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Welcome to EATING places here on DoinDubai

Dubai loves eating and why not? Enjoying food is a great pleasure. Dubai has been the focus of many new restaurant openings, attracting celebrity chefs from all over the world. However there is a huge range of smaller, less well known restaurants that you must try. The โ€œmelting potโ€ of Dubaiโ€™s nationalities has brought with it some authentic international cuisines. But how to choose where to eat? Well that depends on how fat you and your wallet are feeling ! Browse restaurant reviews here or go to the eating out menu bar and select the category of food you feel like today. If you have a restaurant that youโ€™d like to feature on DoinDubai get in touch via the Contact form link in the footer of the website.

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DUBAI THALI MEALS authentic value for money Indian food

What are Dubai Thali Meals all about then?

UPDATE DECEMBER 2022: NEW THALI LUNCH ALERT

We really liked our Andhra (from Andhra Pradesh state) style thali in Discovery Gardens near the Jebal Ali side of Dubai. It’s called GODAVARI and serves both vegetarian and non vegetarian thalis. Be prepared to wait for a table at the weekend. Definitely worth the trip.

VEG AND NON VEG MEALS FROM GODAVARI RESTAURANT ANDHRA STYLE

Nice place to sit and super grocery shopping at the nearby Flavours supermarket! Blueberry boxes for AED 3 and Strawberries for AED 6!

Dubai Thali Meals are from India mainly. They are a complete meal served to you in separate little bowls all on one, tray style plate. Dubai Thali meals are cheap as chips but hugely authentic, and very tasty too. They’re great for hearty eaters as you can often have refills of your favourite dishes.

Money Saving Deals DoinDubai Monica Kapila Andrha Thali
Andhra Style Thali at Shree Krishna Bhavan in Karama

Quite often they’re also served on fresh banana leaves instead of china plates. Very sustainable and saves water and laborious washing up.

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Do ASK for knives and forks if you need them else eat with your hands like everyone else!

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In terms of timing, if you go on a Friday for lunch (much more sensible than boozy, overpriced brunches) then get to your thali place by about 12 or 12.30 pm else you may have to queue.

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Rice is typically served at the END of the meal to fill you up, again you can have as much as you like IF you have room!

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We like the Gujerati thali (Western India style) from Rangoli in Karama most of all. Decent place to sit and don’t forget to get some fresh eggless ice cream from Govinda’s restaurant next door after you’ve finished your spicy thali. Try flavours like guava or custard apple!

MONEY SAVING DEALS DOINDUBAI MONICA KAPILA Thali at Rangoli Karama Cafe
Gujerati Style Thali from Rangoli in Karama

If you fancy making your own easy peasy vegan ice cream with just 3 ingredients then listen to how easy it is on our vegan ice cream podcast.

Just 3 ingredient vegan ice cream

Other Thali places include Venus Restaurant (Karama) Shree Krishna Bhavan (Karama) and Saravana Bhavan branches in Al Barsha near Mall of Emirates and Karama.

If you’d like seafood then try Dhe Puttu for your thali also Karama side of town. I still suggest you call before hand and CHECK they are serving thalis when you want to go. Often the a la carte items may not be available when it’s Thali Time!

Money Saving Deals DoinDubai Monica Kapila Thali Meals Venus Karama
South Indian Thali from Venu restaurant Karama

Expect to pay between aed 10 and aed 25 or so for a Dubai Thali meal

You can also get and should try South Indian dosas as well if you’re at one of these restaurants. We like the dosas at Sarvana Bhavan with branches in Karama and Al Barsha not far from Mall of the Emirates. Or you could go to Bombay Chowpatty at Mall of Emirates itself if you’re shopping.

A great alternative Friday breakfast brunch idea for the family. VERY REASONABLY PRICED TOO so treat your family and friends but leave your designer gear at home, it’s casual and comfortable style here.

Dosa at Bombay Chowpatty Mall of Emirates

Want MORE? Then follow us on @DoinDubai INSTAGRAM for more up to the minute ideas and do check out our Money Saving Deals page that links to the Dubai Eye Podcast

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FISH MARKET IN DUBAI – where is it and where to eat nearby

FISH MARKET IN DUBAI

UPDATED FEBRUARY 2022

Note you can also now buy oysters, supplied from Dibba Bay Oyster hut at the fish market itself! I asked them to shuck 2 oysters for me to eat on site!. AED 8 each. Fabulously fresh.

If you want to eat in the area, you can eat at Dibba Bay Oyster hut itself open from 12pm, or at Azeema Seafood just behind the fish market but it also has a great outdoor terrace with shade, both places open from about 12pm.

Fish Market in Dubai DoinDubai Monica Kapila Oysters now available

Oysters now available

Which Fish Market in Dubai am I talking about? There are a few, this fish market is based in Jumeirah and has recently become a covered fish market with air conditioning.

Where is this fish market 

Itโ€™s now called Souk Al Bahar for Fish, nowhere near Souk Al Bahar in Downtown, but along the seaside at the Fishermans Harbour in Um Suqueim 1. There is free parking available.

What can you expect to buy

All kinds of fresh fish, shellfish and seafood. Think squid, red snappers, sea bass, different types of prawns, lobsters and crabs.

Can you have your fish cleaned at the market

Yes you can for a very reasonable price. Itโ€™s in a section behind the fish market but it gets very busy, so be prepared to wait. Take your own ice box, they will clean your fish, fill with ice and then itโ€™s easier for you to take your fish away.

Can I eat my fish there at the fish market itself

There is provision to have your fish prepared, spiced and cooked at the section just passed where you have it cleaned up. So you can take it away like this or you opt to eat it there. The ac room is very basic though. Itโ€™s a good place to wait while your fish is being cleaned.

* Need some fish recipe ideas?   then check out our RECIPES here.

monicas-weekend-monica-kapila-doindubai-chinese-style-fish-fillets-

Remember you can also Air Fry fish if you don’t want to deep fry,  follow our Air Fryer Simple instagram and page for Air Frying everything!

Jumeirah Fish Market

Location map

VIEW FROM THE FISH MARKET IN DUBAI DOINDUBAI

TOP TIPS FOR WHEN YOU VISIT THE FISH MARKET

  • On Fridays it’s closed between 12pm and 1pm
  • Take cash
  • Take an ice box; they will provide the ice
  • Dress appropriately. It’s in Dubai and it is a Fish market. So no designer bags/shoes or skimpy bikinis

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JAPANESE SESAME DRESSING easy, tasty, versatile recipe

You’ve probably tried this Japanese sesame dressing while dining out at Japanese restaurants. It’s called JAPANESE GOMA DRESSING easy, tasty, versatile recipe.

Japanese-Sesame-style-dressing-on-a-salad-Monica-Kapila-DOinDUbai-
Try this sesame goma dressing on salad

INGREDIENTS NEEDED

  1. About 3 to 4 tbsp white sesame seeds
  2. 2 tbsp soya sauce
  3. 2 tbsp sesame oil
  4. 1 tbsp brown sugar or bit less if you like
  5. 2 tbsp rice vinegar
  6. water and lemon juiceย to your taste and consistency
  7. chill oil optional to your taste

HOW TO MAKE THE JAPANESE SESAME DRESSING

  1. dry roast the sesame seeds till lightly golden in a wok and shake the pan to prevent burning
  2. whizz to a powder when the seeds are cool – easy in a thermomix
  3. add remaining ingredients and whizz up till you get to your desired consistency adding a little more or less water as you like. Do taste as you go along.

TOP TIP

Once you’ve whizzed up your toasted sesame seeds, keep them in an air tight jar and make up little amounts of this dressing to use as you need it just adding teaspoons of the other ingredients. Mix in a small jar of a nutri bullet.

HOW TO USE IT

  1. Try as a salad dressing on fresh spinach or salad leaves as we have above
  2. We’ve used it as a marinade for roast chicken if you add smoked paprika, chilli and garlic to your dressing
  3. As a sauce as Akira Back has done below
USE THE JAPANESE SESAME GOMA DRESSING AS A MARINADE FOR CHICKEN

We loved how Akira Back at the W on the Palm Jumeirah used it for their vegetarian spinach rolls dish.

Japanese-sesame-goma-dressingโ -DoinDubai-Monica-Kapila-

Fancy a STAYCATION AT THE W PALM JUMEIRAH? Then see our instagram video on our visit to the W Palm Jumeirah for a short break.

The Akira Back is a great place for fine dining vegetarian food. It has a large terrace too.

Check out more healthy, tasty recipes in our recipe gallery link here.

We have recipes for the thermomix, air fryer, recipes that are gluten free and carb free too.

If you’re on a KETO diet then listen to our podcast on our sister site MonicMoments Podcasts called We Must Talk About KETO.

Cooking Lessons in London Sauce by the Langham Monica Kapila

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AIR FRIED LOTUS ROOT CRISPS fresh tasty vegetarian and vegan snack easy to spice up

You’ve probably eaten these as part of a South East Asian meal. They’re often served as a starter and very addictive! Better than deep fried potato crisps! Try these easy to make fresh Air Fried Lotus Root Crisps at your next dinner party and impress your friends!

Air Fried Lotus Root Crisps DoinDubai Monica Kapila
DELICIOUS HEALTHY LOTUS ROOT CRISPS

Ingredients for the easy air fried lotus root crisps

1. fresh lotus root thinly slicedโ  – we got our lotus root from WeMart the big Chinese supermarket in Deira Check the link for details on that. Or you could go to 1004 Gourmet in The Greens. We bought the ingredients for our rice paper rolls there.
2. marinade of salt, smoked paprika powder, olive oilโ 
3. air fry in single layer till doneโ , have patience! I suggest warming your air fryer up for 3 mins first then air frying at about 180 degrees for 4 to 5 mins then check and turn over the slices if need be and repeat till like our picture above or they look how you like to eat them!
4. enjoy with Japanese sesame goma dressingโ !โ  Recipe coming up in next post.

HELPS TO USE A MANDOLIN TO SLICE YOUR OTUS ROOT WITH

TOP TIP

Don’t slice your lotus root too thinly, we suggest number 2 on this standard IKEA mandolin.

You could try tinned lotus root, probably easier to source but I suggest you slice and then thoroughly dry as much as possible before adding your marinade and frying.

All air fryers work a bit differently, but I use the Ninja Air Fryer, I have one in Dubai and one in our home in London where my grown up kids live, they love it too! See the link below to find out more. 

Ninja Air Fryer AF100, Roast, Reheat, Dehydrate, 3.8 Litres, 1550 Watts, Grey and Black

Want more easy, tasty AIR FRYER recipes like this one?

Then click our AIR FRYER SIMPLE PAGE here

and follow along on our AIR FRYER SIMPLE instagram for quick ideas to turn your everyday cooking into something special.

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