A creamy eggplant dip with the bite of garlic and an almost airy fluffiness, accented with nutty olive oil – sound familiar? Think of Mutabel as the fraternal twin of Baba Ghanouj: nearly identical ingredients, expressed just a bit differently. If you didn’t have them side-by-side, one could easily mistake them for one another. This…
Category: Oman
Shiraz: An Iranian feast in Muscat
When a country is right across a narrow gulf from another, it is reasonable to assume the two countries’ cuisine should influence one another’s. In Oman, Iranian (or Persian) food is not as visible as one might expect, but Omani food certainly benefits from a history of Persian/Iranian trade and culture. During my visit to…
50th Post: Mumtaz Mahal, sumptuous Indian in Oman
Welcome to the 50th post of The Culinary Diplomat! Thank you to all of you – friends, family, or the fellow bloggers from Word Press – for checking us out, following this blog, and offering feedback. Thank you to my two CD Ambassadors (guest bloggers)! To the rest of you, please consider submitting a guest…
Omani Halwa-Inspired Cardamom-Pistachio Gelato
Cardamom, nutmeg, and pistachios bring the exotic taste of Arabia to your kitchen and guests in this sophisticated, refreshing gelato, perfect for spring and summer. Many kabobs and savory dishes in Middle Eastern cuisine are subtly spiced; the desserts not so much. Spicy cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, rose water, and lavender are a few unmistakeably exotic…
The Iskender kabob and Ala Turka: A Turkish discovery in Oman
Turkish food is high on my list of favorite national cuisines. I am a sucker for mezze (small hot and cold appetizers, though I make meals out of them), but a good kabob or pide is a solid bet. Yet it took a trip to Oman to try a special kabob I’d yet to discover:…
Where to go for dates
Tonight is date night. Choose wisely! Dates are more important than you might think – human survival has depended upon them in many cases. All dates are not the same. The range in appearance and texture is unexpectedly wide. A good date is sweet and gives you a boost of energy, while a bad date…
Global food adventures in the Sultanate of Oman
What is Omani cuisine? And where is Oman? I’ll answer these questions in my next few posts. Join me on a culinary tour of the exotic Sultanate of Oman. The Middle East. When you think of the region’s cuisine, shawarma, kabobs, hummus, falafel, halva/halwa, and baklava are a few of the images that might come…
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