Quintessential Lebanese fare in Bay Square – BouBouffe
Iftar only gets better when it’s Lebanese. This was my last Iftar menu tasting at the classy BouBouffe in Bay Square. Offering two choices of set Iftar menu, they have combined Lebanese favorites of soups, salads and mezzeh along with sumptuous mains, Ramadan drinks and desserts.
While we broke our fast with dates and apricots, we were completely in awe of everything that followed.
Stay tuned to find out all those delicacies at BouBouffe that will definitely make you want to go there.
P.S. These dishes are not exclusive to Ramadan. You can get the same ones off their a la carte menu as well. So don’t despair if you missed it.
Mezzeh
Most of my iftars last month started with hummus, and why not! Hummus is not only healthy, but the chickpeas that it’s made with, offer so much nutrition, it is just perfect to give you that instant boost of energy after a day long fast without filling you up.
We opted for the Hummus Beyrouthy at BouBouffe, that came along with cooked fava beans. While this was a part of the cold mezzeh, the lentil soup and stylish salad served their roles for a satiating start.
The fattoush salad came with a tangy lemon dressing while the brown lentil soup, made with onions was perfectly spiced and utterly comforting.
Which is your favorite Lebanese salad? Fattoush or Tabouleh?
Rose Syrup Water and Watermelon Juice
When you fast, your internal body heat increases, especially in these summer months. Since the time I was little, we were told to cool off our body at Iftar with lots of water and hydrating fruits.
This rose syrup water and watermelon juice are perfect for that. Not only do they hydrate you instantly, but the soothing properties of rose and the water content in watermelon replace all the liquids in your body that you lost over the day. They quickly replenish your system by cooling off the heat.
In addition to these, BouBouffe also offers fresh fruit juices in a variety of flavors and Ramadan drinks like Jellab and Kamardin.
Batata Harrah
When it comes to hot mezzeh, there’s never a better option that spiced potatoes. Often referred to as Batata Harrah, these little cubes are deep fried and then coated with a coriander, lemon, garlic and chili dressing. The mixture of tanginess and spicy flavors makes them the perfect side.
And as far as I’m concerned, give me these with some pita bread, and I’ve got myself an entire meal. BouBouffe definitely makes these really well. Just look at the picture. Don’t they look tempting? In my opinion, ignore the regular fries and opt for this instead.
Chicken Shawarma
BouBouffe is famed as the house of charcoal shawarma. And this shawarma chicken platter simply justifies that claim.
Charcoal grilled tender chicken stuffed between a fresh pita bread is served along with garlic sauce, pickle and fries. If you don’t know this yet, you should know that shawarma chicken and garlic sauce make an amazing combination. Moreover, the garlic sauce makes a great dip for the fries by balancing the saltiness with its tangy flavor.
Arayes
Arayes is quite synonymous to Lebanese food and although my tummy was against it, my taste buds decided to delve into this Levant favorite.
Kafta Arayes came in a mighty portion (much to my appetite’s despair), and was filled with delicious kafta stuffing. The hummus and yogurt on the side played the roles of perfect dips for this flatbread sandwich.
Oriental Chicken
This rice dish at BouBouffe is not only delicious, it also offers a very rich flavor, thanks to all those dry fruits.
A part of the mains, this Oriental Chicken comes with fragrant rice served alongside a beautifully tender steamed chicken. Dotted with pine nuts and almonds the oriental rice is enhanced with a dense gravy that intensifies its flavor and adds a savory touch to the dish.
Achtalieh BouBouffe
The Achtalieh BouBouffe dessert is essentially a creamy milk pudding garnished with almonds and pistachios.
Classic, simple and definitely sweet (with all that sugary syrupy goodness), this one makes a light yet delicious end to the meal.
And you can’t possibly imagine how much time and effort it took to compose this shot!
Meghle
Another bowl of sweet goodness, the Meghle at BouBouffe is worth a try. While I chose it mainly for the coconut powder garnish, this halwa like dessert is made with rice powder as its main ingredient.
Apart from dried coconut powder, this too is garnished with walnuts, pistachios and almonds. The dry fruits give the dense texture of this pudding a rich flavor and a’crunchy meets creamy’ experience in every bite.
BouBouffe
Location: Bay Square, Building 4, 7 Al Asayel Street, Business Bay, Business Bay, Dubai
Contact: 800268268333
