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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.

TIP

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

TIP

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.

TIP

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!

TIP

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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TOFU PAD THAI RECIPE tasty vegetarian meal

This tasty, Tofu Pad thai recipe can be vegetarian, vegan and almost gluten free if you can eat rice noodles.

Chef’s Secrets

It’s important to patiently drain the liquid out of your firm tofu to get a good result. Learn how to make that pad thai marinade and impress your family and friends with this easy tofu, pad thai recipe.

TOFU PAD THAI easy when you know how

Ingredients

  • 1 Firm tofu block
  • 1/2 packet of Thai rice noodles (medium thickness)
  • For the TOFU MARINADE ⁠
  • 2 dessertspoons of dark soya sauce ⁠
  • 1 tsp fresh chopped garlic
  • 1 tsp fresh chopped ginger
  • a little of your fave chilli oil to taste
  • 1 dessertspoon of oyster sauce, you can use vegetarian oyster sauce
  • ¼ tsp of turmeric powder, helps with the golden colour and a natural ingredient

For the PAD THAI MARINADE⁠

Use roughly 1 dessertspoons of each of the below, except for the chili oil, I use less than 1 dessert spoon of sugar too. Dilute your tamarind paste with a little water if you don’t want a very sour taste.

SWEET – brown sugar  ⁠

SOUR – tamarind paste ⁠

SALTY – fish sauce (little salty in grapeseed oil and water/light soya if vegetarian)⁠

SPICY- Your favourite chilli oil⁠

How to make it

Make the tofu marinade and set aside to pour over your tofu once you’re prepared it as below

It’s important to press all the liquid out of the tofu block for at least 3 to 4 hours before you marinade it! ⁠

Open your tofu block and set it between 2 flat plates or trays, then weight the top tray down with a tin or something that’s not too heavy. Drain away the liquid from time to time through the day if you have time.

  • Tofu Pad Thai recipe final dish DoinDubai Monica Kapila tofu block
    firm tofu block
  • tofu between 2 trays Tofu Pad Thai recipe final dish DoinDubai Monica Kapila weight the tofu
    weight between 2 trays
  • tofu between 2 trays Tofu Pad Thai recipe final dish DoinDubai Monica Kapila
    drain the liquid away over time

Once all the liquid has drained, cut your tofu, first in half, then half again etc till you get even set of little pieces

Add marinade ingredients to tofu, set aside for 30 mins, then air fry or grill till golden ⁠brown ⁠

More AIR FRYER RECIPES

Make Pad Thai marinade ⁠with ingredients above and set aside

Place noodles in room temp water till soft, then drain with cold clean water⁠

Heat a wok, fry garlic n ginger, add softened noodles, then add in Pad Thai marinade, stir for about 3 to 4 minutes, then TURN OFF HEAT! ⁠

Add your cooked tofu⁠

GARNISH with spring onions, coriander, lemon wedge and crushed peanuts if you like and some fresh coriander.

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ROASTED AUBERGINE WITH TOMATOES all in one pot

So many cultures use roasted aubergines with tomatoes in different ways. Dishes like Parmigiana Melanzane, Baigan ka Bhartha and Baba Ganoush are some. Try my roasted aubergine with tomatoes. An ideal recipe for the Air Fryer.

AUBERGINES TOMATOES AND HERBS

Ingredients

  • 1 large fat aubergine
  • 1 medium red onion chopped fine
  • 2 to 3 tomatoes sliced quite thinly
  • ½ to 1 cup of thyme leaves off the stalks
  • Few fresh rosemary sticks
  • 2 to 3 tablespoons of olive oil
  • Salt/Pepper/Chilli to taste

How to make

  • Slice the tomatoes, drizzle with olive oil and season with salt, pepper and chilli flakes
  • Sprinkle tomatoes with the thyme leaves
  • Slice into the aubergine to create even slits but don’t cut all the way through the vegetable
  • Cut off a thin slice “underneath” so the aubergine can “sit” flat
  • Place the aubergine onto a bed of chopped onions in a baking dish or in your air fryer
  • Stuff the seasoned tomatoes slices into the aubergine slits
  • Then find space for some sticks of rosemary
  • Drizzle very generously with your favourite olive oil
  • Sprinkle with some more salt, pepper and chilli flakes to suit your taste
  • Bake in your oven or air fryer until the pulp is soft and cooked through

Eat with your favourite sourdough bread and some feta cheese with a glass of something cold. Note this recipe would be perfect for Air Frying if you have one. You may like to look at our other Air Frying Recipes for more ideas on what to make for dinner.

FINISHED DISH ROASTED AUBERGINE WITH TOMATOES AND HERBS. SPICE IT UP AS YOU LIKE

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LIGHT CAULIFLOWER BREAD RECIPE gluten free

eating

Cauliflower Bread Recipe

Cauliflower Bread recipe

We have added some cumin, garlic and turmeric to our cauliflower bread recipe that’s gluten free, light on the stomach and wholesome to eat. Don’t over process your ingredients if you want a rustic, artisan tasting and looking bread. Some people call me a Recipe Disruptor! 

CAULIFLOWER BREAD RECIPE DOINDUBAI CAULIFLOWER BREAD WITH CAULIFLOWER

Ingredients

How to Make

Equipment Required

NOTE really great to toast up in an air fryer if you have one! Top with feta cheese and crunchy radish slices, makes a great vegetarian light meal for any time of day! 

If you want to make your bread a little “spongier” then use half almond meal and half plain flour about 30 g of each. Works really well but then it’s not gluten free. You could also use a little less melted butter to make your bread a little “drier” 

CAULIFLOWER BREAD RECIPE DOINDUBAI SERVING IDEA

Watch the carefully made You Tube video  on our channel showing all the steps in the recipe for how to make the cauliflower bread.

Quick Shopping List

  1. CAULIFLOWER
  2. ALMOND MEAL
  3. EGGS
  4. CUMIN SEEDS OR POWDER
  5. SALT AND RED CHLLI
  6. BAKING POWDER
  7. BUTTER 
  8. PARMESAN CHEESE
  9. THYME LEAVES
  10. SESAME SEEDS

WE WANT TO SEE WHAT YOU MADE!

So if you make it, please tag us @doindubai on Facebook or Instagram or on Pinterest.

If you have a question about this recipe please leave us a comment and we’ll get right back to you.

browse our gallery for home cooked restaurant style recipes

click to go to our recipes gallery

MOTIVATION

Focus on what’s going right in your life at the moment, FORGET ABOUT WHAT YOU CAN’T DO! 

quick question

DO YOU GO TO A RECIPE BOOK, YOU TUBE, THE WEB OR SOMEWHERE ELSE TO FIND A RECIPE YOU HAVEN’T MADE BEFORE?

 LET ME KNOW IN A COMMENT BELOW PLEASE

THANKS Monica. 

Cooking Lessons in London Sauce by the Langham Monica Kapila
Monica Kapila
Chef at DoinDubai

WATCH THIS CLEAR INFORMATIVE STEP BY STEP VIDEO SHOWING YOU HOW TO MAKE SOME HEALTHY SPRING ROLLS 5 mins

NOTE It’s really easy to make a dipping sauce based on the ingredients you have. Keep soya sauce, chilli flakes and a little sesame oil in your store cupboard. Add Fish sauce if you’re ok with that. The above together with some fresh lemon or lime juice can see you through most sauce and marinade needs! 

EASY PEASY VEGAN
PREPARE BEFORE YOU START
PLACE IN DIFFERENT SECTIONS
BLUE DRAGON OR THAI CHOICE

More Cauliflower recipes here

VEGAN-CAULIFLOWER-HUMMUS-DOINDUBAI-SERVE-WITH-CRACKER
Vegan Cauliflower Hummus
Image ofCauliflower Burgers DoinDubai Vegan Serve with sweet potatoes and rocket
Cauliflower Burgers
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