Rainy day foods: pakoras, grilled cheese and soups galore – The National

Rainy day foods: pakoras, grilled cheese and soups galore – The National

Fried foods, gooey cheese and warming soups are some of the top choices sought out around the world when it’s raining. As the UAE buckles up for another day of chilly weather and downpours, we sniff out the comfort foods people turn to and the regions they are popular in.

Lentil soup is a go-to nearly all year round in the Arab world, especially when it’s cold outside. Originating in the Middle East, lentils are believed to be the first legume ever cultivated and were perhaps the first convenience food. A hearty and nutritious concoction, lentil soup is best enjoyed on rainy days, with fresh-from-the-oven bread to dunk into it.

Follow this recipe by Hanan Sayed Worrell, author of Table Tales: The Global Nomad Cuisine of Abu Dhabi.