A taste of Omani food and hospitality- Delicious Honey drizzled pancakes at the Heritage Village, Muscat Festival 2014

I love going to Muscat Festival, an annual event held in January every year and have been to each one since it first began in 1998. A month-long annual event showcasing Omani and international art and culture, it was inaugurated at Naseem Park and Al Amerat Park almost a week ago and will run till the 22nd of February giving everyone a chance to visit the locations and enjoy the fabulous treats that lie in store.

The Omanis are well known for their hospitality and to be invited into someone's home is considered to be a real honour. It usually means coffee or kahwa a strong, bitter drink flavoured with cardamom, and dates or halwa, a sticky sweet gelatinous substance which is made from brown sugar, eggs, honey and spices. More substantial meals often have rice as the main ingredient, together with cooked meats. The main daily meal is usually eaten at midday, while the evening meal is lighter. Chicken, fish and mutton are regularly used in dishes. 

A favourite drink is 'laban', a salty buttermilk and yoghurt based drinks, flavoured with cardamom and pistachio nuts are also very popular.

Snacks are also very popular and of these,  sweet pancakes drizzled with honey is definitely my favourite! So when I had an opportunity last evening to watch Raya, a delightful Omani lady of about 35, from Al Amerat at close quarters making her delicious pancakes, it was something that I really enjoyed and hopefully learnt from as well. In future, I certainly hope to try out something like the ones I had and will keep you posted on my progress.

Raya busy making the pancakes

Here is the recipe and method  for these delicious honey drizzled pancakes, which can be easily made at home 

Ingredients

1 cup of brown or white flour 
2 cups of water
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cardamom
Butter and honey

Cooking Instructions

In a mixing bowl combine the flour, water, salt and ground cardamom. 

Beat well with a spoon. 

Making sure the colour and consistency are just right.

Pour about 1/8 cup of batter on a hot and lightly greased griddle.

She flips them over , they look almost done

Cook until golden brown on the bottom. Flip and cook until the other side is also a golden brown. Drizzle with a little butter. 

Pour honey over it and serve hot.

My plate, I got an extra pancake. 4 for 300 Baisas as I was  her first customer

They were absolutely delicious and I was seriously tempted to go back for another plate but the aroma of Omani Halwa close by tempted me. Of course that was my next stop. 

It will also be my next blog entry ...