How to Eat Like a Local in Abu Dhabi - Guidelines on How to Wine and Dine the Abu Dhabi Way

 Regarded as a foodie's haven in the Middle East, every traveller exploring Abu Dhabi must take time to explore its culinary identity. Offering tourists a plethora of delectable meal options, those who wish to make the most of their time in Abu Dhabi should ideally eat like a local to experience the gamut of delicious dishes that are part of the local cannon. From digging into street food to snacking like a pro, here are some tips on wining and dining like a local during your trip to Abu Dhabi.

יעל י, Cup of coffee and dates, CC BY-SA 3.0

 1. Snack on Milk and Dates

Those who are looking for the perfect pick-me-up snack during a sightseeing tour in Abu Dhabi will find no better alternative to the traditional option of milk and dates. Known to provide one with a big energy boost regardless of the time of day, this popular pairing, which is a staple during the Ramadan fasting season is also how most older Emirati citizens begin each meal. This combination is so popular that it is also believed to be endorsed by Prophet Muhammad himself as he is known to have enjoyed this snack during his lifetime. As one of the world's leading cultivators of dates, the UAE prides itself in the ready availability of fresh milk and sweet dates.

 2. Savour the Flavours of Al Harees

While it may be one of the most conventional dishes in Abu Dhabi, this well-loved celebratory dish is a must for local celebrations and special occasions in every household. Al Harees is a meat dish that combines lamb and wheat into a thick texture so that the ground-up meat is indiscernible from the cooked wheat. The mixture is cooked for several hours in a clay pot and it is little wonder that Al Harees is a favourite for wedding feasts and for the post-fast meal during Ramadan as it is both wholesome and filling. Topped off with clarified butter, the pot of Al Harees, when it is cooked the traditional way, is placed on hot coals so that the mixture may solidify even further.

 3. Try Local Comfort Foods like Saloona

Travellers in search of a broth most Abu Dhabi locals enjoy almost regularly will find no that Saloona more than meets their requirements. This vegetable soup, with pieces of meat also thrown into the mix, is made using fresh locally sourced vegetables such as courgettes, okra, eggplant, and bell peppers with some crushed tomatoes also added for texture and flavour. Onions are an indispensable part of this recipe, which is also known to be one of the healthier broths in the Arabic canon. Enjoyed both as a starter and as a complete meal, travellers will find variations of this local soup in nearly every restaurant.

 4. Grab a Plate of Madrooba for Local Seafood Cuisine

Seafood enthusiasts touring Abu Dhabi's coastal areas must dig into a plate of Madrooba, which is a speciality that's served in countless coastal towns around the UAE. The Abu Dhabi version of this dish is made using a fish called Maleh, which is first cured with salt before being rinsed. Then the fish is boiled with an Arabic spice mix that infuses the dish with a unique flavour. Flour is then added to thicken the broth and the savoury sauce in which the fish is served. This seafood dish is also topped off with ghee or clarified butter before being set on the table with freshly baked flatbread. Those based at Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara or any similar venue will find that this dish is on the menu of nearly every Abu Dhabi poolside restaurant in the city.