Habibi, ready for a taste of Italy right here in the UAE?
The United Arab Emirates is a cultural crossroads that showcases various culinary traditions, especially Italian cuisine. With its comforting flavors and rich history, Italy’s food scene is thriving in the UAE, offering everything from casual trattorias to upscale ristorantes. Here are the top 10 Italian dishes you shouldn’t miss in the UAE.
10 Best Italian Dishes In Dubai
Dubai is the hub of world trade and long architecture. Trust this fact or not, but its Italian cuisine makes it popular around the world:
Margherita Pizza
No Italian dish list is complete without Margherita Pizza. This classic features a thin, crispy crust topped with tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, and olive oil, often cooked in wood-fired ovens.
Result? Light, flavoursome, mouthwatering pizza. It illustrates that the best way to have an unforgettable Italian food menu is with high-quality ingredients.
Lasagna
The Italian Lasagna recipe is simple; Lasagna is a delicious Italian dish made with layers of wide pasta, Bolognese sauce, Béchamel sauce, and plenty of Parmesan cheese, all baked until golden and bubbly. Many in the UAE have perfected this classic recipe.
It results in a dish that is as nuanced in its making as it is comforting to eat. They are rich in flavour and will go to show why they are as popular as ever.
Spaghetti Alle Vongole
The UAE’s coastline makes it ideal for enjoying fresh seafood. Spaghetti Alle Vongole, or Spaghetti with Clams, strikes a balance between simplicity and sophistication, highlighting the freshness of its ingredients. A light sauce of white wine, garlic, red pepper flakes, and fresh parsley perfectly coats the al dente spaghetti and tender clams.
This dish is proof that Italian food is more than thick sauce and cheese; it’s about layering walls for the flavours to come bursting through.
Risotto Ai Funghi
Risotto Ai Funghi is a beloved northern Italian dish known for its earthy mushrooms and rich broth. This creamy risotto, made with Arborio rice, onions, and mushrooms, is a popular choice on many Indian food menus in the UAE.
A final stir of Parmesan and butter adds luxury; it is one of the most comforting Italian dishes you can imagine.
Pasta Cacio e Pepe
Cacio e Pepe, also known as cheese and pepper pasta, is gaining popularity in the UAE. Made with just pasta, Pecorino Romano cheese, and black pepper, the key is in the technique. The starchy cooking water creates a creamy sauce that coats the pasta.
A great Cacio e Pepe not only tastes delicious but also shows a chef’s skill in balancing flavors and textures. and an example of how extraordinary, simple Italian food can be transformed into a work of art.
Gnocchi Al Tartufo
Gnocchi, potato dumplings that are so airy and soft, make an uber-comforting foundation for a deeply flavorful and heady truffle sauce. A fragrant black or white truffle takes this dish from an ordinary pasta dish to a gourmet experience.
Served in restaurants throughout the UAE, from Dubai’s commercial district to upscale hotels in the capital, chocolate risotto is an indulgent dish exemplifying how rustic and floury it is. Italian dishes can be just as elegant.
Bistecca Alla Fiorentina
Italian cuisine offers delicious meat dishes, like Bistecca all Fiorentina. This Tuscan specialty features a thick, bone-in porterhouse steak that’s grilled simply with olive oil, salt, and pepper.
So you can allow the excellent quality beef to speak for itself. You can find this glorious cut on a high-end Italian food menu, typically sliced, and so good to share. It’s an endorsement for the sturdy and flavorful side of Italian food.
Tiramisu
Tiramisu is perhaps the best-known Italian dish in Dubai. Its name, “pick me up”, is appropriate as you will actually pick yourself up with this fantastic coffee-flavoured dessert.
Coffee-drenched ladyfingers, creamy mascarpone and a dusting of cocoa travel together to create a wonderful layered dessert that plays on the bitter-and-sweet flavour pairing.
Osso Buco
Osso Buco is a veal shank that is slow-cooked with vegetables, white wine, and stock. Its name means “bone with a hole,” referring to the prized marrow inside. The meat is tender, and it’s typically served with risotto alla milanese.
Osso Buco is a real treat for food lovers. So, imagine how exciting it could be to find an Italian eatery in the UAE that serves the traditional and labour-intensive dish. It shows the depth and diversity of Italian cuisine.
Gelato
The regional climate of the UAE made this Italian dish popular. Gelato appeals to people because of its rich textures, unique ingredients, and prestige. Not just that, the gelato sales and their market have grown over the past few years. The demand for Gelato has increased due to its delicious taste.
Nothing beats the good Italian taste in Dubai?
Summarizing
Giving you again, the top Italian food and what people gossip about them.
| Dish | Speciality |
| Margherita Pizza | Simple, iconic, classic, but still above all. |
| Lasagna | Layers of pasta, meat and cheese. |
| Spaghetti Alle Vongole | Eat when you crave light and fresh flavours. |
| Risotto Ai Funghi | Hearty, warming Italian dish to boost your mood. |
| Pasta Cacio E Pepe | Simple, cheesy, but remarkable. |
| Gnocchi Al Tartufo | Choose for a luxurious and special occasion. |
| Bistecca Alla Fiorentian | True streak indulgence. |
| Tiramisu | Sweet escape and rich flavour to give you a feeling of being expensive. |
| Osso Buco | Soul-soothing dish, try with your soulmate. |
| Gelato | Your instant mood lifter. |
FAQs
Which are the top Italian dishes to eat in the UAE?
The UAE adores Italian food, and some of its favourite foods include Margherita Pizza, Lasagna, Spaghetti Alle Vongole, and Pasta Cacio e Pepe.
What are the most common Italian food items to eat in the UAE?
Gelato is a lower-fat and denser frozen dessert churned more slowly, which produces less air and gives it a richer flavour. It is also served at a warmer temperature.
Can one get authentic Italian food in the UAE?
There are numerous Italian restaurants in the UAE, including casual trattorias and fancy ristorantes, which work with high-quality and imported materials.
What is Bistecca Alli Fiorentina?
Bistecca alla Fiorentina Bistecca alla Fiorentina is a porterhouse steak with the bone left in, grilled in plain salt, pepper and olive oil, and traditionally eaten very rare.