Celebrating UAE Flavours Through Food Styling
By Fahmim Arif — Food Stylist & Content Creator, UAE The UAE has shaped the way I cook, create, and
Category: Middle Eastern
Levant Flavours on My Table: A Curated Collection of Recipes Inspired by the Region
A Celebration of Flavours From a Region That Feels Like Home** Living in the UAE for the past few years
Luqaimat – the most popular dessert of the UAE
Luqaimat, often called fried mini donuts, is a dessert that perfectly encapsulates the UAE’s love for sweetness and warmth. Crispy
My top favorite Middle Eastern (inspired) dishes
Middle Eastern cuisine stands out as a tapestry of bold colors, bold flavors, and aromatic spices that tantalize the taste
Hummus with meat
The delightful coupling of creamy hummus with juicy meat, crowned with the all-star side sumac onions. But while the allure
Roasted eggplant with tahini yogurt sauce
Middle Eastern flavors, spices, and cooking techniques enhance the natural taste of eggplant, creating mouthwatering and satisfying culinary experiences. Roasted eggplant with tahini yogurt sauce is a classic and delectable dish combining roasted eggplant’s smoky flavors and creamy richness from tahini. It is a complete dish, but I served it with couscous to make it a wholesome meal.
Lemon sumac baked chicken
Chicken paired with citrus fruits is a classic and delicious combination popular in many cuisines worldwide. Citrus fruits like lemon, lime, and orange add a bright and zesty flavor to the chicken, making it a perfect choice for a light and refreshing meal. Here is an easy-baked chicken recipe loaded with freshness and tastes phenomenal.
Sumac chicken fatteh
Chicken fatteh is my kind of savory trifle. It has layers of texture, taste, and colours. It is made with layers of toasted or fried pita bread, chickpeas, yogurt sauce, and other toppings such as meat, vegetables, and herbs. It is easy to make and is the perfect comfort food.
Roasted butternutsquash with pearl couscous
A dish that tastes pure bliss and looks so good. The roasted butternut squash slices with lightly caramelized edges look beautiful and contrast with couscous. I love the texture of pearl couscous, but you can also use regular couscous. Butternut squash tastes amazing with middle eastern flavors and spices. Salty feta cheese and sweet squash together make you come back for more.
Halloumi kebabs with couscous
I love making kebabs with cheese. Even though the usual choice is meat, fish, or veggies for a change, I tried halloumi cheese as the hero. Cheese is a relatively easy ingredient to work with, and it takes less time compared to others. I usually use Indian cottage cheese for making vegetarian kebabs. However, for a middle-eastern-inspired meal, I choose Halloumi. Honey and thyme roasted halloumi kebabs tasted perfect with couscous and salad.
Magic Ingredient 