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Quiz about Omani Dining
Quiz about Omani Dining

Omani Dining Trivia Quiz


Working in the oilfields of the Middle East has given me the opportunity to experience some of the finest culinary delights I've ever had. This quiz will explore traditional Arabic foods and cooking techniques, primarily those found in Oman.

A multiple-choice quiz by ralzzz. Estimated time: 5 mins.
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Author
ralzzz
Time
5 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
311,954
Updated
Jul 23 22
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
7 / 10
Plays
2835
Awards
Top 35% Quiz
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. Like many people from the Western world, I require caffeine to get motivated for a long, hard day at the office. If I'm in a traditional Omani coffeehouse, which word would I be looking for on a menu so I could order a cup of coffee? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. A popular staple of an Omani breakfast is rukhal. I don't think I've sat down to breakfast without it. Which of these would best describe rukhal? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. Because of the extreme temperatures associated with the Middle East, lunchtime is sometimes only a light soup served with rice. Many soups I've sampled have been quite hearty with unique flavors. Which of the following would you find listed with other soups on an Omani menu? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. Many Omani people prefer to have a large lunch with a lighter dinner in the evening. One dish I look forward to is kofta. If I had to describe kofta to a person unfamiliar with the dish, which might be a suitable comparison? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. Like many Eastern countries, rice is a basic component of many Omani meals. You can find rice served with nearly every traditional Arab dish, whether it be seafood, beef, lamb or vegetables. In Arab countries, the rice is prepared with a particular spice which gives it a wonderful flavor and a rich yellow color. Which spice would produce this appealing flavor and color in the rice so popular in Omani cooking? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. Oman is situated on the Arabian Gulf, so there is an abundance of seafood available to the diner. Which of these fish would you most commonly find in Omani restaurants? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. During Omani festivals, special meals are prepared which are not typical during non-festival months. With which style of cooking would marinated meats be wrapped in banana leaves and buried beneath the ground in fiery pits? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. Because Oman is a Muslim country, most of the citizens do not consume alcoholic beverages. Fruit juices, flavored waters, colas and yogurt drinks are the drinks of choice for most Omani people. Karkade is a tea that can be served either hot or cold and is found in many areas of Oman as a healthy alternative to colas. From which flower is karkade brewed? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. Oman is a land of nomadic people. Many tribes of people move from place to place which makes preparing meals difficult. Maqdeed is a type of food particularly valuable to these wandering groups. What is maqdeed? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. Much like the rest of the world, the Omani people enjoy something sweet after their nightly meal. Which of these desserts could you find served after a traditional Arab meal? Hint



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Like many people from the Western world, I require caffeine to get motivated for a long, hard day at the office. If I'm in a traditional Omani coffeehouse, which word would I be looking for on a menu so I could order a cup of coffee?

Answer: kahwa

Coffee in Oman is quite different than in the US and Europe. In Oman, coffee is often blended with green cardamom, a spice derived from the ginger family, to give the coffee a rich and minty flavor. Often, kahwa is served with cookies or cakes for nibbling.
2. A popular staple of an Omani breakfast is rukhal. I don't think I've sat down to breakfast without it. Which of these would best describe rukhal?

Answer: A thin bread

Rukhal is a thin bread made from flour which is cooked over an oven fired with coals of leaves or wood. Although rukhal can be served with any meal, it is often found at the breakfast table, served with jellies and jams. Some shops serve a rich creamy butter flavored with cinnamon to spread on the rukhal. A popular drink during breakfast is laban. Laban is a yogurt based drink which has the flavor of a tangy buttermilk.

Some people put salt and pepper in their laban, but I prefer adding some cinnamon and milk to mine.

The sweetness tends to counteract the sour flavor of the yogurt which yields a more appealing experience.
3. Because of the extreme temperatures associated with the Middle East, lunchtime is sometimes only a light soup served with rice. Many soups I've sampled have been quite hearty with unique flavors. Which of the following would you find listed with other soups on an Omani menu?

Answer: Sakhana

Sakhana is very different than many soups you would find in the US because it has the sweet flavor of molasses and milk. Sakhana has a wheat base and can contain dates or other exotic fruits.
A nice contrast with sakhana at lunchtime is a spiced meat kebab, either lamb or goat, grilled over an open pit. Most meats used in kebabs are marinated in heavy spices including, peppers, ginger, garlic, nutmeg and cloves.
4. Many Omani people prefer to have a large lunch with a lighter dinner in the evening. One dish I look forward to is kofta. If I had to describe kofta to a person unfamiliar with the dish, which might be a suitable comparison?

Answer: Meatloaf

Kofta more resembles a meatloaf, or in some instances, a sausage. Kofta is usually made with ground goat or lamb packed full of spices and flavors. Kofta can be served with rice or sometimes with sliced potatoes. I've had kofta smothered in a curry gravy which was quite good as well.
For those so inclined, koftas can be made strictly with vegetables and rice. Cabbage, onions, peppers and sprouts are sometimes found in the vegetarian version of this meal.
5. Like many Eastern countries, rice is a basic component of many Omani meals. You can find rice served with nearly every traditional Arab dish, whether it be seafood, beef, lamb or vegetables. In Arab countries, the rice is prepared with a particular spice which gives it a wonderful flavor and a rich yellow color. Which spice would produce this appealing flavor and color in the rice so popular in Omani cooking?

Answer: Saffron

The name saffron comes from an old Arabic word used to describe the color yellow. Saffron is recognized as one of the most expensive and precious of all the spices. It takes the stigmas of nearly 75,000 saffron flowers to produce one pound of the spice, and each of these stigma has to be carefully removed by hand. Saffron has an earthy flavor which provides a good base for most dishes served in Arabian countries. Saffron is sometimes substituted with turmeric due to the cost. Turmeric has similar coloring and flavor to saffron and the two are sometimes used together in rice, vegetable, curry dishes, desserts and meat dishes. Almost all Arab cooks has saffron in their spice rack, but uses it sparingly.

A little saffron goes a long way in cooking.
6. Oman is situated on the Arabian Gulf, so there is an abundance of seafood available to the diner. Which of these fish would you most commonly find in Omani restaurants?

Answer: Kingfish

Technically, if you could spot that the incorrect answers are all freshwater fish, then you should have easily been able to pick kingfish as a fish regularly served in Oman. Known as kana'd, the kingfish is sometimes prepared in a mashwai. The entire fish is dressed and then roasted over an open pit. Before roasting, the fish is marinated in an assortment of herbs and spices.

After cooking, the kana'd is served over a blend of rice and herbs with a healthy squeeze of lemon and lime.
7. During Omani festivals, special meals are prepared which are not typical during non-festival months. With which style of cooking would marinated meats be wrapped in banana leaves and buried beneath the ground in fiery pits?

Answer: Shuwa

All of the incorrect answers are not cooking techniques, but different regions around the country of Oman. Preparing food in the style of shuwa requires the meat, usually a cow or goat, to be marinated in a vinegary brine solution enriched with coriander, cardamom, red pepper, garlic, cumin and turmeric. Pits are dug underground and hot embers are dropped in.

The meat, wrapped in the banana or date leaves, is dropped into the pits and then sealed so that the smoke is contained. The concealed smoke sears in all the flavors and juices in the meat during cooking. Once a couple days has passed, the pits are opened, the sacks are unwrapped and the entire community partakes in the tender, succulent, roasted meat.

This communal event is typically held after the end of the month long fast known as Ramadan.
8. Because Oman is a Muslim country, most of the citizens do not consume alcoholic beverages. Fruit juices, flavored waters, colas and yogurt drinks are the drinks of choice for most Omani people. Karkade is a tea that can be served either hot or cold and is found in many areas of Oman as a healthy alternative to colas. From which flower is karkade brewed?

Answer: Hibiscus

Karkade is certainly not native to Oman, people drink hibiscus teas all over the world. Karkade is often served at traditional wedding ceremonies and at other celebrations. Hibiscus teas are rich in minerals and vitamins which assist in the lowering of elevated blood pressures and reduces the risks of diabetes. Sometimes hibiscus tea is flavored with mint or lemon.
9. Oman is a land of nomadic people. Many tribes of people move from place to place which makes preparing meals difficult. Maqdeed is a type of food particularly valuable to these wandering groups. What is maqdeed?

Answer: Dried meats

Maqdeed is specially dried meat which can be carried with the travelers which does not require refrigeration and can be stored for long periods of time. In addition to the maqdeed, these nomadic people will also carry other items that do not require cold storage or special handling. Nuts, fruits, berries and similar items are typically staples for these travelers.
10. Much like the rest of the world, the Omani people enjoy something sweet after their nightly meal. Which of these desserts could you find served after a traditional Arab meal?

Answer: Halwa

One of my favorite things to eat after supper is a treat called halwa. Halwa is a sweet food resembling a cross between jello and pudding. Almonds, pistachios or various fruits are sometimes put in halwa for flavoring.
The three incorrect answers are Arabic words for some common phrases in Arabic. Marhaban means hello, shukran means thank you and ahlan means welcome.
Source: Author ralzzz

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Bruyere before going online.
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