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Emirati Luqaimat

Name: Emirati Luqaimat
Total time: 90 min
Yield: Serves 6
Cuisine: United Arab Emirates
Ingredients: 250g All-purpose flour; 5g Dry yeast; 1 tbsp Sugar; A pinch Saffron; 1/2 tsp Cardamom powder; 2 tbsp Plain yogurt; 250ml (lukewarm) Water; A pinch Salt; To taste Oil for frying; 5 tbsp Date syrup; 2 tsp White Sesame Seeds

Dessert

⏱ 90 min

👥 Serves 6

Difficulty ⭐⭐

Little dumplings fried crisp outside and fluffy inside and coated in date syrup — a Gulf sweet.

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📖 The Story Behind This Dish

Luqaimat means 'little bites,' small fried dumplings. A yeast batter scented with saffron and cardamom is fried into balls, drenched in date syrup (dibs), and sprinkled with sesame. A staple for breaking the Ramadan fast, celebrations, and welcoming guests, they're also sold hot at stalls at Emirati festivals.

🌆 Where it's eaten: On a Ramadan night at a stall in Dubai's traditional market, little golden dumplings are fried one after another from a big pot and drizzled with dark syrup.

🥕 Ingredients (serves 6)

All-purpose flour 250g
Dry yeast 5g
Sugar 1 tbsp
Saffron A pinch
Cardamom powder 1/2 tsp
Plain yogurt 2 tbsp
Water 250ml (lukewarm)
Salt A pinch
Oil for frying To taste
Date syrup 5 tbsp
White Sesame Seeds 2 tsp

👩‍🍳 Instructions

Soak the saffron in a little hot water to release its color.
Mix the flour, yeast, sugar, cardamom, salt, yogurt, saffron water, and lukewarm water into a smooth, loose batter.
Cover with plastic wrap and let rise 1 hour until doubled.
Squeeze batter out between your thumb and index finger and drop it with a spoon into 170°C oil.
Fry, turning, until golden, then coat with date syrup and sprinkle with white sesame.

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