The world's attention is focused on Qatar because of the World Cup, which takes place between November 20th and December 18th. But this Middle Eastern state is already used to being a point of global convergence (and not just because of the sporting event).
More than 2 million immigrants live there, and this concentration of cultural richness has everything to do with the typical Qatari food menu. The variety is great, especially if we consider that, with its 132 km², the country is one of the smallest in the world. Their kitchens, however, contain influences from across the planet.
Fish and beef They are among the main ingredients of typical Qatari foods. They are temperate with spices collected during the trading trips of the Arab people, such as saffron from Iran and cloves and black pepper from India.
According to the most traditional Qatari customs, lunch begins to be prepared the night before, in clay pots and wood stoves. In general, women are most used to cooking dishes, while men are in charge of fishing and livestock farming.
To get into the spirit of the World Cup, below we have selected a selection of typical Qatari foods. This one, by the way, is already a champion.
1) Machboos
This is a very popular dish in the Gulf region, and is also widely served in Kuwait, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. In addition to washed and cooked basmati rice, the recipe includes a grilled protein that can be chicken, fish, lamb and even camel.
The strength of the combination is in the seasonings: garlic, ginger, peppers and a mix of typical spices known as bizar, which contains turmeric, coriander and cinnamon.
2) Thareed
This dish makes a great broth. Or rather, its base is a broth. Chicken or lamb, tomato sauce and fresh vegetables, without forgetting potatoes and carrots.
Generally, thareed is made in a clay pot, covered on the bottom with layers of crispy bread in sheets called khubs rgag.
3) Harees
Who remembers the fable about the little girl who enters the house of a family of bears and eats their cub's porridge? If the story took place in Qatar, this porridge could well be a dish of harees.
It is made from crushed rustic wheat flour, boiled or soaked the night before. After cooking over low heat for five or six hours, it is mixed with pieces of chicken and lamb and seasoned with cumin and cinnamon. A thin layer of clarified butter adds the finishing touch to the delicacy.
4) Madrouba
Another typical food from the porridge family, madrouba combines rice seasoned with cardamom and a protein that can be chicken meat. The preparation involves cooking the rice for a few hours, over low heat, with milk and butter, resulting in almost couscous.
The recipe gains even more flavor with the addition of vegetables. All ingredients are then beaten with a wooden spoon to reach the desired consistency. It must be served very hot.
5) Balaleet
In Qatar, the motto is to wake up ready to watch the World Cup games. To have energy in the morning, there's nothing better than a balaleet, nothing more than sweet angel hair pasta cooked with butter, cinnamon, saffron and cardamom. To top it off, the dish includes an omelet or a fried egg.
6) Lugainat
In our selection, the dumplings couldn't be missing. Its dough is made from butter, milk and flour, with the addition of saffron and cardamom to enrich the flavor. After frying in hot oil, the dumplings are immersed in sugar syrup, honey or dates. They are also found in Türkiye, there under the name lokma.
