Emirati recipe
How to make Arabic coffee (gahwa)
قهوة
The whole Arabian Peninsula; poured for guests in every Emirati home
Lightly roasted coffee boiled with cardamom, and sometimes saffron, served without sugar from a tall pot called a dallah into tiny cups without handles. It is almost always offered with dates.
Ingredients
- 600 ml water
- 3 tablespoons lightly roasted Arabic coffee, ground
- 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
- A few saffron threads (optional)
- Dates to serve
Method
- Bring the water to the boil in a small pot, stir in the coffee and let it simmer gently for about 10 minutes.
- Take it off the heat for a minute so the grounds settle, then add the cardamom and saffron and simmer for 2 minutes more.
- Let it stand for a few minutes, then pour the clear coffee into a flask or dallah, leaving the grounds behind.
- Serve a small amount in each little cup, with dates on the side.
Made it at home? Tick it off and it goes into your kitchen passport.
In 2015 UNESCO listed Arabic coffee, a symbol of generosity, as intangible cultural heritage, nominated by the UAE together with Saudi Arabia, Oman and Qatar.
Take the trip to the United Arab Emirates
