In my previous article, I provided an in-depth description of Doha, the vibrant capital of Qatar. Now, let me describe the culinary delights I experienced at Souq Waqif, the bustling local Arabic market.
The food offerings at Souq Waqif are deeply rooted in the culinary heritage of the entire Arabian Peninsula. Similar flavors and dishes can be found across neighboring states like the Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Oman.
Riqaq. When I first visited Souq Waqif, something remarkably similar to crepe immediately grabbed my attention. The dough is evenly spread on a heated surface by hand and left to cook. Meanwhile, you can choose from a variety of fillings: honey, cheese, egg, Omani chips, Nutella. In my opinion, the most delightful combination is riqaq with cheese and honey. The pancake turns out incredibly crispy. The dough is traditionally made from three ingredients: flour, water, and salt.
Margouga is a dish that combines well-braised meat with vegetables and Arabic spices. Towards the end of cooking, Arabic pita is added, which soaks up the juices and makes the dish even more hearty. In fact, Margooga is a very rich dish with a pronounced flavor of spices. It’s important to understand that it is not spicy hot, but rather richly seasoned. The pita nicely balances the taste of the spices and the stewed vegetables.
Luqaimat are deep-fried balls of dough. They are most commonly served with simple or date syrup. Due to their small size and dough consistency, they become crispy on the outside and very soft and tender inside. This delicacy is also known in Turkey under the name lokma, which literally translates as “small bites.”
Harees is a very hearty porridge popular in the countries of the Persian Gulf. It is made of wheat or bulgur, which are boiled for several hours in salted water until it reaches a porridge-like consistency. Then meat (usually beef or chicken) is added, and it continues to cook for several more hours. After it is done, clarified butter, known as Ghee, is added before serving. The result is an incredibly filling, rich, and flavorful dish that is perfect for warming up on chilly winter evenings (which also occur in Qatar).
Basbousa is one of the most commonly known desserts in the Middle East. The dough is made from semolina flour, which gives the cake a unique texture. Basbousa is then soaked in a sugar syrup, making it incredibly tender and delicious.
Nakhi is a dish made from well-cooked chickpeas boiled in salted water and served with hot pepper. If you like chickpeas, you’ll definitely enjoy this simple dish. It turns out very tender due to the long cooking process, while the hot pepper adds a bit of spice to it.
Madrouba is a blend of chicken and rice, which are gently simmered and stirred with a selection of aromatic spices until they reach a perfectly smooth consistency. This process infuses the dish with a rich flavors that are both spicy and savory.
At Souq Waqif in Doha, a diverse variety of foods awaits, yet these particular dishes caught my attention the most. To me, they represent the authentic cuisine of the Persian Gulf.
What would you like to try from this selection?
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