Food can evoke powerful memories, with many dishes packing both flavours and stories.
Whether it's a dish cooked during family celebrations or one ordered as a much-needed pick-me-up, hearty and homely foods have imprinted on our palates with one overarching criteria: they need to be comforting.
Given the UAE's melting pot of nationalities, The National asked residents from various backgrounds to share their favourite comfort foods — from the dishes they would eat when they fell ill as children, timely as flu cases are on the rise, to the timeless meals that hold a special place in their hearts.
Harees
For Emirati civil engineer Hassan Al Marashi, the ultimate comfort food means harees, which he describes as "easy to eat, hot and comforting".
A popular dish in the Arab world, harees is a porridge-like meal with boiled, cracked or coarsely ground wheat. It is mixed with meat and sometimes garnished with sugar, cinnamon or clarified butter. It is often served during Ramadan.
"I have happy memories enjoying harees with my family and with my son, who loved it as a baby. I don't know how to make it but my dad does, so maybe I'll have to get him to teach me," says Al Marashi, from Dubai.
Juk
South Korean national Yoon Kang, a social media manager in Dubai, says juk (rice porridge) is the comfort dish she turns to, especially when she's under the weather. The popular dish is usually served to the elderly and babies because it's easy to digest.
"You could compare juk to chicken noodle soup. It's made by slow-boiling rice that's been left out to soak in water for many hours," Kang says.
"The soft, moist texture of the porridge is easily swallowed and digested. It’s perfect when I couldn't keep other foods down."
The savoury rice porridge can come with chicken or beef, as well as other add-ons like nuts and pumpkin. Perhaps more famously, the porridge is mixed with abalone, which are marine snails that are highly regarded in Korean cuisine.
Aloo sabzi
Saffiya Ansari has fond memories of aloo sabzi, a traditional Indian potato curry. "My mum hardly ever cooks, but there was one summer when it became an inside family joke because she made it so much," she says. "Now it reminds me of summers spent with my extended family in London."
The dish is made with mashed boiled potatoes, cooked in a spicy tomato and onion base. It requires minimal ingredients and does not take a lot of time to prepare.
"It's slightly soupy and very flavourful despite the simplicity of the ingredients. I prefer it with chapati, but it's also perfect with paratha or rice," says Ansari, who works as an editor.
Although she knows how to make it, the British-Indian Dubai resident says her version "never hits the spot" compared to her mother's.
Arroz caldo
The Filipino rice and chicken congee is the ultimate comfort food of Sunshine Mendoza, a marketing professional, who says she can eat it for days on end.
A popular street food in Manila, arroz caldo has a strong ginger flavour and is garnished with garlic, spring onions and pepper. It is served with a dash of lime juice and fish sauce.
Although it can be made with regular rice, many Filipinos prefer using glutinous rice to elevate the dish. Typically grown in South-East Asia, glutinous rice is sticky and waxy, and is a common ingredient in Filipino cuisine, especially in desserts.
"It's easy to make, the ingredients are easily available," she says. "It's a dish that gets better with time. I can make a whole pot and eat it for three days," says Mendoza.
Maraq
For British-Yemeni journalist Rua'a Al Ameri, a traditional Yemeni maraq is a dish she reaches for when ill.
Maraq is a soup with vegetables and a choice of meat, typically chicken. It is served with fresh slices of lemon or lime that are squeezed in for added flavour.
"It is really comforting and warm for when you are sick and lacking appetite. Because it is made with fresh ingredients, it is tasty and it gives your body strength," says Al Ameri.
The dish can also be made with beef or lamb. Whatever the meat of choice, the secret to a good maraq is to use bone broth, Al Maeri says. It has potatoes, carrots and cauliflower, and is spiced with cinnamon, coriander, cumin, salt and black pepper.
Pastina in brodo
Pastina refers to tiny pasta, while brodo is stock. Italian flight attendant in Dubai Filippo Battocchio says "it is comforting because it is made with love".
Many Italians will describe the dish as one that evokes childhood memories. What makes the dish unique is the use of tiny star-shaped noodles, because it is usually served to children.
Battocchio recommends it be homemade. "If you make a homemade chicken broth from scratch, it’s a labour of love and a snap to put together with the teeny, tiny pastina," he says.
It can be made with store-bought chicken broth, but "there is absolutely nothing compared" to one that's made at home, he says.
Sunday roast chicken
For British marketing manager Catherine Dyer, comfort food reminds her of Sundays at home in Devonwith her parents and brothers.
"A simple whole roast chicken served with stuffing, roast potatoes, carrot and swede mash, gardens peas and gravy. Maybe a Yorkshire pudding too, if you're lucky," she says.
Dyer, who lives in Dubai, has special childhood memories of the roast. "I would help my dad prepare the vegetables and the whole house would smell of perfectly roast chicken," she adds.
"Whenever I visit home now, my parents, brothers and my nieces will all get together and we'll have at least one roast dinner together — it's tradition."
Spaghetti bolognese with a South African twist
Although Graeme Smit is not Italian, he considers his mother's spaghetti bolognese recipe his comfort food.
To add a South African twist to it, his mother uses Mrs Balls Chutney, an ingredient "we can't live without", says Smit. The chutney, which is also available in some supermarkets in the UAE including Waitrose, is made with cane sugar, vinegar and dried fruit.
"Like with anything my mum cooks, she will never leave it just to the recipe, she will add her unique twist to it," he recalls. His mother's spaghetti bolognese usually includes brown lentils that "completely change the texture and flavour of the dish". Smit works in public relations in Dubai.
"It’s the perfect comfort food because I grew up with it. It was definitely a go-to dish for my mom to make because she loved it too and it was super simple to make," he adds.
Scroll through the gallery below for 2023 food trends
RESULT
Al Hilal 4 Persepolis 0
Khribin (31', 54', 89'), Al Shahrani 40'
Red card: Otayf (Al Hilal, 49')
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Sanju
Produced: Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Rajkumar Hirani
Director: Rajkumar Hirani
Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Vicky Kaushal, Paresh Rawal, Anushka Sharma, Manish’s Koirala, Dia Mirza, Sonam Kapoor, Jim Sarbh, Boman Irani
Rating: 3.5 stars
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Donating your hair
• Your hair should be least 30 cms long, as some of the hair is lost during manufacturing of the wigs.
• Clean, dry hair in good condition (no split ends) from any gender, and of any natural colour, is required.
• Straight, wavy, curly, permed or chemically straightened is permitted.
• Dyed hair must be of a natural colour
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Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
MATCH INFO
Cricket World Cup League Two
Oman, UAE, Namibia
Al Amerat, Muscat
Results
Oman beat UAE by five wickets
UAE beat Namibia by eight runs
Namibia beat Oman by 52 runs
UAE beat Namibia by eight wickets
UAE v Oman - abandoned
Oman v Namibia - abandoned
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Jawan
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The five pillars of Islam
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Mission%3A%20Impossible%20-%20Dead%20Reckoning%20Part%20One
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Christopher%20McQuarrie%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Tom%20Cruise%2C%20Hayley%20Atwell%2C%20Pom%20Klementieff%2C%20Simon%20Pegg%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
RESULTS
1.30pm Handicap (PA) Dh 50,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
Winner AF Almomayaz, Hugo Lebouc (jockey), Ali Rashid Al Raihe (trainer)
2pm Handicap (TB) Dh 84,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner Karaginsky, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.
2.30pm Maiden (TB) Dh 60,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner Sadeedd, Ryan Curatolo, Nicholas Bachalard.
3pm Conditions (TB) Dh 100,000 (D) 1,950m
Winner Blue Sovereign, Clement Lecoeuvre, Erwan Charpy.
3.30pm Handicap (TB) Dh 76,000 (D) 1,800m
Winner Tailor’s Row, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.
4pm Maiden (TB) Dh 60,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner Bladesmith, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.
4.30pm Handicap (TB) Dh 68,000 (D) 1,000m
Winner Shanaghai City, Fabrice Veron, Rashed Bouresly.
Voy!%20Voy!%20Voy!
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The specs: 2018 Nissan Patrol Nismo
Price: base / as tested: Dh382,000
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 428hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 560Nm @ 3,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.7L / 100km
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What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
SPECS
%3Cp%3EEngine%3A%20Twin-turbocharged%204-litre%20V8%3Cbr%3EPower%3A%20625%20bhp%3Cbr%3ETorque%3A%20630Nm%3Cbr%3EOn%20sale%3A%20Now%3Cbr%3EPrice%3A%20From%20Dh974%2C011%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The five pillars of Islam
Farage on Muslim Brotherhood
Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.
Zayed Sustainability Prize
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Going grey? A stylist's advice
If you’re going to go grey, a great style, well-cared for hair (in a sleek, classy style, like a bob), and a young spirit and attitude go a long way, says Maria Dowling, founder of the Maria Dowling Salon in Dubai.
It’s easier to go grey from a lighter colour, so you may want to do that first. And this is the time to try a shorter style, she advises. Then a stylist can introduce highlights, start lightening up the roots, and let it fade out. Once it’s entirely grey, a purple shampoo will prevent yellowing.
“Get professional help – there’s no other way to go around it,” she says. “And don’t just let it grow out because that looks really bad. Put effort into it: properly condition, straighten, get regular trims, make sure it’s glossy.”
The biog:
Favourite book: The Leader Who Had No Title by Robin Sharma
Pet Peeve: Racism
Proudest moment: Graduating from Sorbonne
What puts her off: Dishonesty in all its forms
Happiest period in her life: The beginning of her 30s
Favourite movie: "I have two. The Pursuit of Happiness and Homeless to Harvard"
Role model: Everyone. A child can be my role model
Slogan: The queen of peace, love and positive energy
Cricket World Cup League 2
UAE squad
Rahul Chopra (captain), Aayan Afzal Khan, Ali Naseer, Aryansh Sharma, Basil Hameed, Dhruv Parashar, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Waseem, Omid Rahman, Rahul Bhatia, Tanish Suri, Vishnu Sukumaran, Vriitya Aravind
Fixtures
Friday, November 1 – Oman v UAE
Sunday, November 3 – UAE v Netherlands
Thursday, November 7 – UAE v Oman
Saturday, November 9 – Netherlands v UAE
