The Bounty of the Sea

The most interesting dishes of the Persian Gulf reflect the incredible variety of seafood in the region: tuna, mackerel, sardines, anchovies, barracuda, snapper, octopus, squid, shrimp, calamari, lobster, and crab. Locals eat all of these, cooked in many different ways: salted, pickled, poached, fried, and grilled. Fish is served with bulgur or rice, or both.

Dishes are sweetened with date molasses and powdered dates, and soured with tamarind, dried limes, sour orange, sumac powder, and tomato paste. They are spiced with turmeric, cilantro, fennel seeds, sour orange rind, and hot chili peppers. Other popular ingredients are chickpeas and chickpea flour as well as fruit such as pineapple, mango, dates, and guava.