A blend of ingredients from Iran, Lebanon and India. THE cooking found in Qatar today it is the result of a mix of flavors brought by the people of these countries who immigrated to Qatar at the beginning of the last century, which was British territory until the 1970s. world Cup is based on ingredients and spices from the arabic cuisine 🇧🇷 But despite this melting pot of influences, Qatar has its own cuisine full of personality.
In Qatari dishes the most common ingredients are similar to those found in Arab cuisine such as rice, lentils, chickpeas, sesame, olive oil, garlic, vermicelli (rice noodles), dates, wheat, honey, sugar, vegetables and greens. Proteins include seafood, chicken, beef, lamb, goat meat, fish and even camel meat.
As in other countries where the predominant religion is Islam, pork is prohibited throughout the country, but for foreigners there are restaurants specialized in serving foreigners where it is possible to consume this type of meat.
Maurício Barufaldi professor of gastronomy and researcher, points out that, in addition to the ingredients, it is necessary to emphasize the spices used in the preparation of Qatari dishes.
“One of them spices called bizarre , a mixture of black pepper, coriander seeds, cinnamon sticks, cloves, dried ginger, cardamom grains, dried red pepper and saffron roots. They are washed, dried in the sun, ground and mixed in a jar. Another mix is daqoos , which includes fresh red pepper, crushed wheat, roasted and crushed cumin seeds, sesame seeds, coriander seeds, dried red pepper, garlic cloves and salt. O Hisso with dried ginger, cinnamon sticks, cardamom grains, black pepper, saffron root and cumin seeds is also very common”, said the specialist about the spices that are prepared in a kind of ritual.
To understand Qatari food, there is even a national dish. O Machbous from Qatar it is a very popular food in the country and, according to Barufaldi, it is a variation of kabsa, which is an Arab dish with rice and some kind of meat.
“Machbous has become the national dish because it is easy to prepare and can be used as the main ingredient, chicken, beef or lamb. The spices used are largely responsible for its flavor. Black pepper, cloves, cardamom, saffron, cinnamon, black lemon, bay leaves and nutmeg are commonly used. It is a dish available to any social class”, said the professor.
But, according to the expert, Qatari cuisine is still rare, even among the country’s population. “The classic and traditional cuisine of Qatar is difficult to find, due to the fact that most of the social classes prepare dishes from Arab cuisine,” explained Barufaldi.
The reason why Qatari food is more difficult to find on tables in the country is due to the fact that 88% of the country’s population is foreign – Qatar has approximately 2.9 million inhabitants, according to the official website of the Qatari government.
“In this way, in Qatar, cuisine from countries of immigrant peoples predominates, such as Indian cuisine, which is the most popular and cheapest. With the offer of regional food by the majority of foreign residents, demand for Qatari food is lower,” said the expert.
Street food
Anyone who goes to the country to watch the World Cup matches can find, as in other countries, the Street food. Savoring delicacies sold on the street is a way of having direct contact with local residents, getting to know a little about the native language, its customs, and especially the originality of the country’s dishes, recalled the professor.
“The Kabab Nakhi or Kebab is one of the best selling dishes in Qatar. Street food in Doha is offered in refurbished containers and made available to the public in parks and squares. In addition to food, there are cafes, karak tea and other non-alcoholic drinks.
As a country of predominantly Islamic religion, consumption of alcohol in Qatar is prohibited for its residents. But tourists can find alcoholic beverages in hotels or restaurants specialized in serving foreigners. These establishments receive an authorization for such services.
During the World Cup, the sale of alcoholic beverages will also be concentrated at the FIFA Fan Festival. On Friday (18) Qatar and fifa announced a ban on the sale of beverages around the World Cup stadiums🇧🇷
Source: CNN Brasil
Johanna Foster is an expert opinion writer with over 7 years of experience. She has a reputation for delivering insightful and thought-provoking articles on a variety of subjects. Her work can be found on some of the top online news websites, and she is currently lending her voice to the world stock market.
