Overlooking the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, Oman has some of the world's most sweetest desserts ever from its halvas, fried fritters to vermicelli pudding that is eaten during religious festivals like Ramadan and Eid and also during weddings, birthdays and local celebrations among families, not to mention meet and greets. They are rich and the perfect birthday surprise for best friend.
Considered to be the national dessert of the country, Omani halva is made with Farina (a kind of local wheat flour), almonds, sugar, rose water, saffron, butter, cardamom and dry fruits. It comes in three colours depending on the ingredients used – yellow, white or dark brown. Halva is eaten usually alongside Omani Qahwa, a kind of local coffee. It's thick, almost jelly-like and sticky and you will find them being eaten during local celebrations like birthdays, weddings and of course religious festivals like Ramadan.
Deep-fried food especially in desserts is common in Arabic-speaking countries and Lokhemat is one such dessert that is made with flour mixed with yeast and flavoured with cardamom. The dough is shaped into small balls and deep fried until golden brown then they are drenched in a syrup made with sugar, limes and cardamom or just plain honey is drizzled on them. Like halva, this too is often eaten alongside black coffee and you will find these during Ramadan festivities.
These are mounds of sweet vermicelli that look like tiny upturned bird's nest or a mound of noodles that were frozen overnight. It's popular all over Middle Eastern countries and an Omani speciality. It's made with dry roasted vermicelli with sweet condensed milk, desiccated coconut, almond flour and butter that goes into moulds for that dome shape. It's often garnished with chopped pistachios or almond halves.
halvas come in different forms and the longer they are cooked the more fudge-like they become and Maho halva is the perfect example which are either flat cubes or rectangular pieces of halva with a share of dusky brown. It's made with condensed milk, butter, saffron, and cardamom, boiled until it thickens and sets into solid pieces with a form. It's often garnished with a few saffron strands or a sprinkling of chopped nuts.
True to its Middle Eastern and Arabic influences, Omani pudding is made with butter, milk, vanilla powder, eggs, nuts, pistachios, sweetened condensed milk, almonds and lemon zest. Its texture and thickness is similar to kheer and the assortment of nuts on its surface makes it a delight to bite into and relish.
This is Oman’s version of Gajar ka halwa which is made with grated carrots in milk, along with sweet condensed milk, ghee, cardamom and a sprinkling of nuts like pistachios. It's not different from the Indian one except perhaps for the use of condensed milk that makes the halwa thicker, stickier and sweeter.
A staple across several of its neighbouring countries in the Middle East and Arabic countries, Kunafa is also much loved in Oman and simply made of layers of long and shredded phyllo dough called “kataifi” that is stuffed with cheese for that impeccable cheese pull once baked or fried in butter on a cast iron skillet. Kunafa is crunchy and sweet and if you have a serious case of sweet tooth you will love this one.
If you've tried coconut macaroons then you will love Chaklama for these are coconut cookies that you will find all over Oman. It's made with desiccated coconut, butter, sweetened condensed milk, baking powder, and vanilla essence. The ingredients are mixed to form the soft cookie dough and the dough is shaped into balls and baked in the oven until golden. It's a great accompaniment with a cup of strong Omani coffee.
Another pudding that might not be ingenious to the country, but is quite popular here. Umm Ali hails from Egypt and is a bread pudding made with puff pastry or bread mixed with milk, sugar, and coconut flakes. This is sprinkled with raisins, pistachios, almonds and cinnamon and baked in the oven until it's golden brown. The dessert means Ali’s mother which has an interesting story behind it including a murder conspiracy that failed and its celebration carried out by the target’s first wife Om Ali, who ordered the pudding to be made to celebrate.
Called by different names in different countries, from Revani to Basbousa, Oman calls this semolina cake Baboosa. The dessert has Greek and Turkish influences and is made with semolina, sugar, and flour, with flavourings of vanilla, lemon zest, or rose water. It's garnished with chopped nuts, whipped cream or fresh fruits and is a popular dish during local festivities.