Rita Kahawaty has just launched a new health food concept with her daughter, model and humanitarian Jessica Kahawaty.
Mama Rita boasts an international menu that reflects the multiculturalism of the city of Dubai. Expect Arabic, Italian, African, Venezuelan, Russian and French-inspired dishes on the menu.
All the food at Mama Rita’s is healthy and hearty. Here, Kahawaty explains some of the dishes that inspired her menu
Peanut Butter with Chicken and Rice
This recipe is incredibly special to me as it was passed down from my maternal aunt who lived in Sierra Leone, Africa. She adopted a very sweet African girl and together they moved to Lebanon. She learnt many recipes from her time in Africa and one of them was the delicious peanut butter chicken and rice dish.
Grandma’s meat pastries
My mother Nahil was very special to me. She taught me everything I know about cooking and one of the most delicious things she made was the meat pastries with tahini, pine nuts and tomatoes inside. They make such a delicious starter and my kids thoroughly enjoy these pastries, eating so many of them fresh and warm from the oven.
Cannelloni
This is a family favourite – especially for my children Jessica and Julien. They ask for it all the time but takes a long time to create as I make it from scratch. I make individual savoury pancakes rolled with a white bechamel filling inside, topped with meat cooked in red sauce and a side of steamed vegetables.
Frangipane with almonds
This sweet treat can be enjoyed for breakfast or dessert. Layers of puff pastry hug the special almond mix inside. One of my close friends Pascale passed this recipe onto me. She’s a wonderful woman and makes the most delicious desserts.
Fruit Paradise
This fruit snack is a very popular snack from my beloved Lebanon. I wanted to incorporate a feeling of nostalgia into my menu, for those who have visited Lebanon and had the famous fruit snack. I added mango and avocado puree to it and, finishing it off with soaked nuts on top. It’s best eaten whilst enjoying your favourite movie during a relaxing evening at home.
