Emirati Ramadan sweet · Fried
Luqaimat Recipe (Emirati Saffron Dumplings with Date Syrup)
Sticky batter. Let it bubble. Medium oil.
Recipe by Farwa ZeeshanTested in the NineFoods home kitchenLuqaimat are crunchy golden dough balls drizzled with date syrup, the iftar sweet of the UAE and the Gulf. They come out flat, greasy or doughy inside. The fix is a sticky, well risen yeast batter, oil at a steady medium heat, and turning the balls constantly until evenly golden.
The 3 laws of luqaimat
Why this recipe works
Fresh batter
Light, airy inside.
Cool or very hot oil
Crisp, not greasy or raw.
Leave them
Round and evenly golden.
Shopping and prep list
Ingredients
Batter
Topping
The NineFoods luqaimat gauge
Are they ready?
Lift one and tap it.
Method · 3 stages
Step by step
Batter
- Whisk batter smooth and sticky; rest until doubled and bubbly.
Fry
- Drop small balls of batter into oil with a spoon or your hand.
- Turn constantly. Use the gauge above.
Serve
- Drizzle with date syrup and sesame.
Chef's troubleshooter
What went wrong? Pick the symptom
Why
Batter too thin.
Fix next time
Add flour to a thick, sticky batter.
Why
Oil too cool.
Fix next time
Keep medium heat.
Why
Oil too hot.
Fix next time
Fry slower.
Why
Batter not risen.
Fix next time
Rest until doubled.
Swap smart
Ingredient roles and substitutes
| Ingredient | Job in the dish | Swap with |
|---|---|---|
| Date syrup | Topping | Honey or sugar syrup |
| Saffron | Aroma | Leave out |
| Instant yeast | Rise | Active yeast, bloomed |
| Sesame | Garnish | Leave out |
After the meal
Serve, store, reheat
Serve with
Arabic coffee or karak chai at iftar.
Store
Best fresh; crisp in the oven.
Reheat
Hot oven 5 minutes, then drizzle.
How we tested this recipe
Tested in a home kitchen, not a studio
Recipe developed and tested by Farwa Zeeshan, who cooks and tests every NineFoods recipe on a regular home stove.
- Cooked from start to finish with the exact quantities above for 6 servings, using both the metric and US cup measures.
- Every one of the 3 stages was timed at the stove; heat levels and the 'look for' cues are what we saw in the pan.
- The doneness check (are they ready) and the troubleshooter come from batches that went wrong, and how we fixed them.
- Reheating and storage advice was checked on leftovers, not guessed.
Keep cooking
Related recipes and guides
Quick answers
Luqaimat FAQ
What is luqaimat?
Emirati fried dough balls with date syrup.
Is luqaimat the same as lokma?
Very similar; lokma is the Turkish version.
When is it eaten?
During Ramadan at iftar.
Can I use honey?
Yes, honey is a good substitute for date syrup.