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The people of the UAE have a great appreciation for well prepared food and delicious drinks. Their rich taste is reflected in the mixtures of ingredients and special blends of spices which they use to make their savory dishes burst with flavor. Like any other cuisine, the UAE�s cuisine has a variety of special dishes that are prepared and eaten on different occasions, such as those prepared for wedding ceremonies and religious feasts.

Most dishes from the UAE contain rice, fish, or meat as the main ingredients. These dishes can be prepared in different ways using various mixtures and spices. Some of the most famous dishes include:

1- Al Machboos is a dish cooked in a large pot and consists of rice, onions, and meat, seasoned with spices, salt, and dried lemon called Loomy. This dish is prepared by cooking meat, spices, dried lemon, and seasonings in boiling water until they are very tender. The meat is taken out and the rice is added to the rest of the ingredients and cooked together. However, the meat is returned again to the pot which is cooked for another one to two hours. Al machboos is well known and it is a favorite throughout the Gulf area.


2- Al Harees consists of small pieces of meat, wheat, and water. This dish is prepared by putting meat in the pot and adding wheat on top of it and then cooking it in boiling water until the meat is tender. Then all these ingredients are mixed together and thoroughly beaten until they become like a porridge. In the final stage, the pot is surrounded by charcoal and is left to cook overnight . This dish is eaten at any time but particularly during the Holy month of Ramadan.

3- Al Balaleet is a kind of fine pasta made from eggs, onions, cinnamon, sugar, and oil, and it is usually eaten for breakfast.

4- Al Mahshi which is roasted lamb stuffed with rice, raisins, onions, eggs, and a host of spices and seasoning. This dish is roasted for 7 to 8 hours and is usually prepared during feasts and weddings.

Traditional UAE dessert dishes require extra and special effort due to the need for an artistic preparation and an accurate cooking time. Ingredients for most traditional dessert dishes include saffron, eggs, butter, cardamom, nuts, sugar, and rose water. These dessert dishes need time, continuous supervision, and patience in order to prepare them perfectly. Various kinds of sweets are prepared throughout the year and the dessert dishes from the UAE include:

1- Al Halwa is a sweet made primarily from sugar, eggs, starch, water, oil, and other additional ingredients depending on which kind of halwa is being prepared. This sweet dish is very popular and it is served especially during the month of Ramadan and during feasts.
2- Al Jibeet is a sweet made from date syrup and sesame seeds.

3- Kul Wi Skut is a dessert made from a delicious mix of peanuts and sugar.

4- Al Khabeesah is made from roasted flour, water, sugar, and saffron.
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