Abu Dhabi Week ditches the meat and looks into the best vegetarian options around town
Being a vegetarian in the capital can be a challenge. With endless buffets, surf ‘n turf theme nights and Arabic barbecues, meat-free diners can often feel left out. Faced with the misconception that vegetarian food is boring, many are left eating pasta and cheese as their fellow diners tuck into an elaborate gourmet feast.
There is, however, a glimmer of hope for the capital’s vegetarians. Here is our pick of the top five restaurants for meat-free cuisine in the capital.
Nathalie’s
Vegetarians keeping an eye on their waistline will love this healthy café for its rotating selection of colourful salads, hearty soups, fresh sandwiches and wholemeal pizza. The fresh and flavourful options prove that vegetarian food doesn’t have to be boring. A few favourites include the puy lentil salad with soya dressing and the minted halloumi ciabatta.
Contact: 02 441 1330
Burger Fuel
Even vegetarians crave a juicy burger every now and then. If you fancy a hearty veggie version, head to Burger Fuel, a New Zealand joint that claims to be ‘engineering the perfect burger’. We have to agree the place has definitely manufactured two faultless veggie options. We particularly love the V Twin Vege: a mushroom, kumara, chickpea and basil patty with a sweet squirt of plum sauce and a moreish homemade garlic aioli.
Contact: 02 673 8779
Café Blanc
Since discovering this colourful Lebanese restaurant, we can’t get enough of their fresh fare. We love the fatteh hummos, a warm mixture of fragrant cumin chickpeas covered in tangy garlic yoghurt with crispy pine nuts and fried Arabic bread croutons. Another favourite, even among carnivores, is the arayess halloum.
Contact: 02 677 9881
Salam Bombay
Indian cuisine is famous for its variety of vegetarian dishes and the capital suffers no shortage of Indian restaurants. The purely vegetarian Salam Bombay is a great option whether you fancy a traditional thali lunch or want to chow down on chat. The menu is brimming with delectable dishes from masala dosa and vada pav to paneer tikka and dal.
Contact: 02 677 7076
Toki
This Japanese restaurant is often packed with nationals, a good indicator that it serves authentic cuisine. Aside from the faultless service, you can be sure of a good meal here. We recommend the garlic tofu and a platter of handmade sushi rolls but our favourite has to be the nasu dengaku, a miso-glazed eggplant grilled to perfection.
Contact: 02 681 4151
WE SPOKE to Ola Mezher, clinical dietician at Awazen, about how to keep a healthy vegetarian diet
What is the most common misconception about a vegetarian diet?
You will lose weight on a vegetarian diet! Unfortunately this is not the case. To lose weight, is to reduce your caloric intake whether you are getting your food from animal sources or from plant sources. In addition, many vegetarians consume high amounts of carbohydrates and fats such as pasta, rice and cheese.
What healthy foods should vegetarians look out for and why?
Vegetarians should look for a healthy balanced diet plan that provides vitamins and nutrients. Healthy meat-free foods include soymilk and tofu, cottage cheese, lentils, beans, quinoa and nuts.
What is the biggest nutritional consideration for a vegetarian?
Vitamin B12 deficiency. The best sources of B12 are animal-based foods such as shellfish, red meat and dairy products. Vegans who do not supplement their diet with vitamin B12 will eventually develop a type of anemia that results in irreversible damage to the nervous system.
What foods should vegetarians avoid?
Moderation is very important in order to remain healthy and avoid deficiencies and diseases. Choose healthy food that is high in vitamins, minerals and protein and avoid the foods with low nutritional value.
Avoid bagels, cookies, cakes, pasta and sweets, as they are high in calories and low in fibre, vitamins and minerals. Instead choose products such as oats, multi-grain bread, whole-wheat pasta, brown rice, fortified cereals, legumes, beans, fruits and vegetables.
Rachael Peacock
