DUBAI: Now that a few weeks of Ramadan have passed, the rich food at iftar parties might start taking its toll on your system. Enter Café Bateel, which is serving up an iftar set menu that combines modern Middle Eastern flavors with European inflections in fresh new ways.
The served-to-the-table iftar begins with dates, of course, followed by a soup course, in which you can choose between a traditional lentil soup or an innovative quinoa and chickpea option.
Quinoa also features in the sharing starters in the form of a (very virtuous) quinoa tabbouleh and a quinoa and halloumi salad with Ligurian olives — a dish in which the pomegranate seed garnish doesn’t quite do enough to offset the heavy saltiness of the other ingredients, but is still enjoyable. Their take on the jirjir salad, a regional classic which is updated with the pairing of parmesan and date balsamic, works well, as does the beetroot hummus served with crudités and labneh.
So far, so healthy! The mains are definitely heartier and more indulgent, but still manage to stay on the right side of the nutritional scale. A melt-in-the-mouth sticky braised lamb, while a seasonal staple, doesn’t feel quite so decadent when paired with the ancient farro grain, which is made into a risotto with caramelized onions, mushrooms, and chickpeas. A more traditional risotto with a variety of mushrooms makes for an umami-laden option for vegetarians.
The third main course — all are served sharing-style — features a beautifully flaky grilled salmon on a bed of quinoa with asparagus, peas, zucchini, and a dried lemon and za’atar sauce.
Those who want to stay on the diet track can stick to the fruit platter for pudding, but it would be difficult to resist the temptation of the Bateel dessert selection on offer, especially the more-ish qahwa ice cream which is served with a brownie — skip the baked goods if you must, but don’t miss this ice cream!
Iftar is available at all Café Bateel outlets across the GCC, priced at $33 per person.
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