The following highlights some of the popular Traditional Qatari Foods. If you manage to be in an Qatari restaurant or you are visiting Qatar, I recommend the following:
1. Saloona
This is a traditional Arabic stew that is home-cooked in most Qatari households. Although it can be made with whatever you have on hand in the kitchen, it usually contains beef, lamb or fish, as well as vegetables, garlic and ginger. Bread is highly recommended for dipping in the broth of this dish. One of the best places to try it is at “Walima”, where they give it a contemporary twist.
2. Ghuzi
This is another of Qatar’s most famous dishes. It is a roast lamb, usually served on a bed of rice, vegetables and nuts. A dish to share that is sure to be a hit on your trip. It is also often called shuwaa.
3. Thareed
It is a stew-like dish: a mixture of vegetables, such as potatoes, carrots and string beans, mixed with chicken or lamb, and topped with tomato sauce and spices. Some compare Haris to lasagna, but the Qatari way.
4. Margoog
Also known as Matazeez in some regions, it is a stew of meat, vegetables (aubergine, carrots, pumpkin, potatoes and tomato) and pasta in a thick, spicy sauce. It is very popular in Kuwait, although you can also easily find it in Qatar.
5. Machboos
The protagonists of the dish are rice and meat, which can be anything from camel, goat, fish and shrimp to beef, lamb and chicken. What makes this dish special is its seasoning and the fact that it is a slow-cooked dish. It has always been on the royal tables of the habibs. This delicacy is the national dish of Qatar, but also of Bahrain and Kuwait, the particular Qatari preparation is known as kabsa.
6. Luqaimat
It’s a sweet-toothed dessert that’s perfect for afternoon cravings. It is basically fried dumplings covered with a light, sweet syrup. It is made during the month of Ramadan, to restore energy after hours of fasting. It is usually seasoned with saffron and/or cardamom, which gives it a very special flavour. Dates (which are produced locally) are also plentiful and served with tea and, of course, Arabic coffee.
7. Balaleet
It is a popular and traditional breakfast, which is a combination of sweet and savoury from Qatar, made from fried noodles sweetened with sugar, saffron and rose water. It has a particularly delicious taste, and is traditionally accompanied by an egg omelette. It is a very common breakfast on Qatari tables.
8. Kousa Mahshi
Kousa mahshi consists of Middle Eastern courgettes stuffed with minced lamb and vegetables, seasoned with parsley and mint. It’s one of Qatar’s signature dishes and a recipe that’s widespread throughout the Arab world with origins in Egypt. You’ll also find many restaurants in Doha serving vegetarian versions with peas. I recommend dipping them in tomato paste or yoghurt to enjoy them to the fullest.
9. Madrouba
Madrouba is a tasty dish typical of Qatar and very popular during Ramadan. It is prepared with rice porridge that can accompany any meal. It is made with milk, butter, cardamom, chicken and sometimes beans, and simmered for hours until soft. Each place has its own recipe, but toppings usually include cardamom, fried onion or ghee, a vegetable fat shortening. It’s definitely one of Qatar’s traditional foods.
10. Harees
It is one of the oldest and most popular dishes in the Persian Gulf. It is basically whole wheat mixed with meat (lamb or chicken) and spices. To prepare it, the wheat has to be beaten, so the final consistency is like a mash or light batter. As it is a very nutritious and filling dish, it is usually eaten especially during the month of Ramadan.
If you found this list useful, here are some more Traditional Asian Foods to try out on my Pinterest channel.