Are you new in Qatar? Been wondering what to do or where to go or what to eat now that you are in one of the richest countries in the world? Qatar surely has lots of tourist destinations, prestigious malls and even fancy Filipino restaurants, but why don’t you first try their local delicacies?
Today we have listed 10 Arabic dishes that you must try when you are in Qatar. Taste and see how mouth-watering these dishes are!
10 Must-try Arabic Dishes for Newbies in Qatar
#1 – Ghuzi
Ghuzi, or khuzi, is a dish that contains whole roast lamb served on top of a generous bed of rice topped with vegetables and flavorful nuts.
#2 – Harees
Harees, also called Harissa, is a traditional porridge-like Arabic dish consisting of wheat, chunks of meat (lamb, chicken, mutton or veal), and salt. Sometimes, cinnamon and pepper are also added to boost the flavor of the dish. Harees is one of the chosen favorites during occasions such as Ramadan, Eid, and weddings.
Image Credit: marhaba.qa
#3 – Wareq Enab
Wareq Enab is an Arabian delicacy made of rolled grape leaves filled with ground lamb, rice, and spices slowly boiled in lemony water. This is usually served as an appetizer and sometimes even as a main course.
#4 – Machboos (Machbous)
The machboos, also known as kabsa, is the hallmark of the Qatari cuisine. It is an Arabian dish made with rice (usually long-grain, almost always basmati), meat, vegetables, and a mixture of spices such as black pepper, cloves, cardamom, saffron, cinnamon, black lime, bay leaves, and nutmeg. The meat is marinated and is traditionally cooked in an underground oven with heated flat stones, or in a pressure cooker.
#5 – Fatayer
A fatayer is an Arabic meat pie pastry filled with spinach or cheese. It is a soft and fluffy finger food that takes on different shapes such as boat-like and triangular shapes. Fatayers is perfect for snacks and lunch, and is often used as side dish during Ramadan.
Image Credit: Take Away Qatar
#6- Shawarma
Shawarma, a variation of doner kebab, is a sandwich-like wrap of lamb, chicken, turkey, beef, veal, or a mixture of these shaved off from the meat stacked on a vertical rotisserie, and is filled with sauce and other stuffings such as pickled vegetables. Shawarma, which originates from a Turkish name meaning “something that is spun or turned over,” is one of the world’s most popular street foods.
#7 – Tabbouleh
Tabbouleh is a vegetarian salad made of tomatoes, finely chopped parsley, mint, onion, bulgur, and onion, seasoned with olive oil, lemon juice, and salt. In some variations, garlic or lettuce is used instead of bulgur.
Image Credit: Qatar Tribune
#8 – Mathrooba
Mathrooba is similar to Harees in a way that it is also a porridge-like dish. However, mathrooba is more like a soupy polenta, wherein the meat is simmered and stewed with smashed beans, fusing the flavors into a pasty-mix. This dish is often eaten as a special treat to break the Ramadan fast.
#9 – Kousa Mahshi
Kousa Mahsi is a traditional Middle Eastern recipe of stuffed zucchini/courgette. This dish is stuffed with lamb, flavoured with mint and garlic, and then baked in the oven before it is served.
#10 – Falafel
Falafel is a traditional Israeli street food made of fava beans or ground chickpeas or combination of both, seasoned with onions, scallions and spices like parsley, garlic, cumin and coriander, shaped into balls and deep-fried in a vat. It is usually served on pita bread or on a flatbread known as taboon.
These are just some of the Arabian delicacies that you must not forget to try in Qatar! Meanwhile, since you are new in Qatar and still adjusting to everything, including your budget, you may check out these free things you can do without affecting much of your budget plan.