Emiratis are known to showcase exquisite levels of hospitality that have also earned them a representation on the global map. The luxurious living style and delicious cuisines belonging to different regions of the world are easily accessible in the restaurants. While some have a dedicated menu following certain cuisines only, others have a bigger variety.
Those traveling to Dubai should explore Mediterranean cuisine to the fullest. It is rich, diverse, and wholesome. It is full of fish, fresh fruits, vegetables, oils, grains and combined in the best possible manner. While some opt to visit the restaurants, others choose to host them for their birthday parties. For the latter, here is a quick guide to hosting a Mediterranean-inspired dinner with your loved ones.
Mediterranean-style Appetizer
Appetizers are a perfect start to the dinner. By offering a few combinations or options of appetizers, you can set the base of your dinner.
A very famous Mediterranean appetizer that is also a star platter, includes a combination of three dips. These include Baba Ghanouj, Muhammara, and Hummus. They all stand out for their exclusive taste. Baba Ghanouj consists of roasted eggplant and tahini. Muhammara has roasted red peppers, walnuts, and pomegranates. Lastly, Hummus comprises chickpeas and tahini. All the combinations of dips are served with flatbreads, and they are super yum!
Smoked Mackerel Sandwiches
These sandwiches are originally known as Balik Ekmek and are made of Mackerel fish. The specialty of this fish is that it comes from Bosporus, the very famous strait in Turkey.
This star recipe includes spreading out the creamy roasted garlic puree over the grilled bread, topping it with smoked mackerel, arugula, and slices of red onion and tomatoes. All this makes a visually appealing and mouth-watering dish.
Caprese Skewers
The Caprese skewers are quick and easy to make, yet perfectly showcasing the fresh summer ingredients; mozzarella, sweet tomatoes, grilled peaches, salty prosciutto with some bold flavors. Moreover, as a host, you can play around with some other ingredients too, for added flavors.
Falafel
Homemade Falafel is quick and easy to make, even when making it from scratch. The tortilla bread wraps incorporate balls of ground chickpeas, garlic, and fresh herbs.
Once fully cooked, these wraps are topped with tahini, hummus, or any spicy sauce.
Baked Lemon Garlic Salmon
Since Mediterranean cuisine majorly includes seafood, you might have noticed some of them in nearly every recipe. And there is another one to add to that list.
The preparation process is really quick, as you simply have to marinate the salmon with homemade lemon and garlic sauce and let it rest. Yes! During this time, the sauce will soak deep into the salmon and you can focus on preparing the rest of the menu. Also, leave it overnight in the refrigerator, for best results. Once done, simply bake it for 20-25 minutes and serve hot.
Shrimp Pasta
There is always someone amongst the guests’ list who is an avid pasta lover. Therefore, adding this recipe to your menu will definitely win their attention.
Shrimps and pasta are a heavenly match. You can toss the shrimps in light Mediterranean sauce, with garlic, fresh tomatoes, and lemon juice and take the taste to the next level.
Remember to cook pasta and shrimp separately and then combine them together. In this way, the flavors remain intact and none of the components are overcooked.
Quick Sides, Salads, and Sauces
Adding these three along with the menu of any anniversary, wedding, or even birthday parties in Dubai. In addition to this, these can amplify the taste of the entire menu and take it a step ahead.
Olive Oil Pasta
Tossing the boiled pasta in extra virgin oil, tomatoes, feta, olives, artichoke hearts, and fresh herbs makes a delicious side to the menu.
Tahini Sauce
This rich and flavorsome sauce combines together sesame tahini paste, lime juice, and garlic. Moreover, this popular sauce can easily elevate any meal from kebabs to falafel sandwiches.
Lazy 3 Ingredient Salad
This is definitely the go-to salad for every house. The three simple ingredients include cucumbers, tomatoes, parsley with sumac, and extra virgin oil. In addition to this, it is good in taste and super quick to make and gulp!
The Takeaway
While these can make a heavy contribution to your table, there is more to it. These recipes work well for hosting dinner events at home, on picnics, as part of lunch meals, and even taking them along on nature camps. The reduced cook time, rich flavor, and completely nutritious nature of these recipes make them the go-to options for us all.
