Coq au vin with plump prunes

Comforting, tasty chicken dish with delicious prunes and a rich red wine sauce – can be made two days in advance

Pigeon bistayeea

Recipe from Greg Malouf

Mexican rice with kidney beans, corn, cilantro and jalapenos

Recipe from Andrew Fletcher, Executive Chef of Movenpick Jumeirah Lakes Towers

Fattet fool akhdar

Jordanian recipe from Dima Sharif, a cooking instructor, food artisan and author of the Dima’s Kitchen food blog.

Lentil soup

An Iraqi recipe from Lamees Attar-Bashi, a food enthusiast, home chef and creator of facebook page, Lamees’s Kitchen.

Lamb ouzi

Recipes from Chef Ludovic Garnier, chef de cuisine at One & Only Royal Mirage Dubai

Machboos simmach (spiced fried fish with saffron flavoured rice)

Recipe from Shaikha Al Ali, a Marketing major student at Zayed University Dubai, and founder of the cookery blog,
www.whenshaikhacooks.com.

Shorbat addas (mild lentil soup)

Recipe from Faisal Nasser, an environmental engineer from Abu Dhabi, who has always had an interest in food and culinary arts, and enjoys spending his weekends cooking for family and friends.

Cajun meatballs

Love meatballs? Try this low-calorie recipe that uses turkey mince, served in a hot pepper sauce

Lentil, walnut & apple salad with blue cheese

Puy lentils are healthy pulses that keep you fuller for longer – serve with Roquefort, Granny Smith apples, nuts and parsley

Cheesy chips

A real guilty pleasure, these Parmesan-topped French fries with a creamy cheese, mustard and chive dip will feed a crowd in fine fashion

Chilli beef with broccoli & oyster sauce

Marinate a cheaper cut like rump steak to tenderise the meat then stir fry with vegetables and rich Chinese flavours