Treats galore at Saraya Tent, DIFC

It’s my first Ramadan as a new vegan this year, and I was unsure about how the traditionally meat-heavy iftars would fit into my new dietary requirements. Turns out, I didn’t have much cause for concern.

Yes, iftars are still very meat and dairy-heavy, but there are feast-worthy vegan options at most of them. And some, like the Saraya Ramadan Tent at the Gate Village in DIFC, will go out of the way to ensure you have all the proteins and right sustenance you need for your big meal of the day.

Iftar is a la carte (the menu changes daily). Once the azaan prayer begins, our table is immediately laid out with a selection of cold mezze: hummus, tabbouleh, baba ghanous, muhamara, and many salads, both vegetarian and some with meat (mixed seafood, chicken caesar).

There was a choice of juices and soups. My meat-eating friends were in for a treat as they got the grilled seafood platter (shrimps, Nile perch and calamari) and the Arabic mixed grill (lamb chop, shish taouk and lamb kofta). For the dishes, they had their choices of mozzat muhammara (lamb with red sauce) or shish barak (meat dumplings in yoghurt sauce) or both. There was also chicken biryani and dal makhani served with bokhari rice.

I had the penne pasta with mushroom, without the cream, and one of my favourite rice dishes, the rice with vermicelli.

But for desserts, the vegan options are limited.