Local Cuisines: UAE

As if life isn’t strenuous enough, Filipinos (and probably other nationalities, too) are burdened with the guilt of gaining too much weight here in UAE. Why is that, you ask? Well, UAE is flooded with various choices of food outlets, from fine dining to fast food chains, from local cuisine to international dishes, you name it, they have it! Thus neophytes in UAE tend to try all the food there is, not only because it is affordable but also the fact that it is something new to them.  I, for one, grew up exposed to the usual selection of food and never even ventured trying anything different… until now and I definitely would crave for more.

PITA AND HUMMUS
Pita is a round Arabic bread made essentially with flour and water. It is an important part of their meal (but not customary), as important as rice to us Filipinos. The most common way of eating Pita is to tear a portion and dip it to the Hummus-- a paste made from cooked, mashed chickpeas, with olive oil, tahini, lemon juice, salt and garlic, and is served cold.  I find the taste a bit sour at first but once you get the hang of it, it truly adds flavor to the bread. It has a hollow center and is sometimes stuffed with other Arabic food. Pita is also used for the well-known shawarma-- they stuff it inside, not wrapped, to wrap kebab and a lot more!
PHOTO CREDIT: © A W S W

FATTOUSH

Here's a treat for vegans out there! Fattoush is a bread salad made from fried sliced bits of pita bread with large chunks of vegetables sprinkled with sumac, grounded deep-red colored spice that adds a sour flavor. Each serving varies on the vegetables and herbs used to relish the taste. It has this strong sour kick, an explosion of flavor on your mouth, subdued by the taste of toasted bits of pita. It is a perfect side dish or appetizer or even a meal especially for the ones who are trying to watch their figure.
PHOTO CREDIT: © A W S W

MIXED ARABIC GRILL
It is what it is. Mixed, Arabic and grilled. Consists of chicken shish taouk, cut into cubes, marinated with tomato puree or yogurt;  beef shish kebab, also cut into cubes, marinated with white vinegar and cumin; lamb kofta, balls of minced lamb with different spices;  flattened beef pita pockets and some vegetables. A very mouth-watering dish, indeed. Totally different from anything I ever tasted, it has a compelling zest that makes you crave for more. It is salty with a hint of sweetness in every bite. Pair this dish with pita and hummus, you've got yourself a full meal!
PHOTO CREDIT: © A W S W

I never expected the Arab cuisine to be this tasty, to be honest. And because of this, I came to a conclusion that one way to explore a different country is through their food--it defines a lot of their culture. Even though nothing beats the Filipino home-cooked meals, change can be good.