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 secrets and traditions.
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, 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 are 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
- Independence Day
National fast food is sold everywhere on the streets. Shawarma, for example, is made from lamb or chicken with vegetables. Muslim Qataris never eat pork, and they eat halal meat that complies with Muslim laws.
Meat dishes are usually made from lamb and served with various 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 on the menus of different establishments. Got to Qatar and American fast food.
Top Dishes and Desserts:
The classic Qatari dish is the math bus, a lamb stew with rice and tomatoes. Qatar is often spiced with Lumi or dried lime, as with other Gulf countries.
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 word is complemented with roasted lamb.
Aside considered one of the most popular desserts in Qatar, this dish is made from wheat flour with butter, sugar syrup, or honey. Another traditional Middle Eastern dessert is luhaimat, like doughnuts. For the preparation of desserts, khadi or mahalabiya, use a mixture of starch with milk, rose water, cardamom, pistachios, saffron, dates, nuts, and cinnamon.
A cup of fresh Arabian coffee usually complements desserts. Instead of sugar, cardamom, or ground date pits, add to the strong drink. According to the recipe, they are okay with sugar in Bedouin coffee because it is weak.
Cooking features:
Each traditional dish prepares using a particular technology. Qataris are 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 positive energy sends through the palm. Cutlery is rarely used for eating, and locals 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 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 remember that Qatar is a Muslim country, and every country’s traditions must be respected.