Luxury in the Desert – Emirati fine dining at Aseelah

This is different. This is extraordinary. It is an experience of the Emirati desert in the heart of Dubai.
Aseelah in Radisson Blu Dubai Deira Creek gives you the feel of dining in a desert, only this one is an epitome of luxury.

Decked with sophisticated and shimmery gold accents along with wood and jute furnishings, traditional pots & artifacts, and a low light setting, the interiors highlight the inside of luxurious Bedouin tent.
Let’s set on a culinary tour filled with authentic Emirati food and warm Bedouin hospitality at Aseelah.

While we browsed through the menu focusing on traditional dishes and those made from locally sourced ingredients, as well as drinks crafted from Emirati ingredients, we were offered rose water & saffron infused welcome shots along with two freshly baked pieces of Aseelah bread topped with cream cheese and a piece of date.
This sweet welcome certainly got our palate prepared for all the wholesome goodness that was about to unfold.

To start off, we thought it would be great to experience the Bedouin style of serving drinks.
The Velvet Sunset with all its glory blended fresh lime and cranberry juices, infused with jasmine tea syrup. The Ginger Spiced Tea, as the name suggests, was a spicy concoction of fresh lime and gingerbread syrup topped with ginger ale.
Garnished with lime wedges, both these drinks came with an Emirati touch, highlighting the idea of “Bedouin meets world”, and offered a refreshing start to our desert-esque dining.

Time for something comforting. The Chicken Vermicelli soup is the one dish that will want you to go back in the winters and sip on it while sitting on the outdoor terrace of Aseelah restaurant in Radisson Blu Dubai Deira Creek.
This light chicken broth is beautifully flavored with local spices that add a soothing fragrance to it. Along with tender chicken pieces and rice vermicelli, the soup is topped with golden fried onions to add a slight crunch.
Aseelah has a wonderful selection of no-meat soups as well, so no matter what your dietary preferences are, you will definitely find something to suit your palate.

To add to our Emirati hospitality experience, we were offered a complimentary portion of cheese bread stuffed with olives. So classic!

I have never had quail before. When skimming through a menu, my eyes always go towards chicken or beef or shrimps. You already know that right. So when our server Nagib recommended this Quail salad, I was all excited to experiment this new meat.
To describe the salad in one word – colorful.
And to describe quail meat in one word – absolutely tender. (I know that’s two words, but it’s well worth it)
The pan roasted quail breast was stuffed with a smooth quail mousse and nutty pistachios striking the right balance of recruits between creamy and crunchy.
Served alongside a bunch of wild rocket leaves, and beetroot pieces glazed with cinnamon jus on a pumpkin puree, this salad really was a melting pot of flavors.
Another salad that sparked interest was the Fennel and Orange salad which combines quail, poached egg and veal bacon. This one is definitely on my list the next time I go to Aseelah.

Take a look at the exquisiteness of the quail and the nutty pistachios stuffed within…

The most loved rice main of the Emirati cuisine, the pine nut and raisin dotted fragrant biryani rice is enhanced with an indulgent piece of steamed chicken. The meat is extremely tender, flavored just right with all the traditional spices and falls right off the bone.
The rice is served alongside a tomato salsa, which is prepared so spot on, you can taste the freshness of the tomatoes in the mix.
One of the most interesting things I noticed about the cuisine at Aseelah is their extensive use of dry fruits and nuts – from the classic dates to pistachios, pine nuts and more; that adds a rich texture to the food.

Highlighting the coastal wealth of the region, the tiger prawns in this Chargrilled dish are sourced fresh from the waters of the Gulf.
Grilled to perfection, they hide tender pink meat beneath their crusty shells and it’s an absolute pleasure opening up those crusts to reveal the oceanic treasure hidden within.
The prawns are served with a tangy lemon and turmeric dip. These are a must have!

Life just gets better with dessert, doesn’t it?
Especially when the dessert is eaten in a desert-esque setting and is made using the sweetest fruit grown in the desert.
That’s the introduction of the Date Pudding. As classic as it may sound, Aseelah’s version of this dish is not only unique, but it combines a variety of flavors on your taste buds in every spoonful.
It is served alongside sweet and dense poached dates and a very tangy mango and passion fruit ice cream.
The warm and creamy textured pudding is just effortless to break into, and when combined with the dates and ice cream, it creates a burst of flavors, textures, and temperatures in your mouth.
Other desserts on Aseelah’s menu include the classic Luqaimat as well as various pumpkin and cardamom based creations.