![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/H5M53I2ZDQVX5M65E7QUDGZQXM.jpg?smart=true&auth=063bca8a21c5c13e25f5c32990ec0a2c91b25f49d690b3d1756d1c98054df71b&width=400&height=225)
Kebab at Al Mashowa
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Luqaimat balls are one of the most popular Emirati desserts
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KVGI6677CUJL7EJSLIVR7MQFWM.jpg?smart=true&auth=b164e1654fc02684c321009aee74e77d37fdae9c9baafa23cab0d3b615b6b1fb&width=400&height=225)
Kingfish machboos with dry lemon by Emirati chef Musabbeh Al Kaabi. Courtesy Best of Dubai / Flavel Monteiro
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3I3T552FW4DKJZDUCN3NC22KGU.jpg?smart=true&auth=384be2550e937c77ee4679dd736975a52698a4100211469ca2a75eb60888ec48&width=400&height=225)
Balaleet. Photo courtesy Frying Pan Adventures
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FFNOGXNUSB36PWJEOEUX2O2HSI.jpg?smart=true&auth=e9f1f42169e046a7785c3c276841a0a95968956c7dcf663a0b7acefaf5116f8e&width=400&height=225)
Traditional Emirati fish dish jasheed, served with rice at Al Areesh Restaurant. Photo: Jaime Puebla for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JNKZW25IDELRKULYS7WVGQ6XG4.jpg?smart=true&auth=c518767a9d8ce8148bb9b9ce27929892d48f0775ef0d59509fb3ad557ae83cc5&width=400&height=225)
Lamb thereed at Intercontinental Hotel, Abu Dhabi. Photo: Stacie Johnson for The National
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Harees at Al Hadeerah restaurant, Bab Al Shams. Photo: Duncan Chard for the National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GNC5ZUQE3ITNI5LH3PV43YQFHU.jpg?smart=true&auth=0e4a4159677bba06934e3d6d8bc972f47c6a3fb07af0beba2f5e7b2e8ae3bdad&width=400&height=225)
Hatta roll with camel sour cream, as created by Emirati chef Musabbeh Al Kaabi at Jumeirah Zabeel Saray. Photo: Sarah Dea for The National
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Aseeda bobar, an Emirati dessert as created by chef Musabbeh Al Kaabi at Jumeirah Zabeel Saray. Photo: Sarah Dea for The National
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Jesheed plate at Al Fanar. Photo: Jaime Puebla for The National
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Sponge cake with cardamom and rose water at Mitts and Tray. Photo: Victor Besa / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/H5M53I2ZDQVX5M65E7QUDGZQXM.jpg?smart=true&auth=063bca8a21c5c13e25f5c32990ec0a2c91b25f49d690b3d1756d1c98054df71b&width=400&height=225)
Kebab at Al Mashowa
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/P5P7OGOWCGAWKUX5Z4A66C3CGM.jpg?smart=true&auth=11aba8ee71444e552d50a8ebb322ac3ee2678c111e1c1b40f90ab555f867112b&width=400&height=225)
Luqaimat balls are one of the most popular Emirati desserts
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KVGI6677CUJL7EJSLIVR7MQFWM.jpg?smart=true&auth=b164e1654fc02684c321009aee74e77d37fdae9c9baafa23cab0d3b615b6b1fb&width=400&height=225)
Kingfish machboos with dry lemon by Emirati chef Musabbeh Al Kaabi. Courtesy Best of Dubai / Flavel Monteiro
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3I3T552FW4DKJZDUCN3NC22KGU.jpg?smart=true&auth=384be2550e937c77ee4679dd736975a52698a4100211469ca2a75eb60888ec48&width=400&height=225)
Balaleet. Photo courtesy Frying Pan Adventures
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FFNOGXNUSB36PWJEOEUX2O2HSI.jpg?smart=true&auth=e9f1f42169e046a7785c3c276841a0a95968956c7dcf663a0b7acefaf5116f8e&width=400&height=225)
Traditional Emirati fish dish jasheed, served with rice at Al Areesh Restaurant. Photo: Jaime Puebla for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JNKZW25IDELRKULYS7WVGQ6XG4.jpg?smart=true&auth=c518767a9d8ce8148bb9b9ce27929892d48f0775ef0d59509fb3ad557ae83cc5&width=400&height=225)
Lamb thereed at Intercontinental Hotel, Abu Dhabi. Photo: Stacie Johnson for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Q2U75TJPGT7J5RTBDNJKZOWBZQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=3687e9f4d8ad39e6f949538ee17ed5ed4ad911d7caad6d51dce3989210d4dd29&width=400&height=225)
Harees at Al Hadeerah restaurant, Bab Al Shams. Photo: Duncan Chard for the National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GNC5ZUQE3ITNI5LH3PV43YQFHU.jpg?smart=true&auth=0e4a4159677bba06934e3d6d8bc972f47c6a3fb07af0beba2f5e7b2e8ae3bdad&width=400&height=225)
Hatta roll with camel sour cream, as created by Emirati chef Musabbeh Al Kaabi at Jumeirah Zabeel Saray. Photo: Sarah Dea for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5HIRPD65NLQOKBI7X7EGBEZ6VM.jpg?smart=true&auth=173e494759705943005201ab87ff366d56ba1423f576be1448a28aa234eb90aa&width=400&height=225)
Aseeda bobar, an Emirati dessert as created by chef Musabbeh Al Kaabi at Jumeirah Zabeel Saray. Photo: Sarah Dea for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KIXWJFY7BFK6BAGIIXD5WPZ45Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=f18630e0c6f239f179f557773082aab47cbbdcb441ed684e410a520be5786b2e&width=400&height=225)
Jesheed plate at Al Fanar. Photo: Jaime Puebla for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JFTVIMCEMIN47AA3SIFDVGFWOI.jpg?smart=true&auth=c26ddbb6cb37f4cafc4fef12d80a0fb9f13c476e2b20df298fb1cc8f7539f21e&width=400&height=225)
Sponge cake with cardamom and rose water at Mitts and Tray. Photo: Victor Besa / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/H5M53I2ZDQVX5M65E7QUDGZQXM.jpg?smart=true&auth=063bca8a21c5c13e25f5c32990ec0a2c91b25f49d690b3d1756d1c98054df71b&width=400&height=225)
Kebab at Al Mashowa
A guide to Emirati cuisine: The history, the classic dishes and the restaurants to try
Do you know your balaleet from your luqaimat?
Matt Pomroy
30 November, 2020
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