A guide to what vegetarians can eat in UAE
The cuisines of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are diverse as they draw culinary inspiration and influence from various neighboring countries. Although a major share of the food served here is non-vegetarian, vegetarians or vegans won't have a hard time either to calm their hunger pangs, for there's a lot they can relish. Check out a few of them here.
Shirin Polo
Shirin Polo is a popular vegetarian offering found all across Dubai that is typically savored during weddings or special occasions and festivals. It is a Persian dish that is made with rice, sugar, saffron, and orange, and topped with carrots, black currants, golden raisins, pistachios, barberries, etc. Traditionally, it was a dish that represented royalty, grandeur, and celebration.
Fattoush
A staple dish in many cuisines of UAE, fattoush is the go-to food for health freaks. It is a salad replete with a host of fresh vegetables (leafy greens, mint, garlic, cucumber, tomatoes, and radishes) and bread (khubz). It also comes with a dressing of lime vinaigrette, which makes it more flavorsome. Khubz is either toasted or fried and is cut into small pieces.
Knafeh
Knafeh is a sweet cheese pastry that is also fondly dubbed the Arabic version of cheesecake. It is made with spun pastry called kataifi, which is soaked in a delicious sugar-based syrup called attar and is then layered with cheese. Locals have it that its pull-apart is more satisfying than that of a cheese-overloaded pizza. It is a must-try dish!
Falafel
If it is about the best vegetarian food in the UAE, no list is complete without mentioning falafel. It is made with an array of vegetarian and plant-based ingredients like chickpeas, fava, beans, and vegetables. You can either relish it as it is or pair it with pita bread, hummus, or curries of your choice.
Mujaddara
Simple but tempting, Mujaddara is a combination of lentils and basmati rice garnished with flavorful caramelized onions. The onions are typically fried and seasoned in olive oil. It is a comfort food for locals, which is why you will find it on the menus of all small and big food outlets across the UAE. Salivating already, aren't you?
