Last week, frozen fruit and vegetables came out better than the majority of fresh produce available, but best of all are home-grown and freshly picked.
When I mentioned that I’d spent the weekend gardening to a friend, she was very surprised and I think many people here in the UAE, especially those who live in town in apartments, don’t realise that many plants grow really well in this climate. You don’t even need a big space or garden if the food you grow is just for you: tubs and pots on balconies also work very well, if not better. So what grows well here and what interesting meals can you produce?
Before you start
Think about the space you will be using. Even if you have a spacious garden, pots and tubs work better.
If you have pets or children, your plants will soon be dug up or destroyed. They are easy to move, too, so that in the summer when it’s really hot, you can move the vulnerable plants to shade or partial shade, although most plants require adequate sunshine to grow.
If you don’t have much space on a balcony, you could use window baskets and attach to the railings or put fixings up the walls. Plants are easier than growing from seeds and bags of soil will produce healthy plants. Most produce will survive better if you plant at the end of the summer and early autumn.
Fruit
If you have the space for trees, many fruits grow well here including mango, lemons and of course, dates. Bananas, figs, avocados and pomegranates also grow well here.
Vegetables
Eggplant/aubergines, zucchini/ courgettes, spring onions, garlic, lettuce, Pak Choi, cabbage, cucumber, pumpkin, capsicum, chilies, tomatoes and bell peppers all do well in the UAE. Herbs grow very well: I had basil growing all over my garden in Abu Dhabi.
Recipe Ideas
Imam’s Aubergine
Heat some oil in a pan and add two diced aubergines/eggplants. Once they are soft, add 250g of thinly sliced white cabbage. Once soft, add a level tablespoonful of paprika, stirring thoroughly until the vegetables are coated. Add six pureed tomatoes and simmer for three minutes. To finish, add a handful of chopped parsley, a few sprigs of mint, a spoonful of honey (or date paste if you have it), salt and pepper and mop up with some flat bread.
Bruschetta
The secret is in very ripe tomatoes. Chop up a couple of handfuls, add a handful of chopped basil leaves, a couple of minced garlic cloves, a couple of tablespoons of virgin olive oil, a dash of balsamic vinegar or freshly squeezed lemon juice (especially if you are growing your own) and mix well with some salt and black pepper. Spoon onto lightly toasted bread: olive, rustic or even your own homemade.
Tabbouleh
This popular local salad never tastes better than when freshly prepared. Prepare 175g bulghur wheat according to manufacturer’s instructions and mix with six tomatoes, 1 small cucumber, two handfuls of parsley, a small handful of mint (all finely chopped), two tablespoons of olive oil and the juice of a lemon.
