Ramadan Treats: Moroccan Tagine

Traditional Moroccan tagine as part of the Moroccan iftar at the Medley Restaurant at Pullman Deira City Centre, Dubai. Image taken by Anna Seaman

Ah that time of year is here again when we guiltlessly gorge ourselves on delicious buffets somehow taking solace in the fact that we have abstained all day from food and drink.

Now, I know as well as anyone that is not at all what Ramadan is about but it is the side effect of attending Ramadan iftars at the UAE’s plethora of hotels.

One that I sampled recently was Chef Mama’s Moroccan buffet at the Pullman Deira City Centre. The hotel has undergone a renovation of late and the interior is simple and modern with monochrome clean lines and original art on display. It was somehow at odds with the live oud player and the ornate Arabic interior of Medley Restaurant decked out for the Moroccan iftar.

Anyway, visual senses aside, the smell was delicious and the taste was even better. Chef Mama, a petit grandmother was on hand to personally greet all the guests and her smile belied all the hard work she must have put in to bring us this feast.

It was a pleasure to have such a personal touch added to the culinary experience and with her encouragement to try a little of everything, my plate piled higher and higher.

Most of the dishes were yummy but my stand out favourite was the lamb tagine with apricots and prunes. What I love most about Moroccan food is the combination of savoury meat with sweet fruits and nuts and nothing combines this better than a tagine. Chef Mama’s lamb melted in the mouth, an effect achevied by slow cooking it in the stone tagine and the prunes and apricots gave it a rich tangy taste that was simply moorish.

Although I was stuffed by the time I finished my plate, I just had to go back for more tagine. It’s so good that you don’t need to leave room for dessert after that one, just savour all the flavours.

* Ramadan Iftar at Pullman Deira City Centre is open from 6:50pm- 9:30pm. The buffet costs Dh155 per adult and Dh70 for children from six to 12 years. Children under six are free. Group rates are also available. For reservations call [phone] or email: [e-mail].