Thursday, Jun 16, 2016

Kunafa with cheese

This Palestinian dessert is a cheese-topped pastry soaked in sugar syrup. Versions include kunafa naama (soft) and kunafa kheshna (thick, made from long noodle threads).

Dh17.5per piece, available at Feras Aldeyafa Sweets, Next to Mall of the Emirates, Barsha 1; call 04 3413123. Also on December 2 street, Satwa.

Umm Ali

This Egyptian dessert is like a bread pudding and is served with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. Freshly baked puff pastry, rather than actual bread, adds to the flavor. It tastes best hot.

Dh25. available at Reem Al Bawadi, Downtown Dubai; call 04-453524 (also in other locations). Reem Al Bawadi also hosts an iftar until 9pm daily, which is Dh129 per person.

Aish al saraya or osh al saraya

This dessert is a Lebanese delight and is a form of bread pudding. It is layered with bread, soaked in a syrup and mixed with custard. It is topped with crushed pistachios.

Dh8 per piece, available at Qwaider Al Nabulsi, Al Muraqqabat, Dubai; call 04-2277760.

Ma’amool

This is a small shortbread pastry, filled with dates, pistachios or walnuts. This Lebanese dessert can be decorated by hand or by using special moulds.

Dh22, avaiable at Al Hallab, The Dubai Mall; call 04-3308828. Al Hallab also serves an iftar until 9pm daily. It’s Dh125 per person (Dh85 for children aged 4-14).

Louquaimat

This Emirati sweet is one of the most popular desserts eaten during Ramadan. Louquaimat are crispy fried dumplings that are not sweet, but have a soft, melting interior. They are drizzled with date syrup(our recommendation) or honey, and are usually garnished with sesame seeds.

Dh24 for a plate (12-14 pieces)

Try it at Emirati restaurants. We recommend Al Fanar Cafe, Dubai Festival City Mall (04-2329966), which also has an Iftar, Dh110 per person, Dh55 for children aged 4-12. Or head to Siraj, Souk Al Bahar, Downtown Dubai (pictured). Siraj also serves iftar, Dh190 per person for a set menu served at the table. Call 04-4574063.

Staff Report

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