.

If u like to make another levels, than u need to double ur ingredients quantities.

I must admit that i'm so much addicted to sweets, it's just can't pass a single day without eating or at least tasting some sweets. U, girls do the same ?

   

Bcoz of so many daily sweets  i started already gaining weight and that's terrible ... if i will continue this way i'm gonna look the same like that lady in the picture loool  audhu billahi :)

  

Glazed apple

This is an excellent desert if u r out of ideas and ur guests r already in ur house. What i like to this recipe is that u don't have to spend a lot of  ur time in the kitchen , so simple and easy way to get delicious desert just in few moments . 

My parents adore this and i guarantee ur family will love it too !

Normally this is to be served with ice cream and spicy jam ( 1chilli cutted into small pices and added inside the jam ) and whipping cream for decoration , but bcoz i don't like whipping cream i didn't use it and my mum requested me without the jam.

Let's see the ingredients and the preparation way:

INGREDIENTS:

- 9 apples round cutted ( don't omit to remove the seeds from the middle )

- pancake dough 

- ice cream on top

- spicy cherry jam ( 1pc of chilli cutted and mixed with the jam , make sure u remove the seeds )

- whipping cream for decoration

PREPARATION:

Cut the apples in a round shape , as i said . 

THE PANCAKE DOUGH:

- 3-4 cups of white flour 

- 2 eggs

- baking powder 

- sugar

- cinnamon

- water or milk 

Mix all the Pancake dough ingredients. Make it sure the mixture won't be watery ( so thin ) , add some more flour if the mixture is not thick enough as we need.

Now we bring each cutted  piece of apple into pancake dough untill we see each piece is covered by pancake dough.

In a pancake pan put the oil to low fire. 

Start frying each piece, both sides ( u will know it is done when they will become golden color).

When u finished frying all , take it out and place it on a tray with paper to absorbe the oil.

Before serving , add some ice cream scoops on top, little spicy jam and decorate it with whipping cream.

This is all the work and i'm telling u it's worth it !

Tasting emaraati traditional food

Hala bl 7elwin ,

I know some of u r interested in emaraati traditional dishes, so today let's taste our tasty dishes :)

I will post the most popular dishes served in Emirates by the names and show u the way they look like.

RAQAQ 

It is only made of basic ingredients : whole-wheat flour, salt and water.This is one of the most traditional breads known in UAE.

The "raqaq" bread is made from soft unleavened dough that is flattened and baked on a hot iron plate.

The bread is made daily during Ramadan and is the accompaniment to fareed (a dish made of chicken and bread).

 It is also a popular winter-time bread, eaten fresh and warm from the griddle with oil poured over, then folded into pieces and eaten with fresh honey.

Is it also served with ghee,butter,sugar,chesse or meat gravy spread on it.

SHOBAB 

“Shobab” is traditional bedouin bread that is very similar to a crepe. The ingredients are the same as khameer, except that only more water is added.

The dough is left to rest for about four hours and is then cut into several pieces.

Each piece is shaped into a flat circle and fried on both sides in a pan (or baked in a traditional oven called "tabi").It is served warm for either breakfast or dinner, and is accompanied by cheese, honey, eggs or jam.

AL HAREES

“Al harees “ is one of the most savoured dishes in the UAE  and it involves a lengthy preparation. Harees, that rib-sticking, regional stalwart of meat and wheat, sometimes as thick as concrete, is a quintessential part of the Emirati culinary.

Al harees, which is made mainly from meat and wheat, is quite prominent one during special occasions such as Ramadan, Eid and weddings. 

AL MACHBOOS

“Al Machboos”, which is also called “Al Makboos”, has red meat as its main ingredient (which can be replaced by chicken or shrimp) and rice.

Is it similar to Biryani .

AL SALOONA

Is it chicken, beef or meat stew along with vegetables.

The dish is prepared by boiling meat with onions and then adding a variety of vegetables (zucchini, eggplant, onions, pepper, tomato and some okra). 

 Spices and tomato paste are also added and the mixture is left to simmer for 10 minutes until read.

AL MADROOBA

Fish is used heavily in Emirati Cuisine in a variety of recipies: grilled, fried or cooked with rice

This consists of salt-cured fish (known locally as "Maleh" or salty) and flour. 

The fish is cleaned thoroughly in running water and then cooked in a pot along with spices.  

AL KHABEESA

picture made by our sister Arlette

This is a famous desert . Is made from flour which is heated on a stovetop and as its colour turns brown, rose water, sugar, ghee and cardamom are added. 

The mixture is then left on medium heat until ready.

AL KHANFAROOSH

This is prepared from a mixture of flour, egg, sugar, yeast, cardamom, saffron and rose water.

Very tasty !

LOQAIMAT 

“Luqaimat or l’gaymat “  may just be the emaraati gateway dish.

Dumplings (little crispy  balls) made of butter , milk, sugar, flour, saffron, cardamom, that is deep fried in oil and then served with sugar syrup .

My favorite sweet , is it served in Ramadan also , but mostly as a mainly desert .

There are as many varied and wonderful recipes for loqaimat as there are for pancakes.

BATHEETH

This is a date sweet , an arab favorite and the national traditional uae sweet.

Is it served regulary with Gahwa ( the Arabic coffee).

GAHWA KHALEEJIAH 

Gulf coffee is served at most corners of the Heritage Village,offices,shops,houses ans is the most popular type of coffee among uae nationals.One of the first things done every morning in Arab homes after early morning prayers, is to make coffee which is then kept in a flask (dalla gahwa) until the family is ready to drink it.

Traditionally, fresh green coffee beans are roasted in a frying pan (ta'waa) over a direct fire.

 They are then pounded by hand in a mortar until they reached a medium sized grain, and then boiled rapidly for 3-5 minutes.

In the meantime, saffron, cloves, cardamom and rosewater are placed in a large flask, the hot coffee is poured over this and then left to steep for 30-40 minutes.

Spices used in arabic kitchen

Ok dears, first i'm sorry i haven't update my blog as for i was not feeling well .. some complications came after my operation, bas now i can say i'm little better, thanks to my God !
Not long ago , one sister asked me regarding the spices we use in Arabic  kitchen. I thought in posting some of the spices ( out of hundreds ) along with the pictures for recognizing them easily when u go to supermarket and wanna have some.

The one i love so much called "CARDAMOM" used in arabic coffee, sweets and biryani rice.

Maggie , i think everyone knows it :)

We use a lot the spice named " BHARAT " - means allspice mixed and can be done at home as well. Is it a mixture of spices which varies from region to region.

Another one is the  " CLOVES " 

"YANSOON" my fabulous spice , i use it a lot coz i like the flavor . Usually is it used to calm down a pain stomach making a tea with it , but  i add this to some of my dishes as well ( it gives a special taste )

"REIHAN" - BASIL is it used fresh or dry to salads

"KARAWIA" 

"KHUZBARA" -"CORIANDER" used in salad and main courses.Very healthy !

"KAMOON" - i love it i use it in tea's , sweets , rice and some dishes.

"SAFFRON" - a blessed ingredient the most expansive , used with rice for flavor and color, for preparation the fish and chicken and not at last used in some sweets.

My self, I  enjoy the taste of "saffron " tea !

" KURKUM " or " TURMERIC "  in english 

The black pepper, cinnamon, garlic, mint , nutmeg , parsley , red pepper , sesame seeds , rose water , masticha , ginger, bay leaves, pistachio, nuts, dates, za'attar, maramyieh, mardakoosh, rashad, are also some of the ingredients which are used in arabic kitchen.

Now i wanna show u a quick recipe i did it last days while i was feeling so sick . 

My food for the last 1 week and a half must be only smashed , i'm not allowed and i can't eat the regular food, so u need a lot of imagination to survive with this kind of food and in the same time to be healthy and delicious.

Here's my personalized recipe:

I took 1 chicken breast , i boiled it, and then i put it in blender along with :

- 3 spoons of sour cream

- 3 spoons of tahina

- little turmeric

- little anise

- 1 pc.garlic

- little cinnamon

- salt to taste

- and very litlle water.

All those mix well into blender until u will get a creamy sauce. 

It was really delicious . This must be a great ideea to feed the small babies as well :)

And this is how it looks like