Desserts in Qatar have special Arabian flavors. These Qatar desserts not only taste delicious, but also look beautiful when served to everyone. It is a great idea to serve dessert in between meals to satisfy your sweet tooth. There are many delicious desserts that sweet lovers can enjoy after meal. Some of the most popular Qatari desserts include:
Kunafa
Kunafa is a cheese pastry soaked in sweet, sugar syrup. It is usually served with a sprinkling of pistachios. The origins of Kunafa are disputed, with some claiming it originated in Egypt and others asserting that it is a Palestinian dish. However, what is certain is that it has become a popular dessert throughout the Middle East and North Africa.
Kunafa in Qatar is available in various flavors, depending on the preference of the person. It is available in chocolate , strawberry , vanilla flavor and many more.
Some of the most popular kunafa include:
- Kunafa with Feta Cheese,
- Kunafa with Walnuts,
- Kunafa with Dates and
- Kunafa with Chocolate Sauce.
Baklava
Another dessert famous in Qatar is Baklava (Bakhlava). It is a pastry made of layers of phyllo dough filled with chopped nuts and held together with sweet syrup or honey. After preparation, it is usually cut into different shapes like rectangles and triangles etc. Baklava is usually served at special occasions, such as weddings.
Umm Ali
If you have tasted the North American bread pudding, then you will like Umm Ali for sure which is similar in preparation and taste. It was originated in Egypt but is quite popular in Qatar as well. It is made from basic ingredients like milk, cream, puff pastry, sugar, vanilla extract, almonds, and raisins. For topping, pine nuts, pistachios or flaked coconuts are used.
Basboussa
Another middle eastern dessert on the list is Basboussa. It is a semolina cake soaked in sugar syrup and sprinkled with nuts. It is served cold and is very popular in the Middle East.
Qatayef
Qatayef is basically a pancake that is filled with a sweet filling, rolled up, and fried. It is traditionally served during the month of Ramadan as a dessert. The pancake is made out of flour, water, baking powder, and a little bit of sugar. The filling is usually made out of walnuts or almonds, but it can also be made with cheese or other sweet fillings.
Rez b Haleeb
Rice pudding is a popular dessert enjoyed by people around the world. It comes in many different forms and goes by various names, such as Kheer, and Rice Pudding or Rez b Haleeb in Qatar. This delicious treat is often made with milk, rice, sugar, and spices, and sometimes topped with nuts or fruit for extra flavor.
Luqaimat
Luqaimat means, ‘bite size’ in Arabic It is one of the famous sweets in Qatar. Coated in sugary or date syrup or sometimes honey, they offer a very unique taste. Many restaurants now even offer Nutella or Biscoff dips and flavors for Luqaimat.
Maamoul
Maamoul is a traditional Qatar cookie made with dates, nuts, and butter. It is often served with tea or coffee.
Lebnah
Lebnah is another Qatar dessert that is made with date syrup, butter, and flour. It is similar to a date pudding or cake, and is served with a dollop of cream on top.
Popular sweet shops in Qatar
Some of the best sweet shops to buy desserts in Qatar are:
- Soghat Sweets
- Al Aker Sweets & Bakeries
- Turkiana Sweets
- Sweet Factory
- Dolci Sera Sweets
- Al Hallab Sweets Qatar
- Touch of Sweets
Hope you enjoyed our blog post on Qatar desserts. Which one have you tried already? We recommend to try Kunafa from Al Aker Sweets.
