The weather in Qatar is sunny almost all year round. The coastal waters are rich, so seafood is the basis of the national cuisine. Qataris cook unique dishes with lobster, crab, shrimp, tuna, king mackerel, and red bass. Sweets and flour products deserve special attention. And, of course, Qatari cuisine has its own secrets and traditions.
Table of Contents
Culinary traditions:
The working day in Qatar starts very early, so breakfast serves around six in the morning. The first meal traditionally consists of olives, cheese, yogurt, and coffee. The main meal is lunch, which starts at one o’clock in the afternoon. First, snacks serve, then stewed fish or lamb, salads, boiled vegetables, bread, and fruits appear on the table. Dinner at the Qataris is rather late, thus light. During Ramadan, when dinner is the only meal of the day, the same number of meals served in the evening as for lunch.
A special menu prepares for the most important holidays in the country: Eid al-Adha, Eid al-Fitr, Islamic New Year, Sabah al-Ahmed al-Jaber al-Sabah, and Independence Day. National fast food sold everywhere on the streets. Shawarma, for example, made from lamb or chicken with vegetables. Muslim Qataris never eat pork. They eat halal meat that is in compliance with Muslim laws.
Meat dishes are usually made from lamb and served with a variety of vegetables. But since Qatari cuisine is a mixture of Chinese, Indian, Japanese, Thai, Italian, French, Mediterranean, and Mexican culinary traditions, other types of meat can be easily found in the menus of different establishments. Got to Qatar and American fast food.
Top Dishes and Desserts:
The classic Qatari dish is math bus. It is a lamb stew with rice and tomatoes. As with other Gulf countries, Qatar is often spiced with Lumi or dried lime.
Tabbouleh salad makes from wheat groats – bulgur or couscous, vegetables, and finely chopped herbs – mint and parsley. Season the dish with a mixture of olive oil and lemon juice. It is traditionally served on a pillow of lettuce leaves. Sometimes the dish complement with roasted lamb.
Aside consider one of the most popular desserts in Qatar. This dish makes from wheat flour with the addition of butter, sugar syrup, or honey. Another traditional Middle Eastern dessert is luhaimat, like doughnuts. For the preparation of desserts, khabi or mahalabiya use a mixture of starch with milk, rose water, cardamom, pistachios, saffron, dates, nuts, and cinnamon.
Desserts are usually complemented by a cup of fresh Arabian coffee. Instead of sugar, cardamom, or ground date pits add to the strong drink. According to the recipe, they do not regret sugar in Bedouin coffee because it turns out to be weak.
Cooking features:
Each traditional dish prepares using a particular technology. Qataris are very attentive to details and always strictly take into account the weight of spices – they add one amount to add flavor and another to add color.
Qataris love to cook with their hands and practically without appliances because they believe that positive energy sends through the palm of the hand. Cutlery is rarely used for eating. Locals simply take a piece of bread in their right hand and use it instead of a spoon.
But the influence of other cultures reflects in the equipment of the average kitchen. It is pretty challenging to make pasta, for example, with your hands or julienne. In restaurants and hotels in Qatar, the chefs, of course, have a whole arsenal of instruments and equipment.
Cool, but what about the transportation and dress code?
The commute is relatively easy since Qatar is a developed country. If you don’t like any options available and want to opt for a bus (provided you are traveling with a group of people), you can look up “Book A Van Near Me” and the options must show to you.
When it comes to dressing, we suggest dressing modestly. One should bear in mind that Qatar is a Muslim country and the traditions of every country must respect.
