Savour a mix of spices, tender meats and aromatic rice as you discover the culinary delights of Oman. From markets to household kitchens, each chunk tells a narrative of the nation’s wealthy historical past and heat hospitality.
Oman won’t be on everybody’s radar like another Center Jap hotspots, however it’s a must-visit for travellers who love to go to wadis, discover preserved remnants of historical civilisations and participate in distinctive cultural actions like festivals throughout monsoon season.
This vacation spot is residence to architectural feats just like the Royal Opera Home of Muscat, the place locals and guests can catch renditions of Swan Lake and Carmen. Then there are cultural landmarks like Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque (identified for its Islamic craftmanship) and historical souks in Nizwa the place travellers can browse conventional crafts, replenish their spice cabinets and decide up silver jewellery or pottery as souvenirs.
After which there’s the meals. Omani delicacies is a scrumptious mix of wealthy flavours and numerous influences, because of the nation’s distinctive historical past and strategic location alongside historical commerce routes connecting Africa, Persia and India. In the event you love spices, slow-cooked meats and rice, you’re in for a deal with.
Omani delicacies isn’t just concerning the meals. It’s additionally concerning the traditions and hospitality that include it. Meals are sometimes shared with household and pals, making each eating expertise heat and communal. On Intrepid’s Uncover Oman journey, travellers will get style of Omani traditions and hospitality with residence visits.
Right here’s an inventory of must-try conventional Omani dishes.
Machboos
If you wish to style a traditional dish from the Gulf area, attempt machboos. It’s made by cooking rice and meat in a single pot and has a style paying homage to biryani. Roasted meat is packed tightly right into a pot, and a layer of rice is added above it to lock in all these scrumptious flavours. Historically, it’s made with hen, however you’ll additionally discover it cooked with lamb or greens.
In the event you’re in Muscat and wish to do this dish with out breaking the financial institution, Bin Ateeq is an inexpensive selection. However should you’re feeling fancy and wish to deal with your self, Al Angham close to the Royal Opera Home is a well-liked nice eating restaurant with machboos on the menu.
Harees Dijaj
You may’t miss out on attempting harees dijaj, certainly one of Oman’s nationwide meals. It’s a hearty dish that includes slow-cooked hen and barley, filled with flavour and historical past. Identified merely as harees, this dish has roots! It’s talked about in Kitab al Tabikh, a cookbook from the tenth century. Harees comes from the Arabic phrase harasa, which implies to mash or crush. Within the context of cooking, it refers back to the motion of mashing meat with barley or wholegrains.
You recognize it’s a special day while you see harees on the menu. It’s usually served throughout holidays, weddings and household gatherings throughout Ramadan. For a memorable expertise, head to Bait Al Luban restaurant in Muscat, famously beneficial by the late Anthony Bourdain, the place you may order harees dijaj topped with torsha, a aromatic date sauce.
Shuwa
One other standard dish served particularly throughout Eid holidays is Omani shuwa. Shuwa is a delicacy, as the method for making the meat (normally lamb, goat, sheep or camel) can take as much as 48 hours to arrange. First the meat is marinated in spices like coriander, chilli, cloves and cumin. Subsequent, the meat is wrapped in banana leaves, put right into a date palm bag and positioned right into a deep fireplace pit within the floor. This entire course of makes the meat so tender, it virtually falls off the bone and simply melts in your mouth.
Omanis from varied components of the nation make their shuwa in a different way with varied leaves and spices. Regardless of the place you attempt shuwa, it’s arduous to not fall in love with this dish. Ubhar Restaurant in Muscat provides a preferred sluggish roasted camel shuwa which might be loved year-round.
Qabooli
One other beloved rice and meat dish is qabooli. It’s normally served with lamb and a beneficiant heap of rice on a giant tray. The dish is believed to have come from Kabul, Afghanistan. Again within the Bronze Age, when Oman was a preferred commerce route, many Afghans handed by the area, bringing this scrumptious dish with them. The rice in qabooli is infused with fragrant spices like saffron, baharat and coriander, and it’s typically garnished with pomegranate for a contact of sweetness. If you wish to attempt a chic model of this meal, take a look at Meshan Restaurant in both Nizwa or Jabal Akhdar.
Omani bread
Omani bread is served on the aspect of many dishes. This skinny flatbread is constituted of flour, water and salt and cooked on a griddle or in a tandoor oven. You will discover Omani bread served at many small mom-and-pop eating places within the metropolis or in Nizwa souk close to the fort.
Halwa
You can not go away Oman with out attempting halwa. Omani halwa is a well-liked candy gelatinous dessert made by cooking sugar, rose water, saffron, cardamom, and nuts. In a thick, sticky paste. It’s typically served with Omani espresso, which it pairs properly with because the sturdy, bitter espresso offsets this candy deal with. One of the vital well-known spots for this dessert is a small store in Nizwa’s fruit and vegetable market. Households flock right here to choose up this traditional deal with for holidays and particular events.
From Islamic forts and souqs stuffed with silver and spices to the Wahiba Sands for a desert escape, you may dive into Oman on a small group journey with Intrepid.
