Tajine is a very popular restaurant in the modern Souk Waqif – one of the beating hearts of Doha, Qatar. It seems like all roads lead to the souk (luckily for me since I got lost quite a few times) and has an obvious Arab market flair. That is, despite most of the buildings set up like a decorated strip mall. Souk Waqif has a variety of shops selling clothes and jewelry but what you really want to do here is eat.
The spread of select international cuisine is impressive. Aside from Qatari food, there are restaurants from places like Iraq, Yemen, and Nepal – many of which are open 24 hours. You’ll find many people simply lounging into the late night hours, drinking coffee and puffing on shisha, with the occasional sounds of Qatari folk music in the background.
You can see more of Souk Waqif and the rest of Doha, Qatar in my album here.
Anil, thanks for this intro to Qatar, the food, and the area. I honestly don’t know much about it but it’s nice when I read about new places. I like the historical and cultural side of places so it’s interesting to learn about Souk Waqif.
Thanks Jeremy, I’ll be writing a bit more about Qatar in the coming weeks. The Gulf states and cities (outside of Dubai) seem to be gray areas for most; hopefully I can help shed some light on a very diverse but physically small area of the world.
A bit selfish but would you consider posting a couple recipes. I’ve tried to make lentil soup a million times and it’s always terrible.
Keep the food posts coming, I’m eating them up – pun intended
I wouldn’t mind at all, I’ll actually get one from my mom who makes a mighty fine lentil soup, along with a few variations as well π I can post them right here for you.
I’m glad you’re liking the food posts – I’ve definitely been neglecting eats for far too long π
Hi Ayngelina, my mom recommended this recipe in English:
http://www.turkishfoodandrecipes.com/2008/12/red-lentil-soup-kirmizi-mercimek.html
She says the trick is to wash the lentils using a strainer until the water runs clear. Clean lentils apparently will be softer and give the soup more flavor.
Let me know if you end up making some, would love to hear how it went!
Oh yum that look delish! I’m so intrigued by the Middle East.
Including Qatar, Bahrain, and UAE are just fantastic places to eat. That soup was great π
Interesting music!
I kept expecting for it to speed up quite quickly, but it never did. A very meditative melody.
How intriguing. Was especially intrigued about the Nepali food- my sis was just here (from Nepal) and she was saying how so many Nepalis are over in that part of the world.
My personal observation was that Qatar was where the larger numbers of Nepalis were, but you’re right, many, many immigrants from Nepal and Southeast Asia in general in the Gulf states. In Bahrain it’s about 45-60% and in Qatar, 75% of the population is foreign born.
What I love about Middle Eastern food is that it’s so simple yet so delicious and that soup definitely looks delicious.
Lentil soup is one of my absolute favorites and like you say, it’s so simple but with so much variation! This one was slightly thick but without whole lentils in it; along with a touch of cumin and olive oil across the top. Filling yet light and really tasty…
That soup looks gorgeous. Whoever invented lentil soup was just an absolute genius! I love the idea of 24 hour restaurants…maybe that’s why we settled well in Turkey! π
Julia
Lentils and chickpeas…amazing what comes out of them. Whoever did invent lentil soup though deserves a statue – in fact, with so many varieties I wonder where it did come from originally. That would make a great book and read for sure…
Oh, and just searched around Turkey’s For Life for this:
http://turkeysforlife.blogspot.com/2010/09/turkish-food-yesil-mercimek-corbasi.html
@Ayngelina: My mom will probably take a few days to drop her recipe here but the more the merrier. That’s how to make green lentil soup, Turkish style π
That looks AMAZING! I need to eat that NOW!
Just checked out your RTW itinerary looking for Qatar but youβve got Morocco on there β it will be great for not only lentil soup but so much moreβ¦good food destination π
Hey Anil! I’ve been to Souq Waqif, actually I’ve been to the restaurant you are talking about about 3 years ago. I remember I had some dish with camel…to say the least I wasn’t that impressed! It was really tough and I choked it down just to be able to say I ate camel hehe…but the mint tea was delish π
Hi Hannah, I had the camel too just to try it there! I actually didn’t think it was too bad, but not sure if it’s something I’d seek out to eat again π