SHARJAH, UAE- Palestinian chef Salam Daqqaq brought the flavours and memories of home cooking to the 45th Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF 2026), preparing traditional chicken maqlouba during her live demonstration, ‘Palestinian Flavours, Family Stories’, at Expo Centre Sharjah.
Known for her commitment to preserving traditional Palestinian cuisine and sharing its stories with a wider audience, Daqqaq took visitors through the preparation of one of the region’s most recognisable dishes, reflecting on how recipes passed down through generations preserve family memories, cultural identity and a sense of belonging.
She began by heating olive oil and ghee before browning a whole chicken cut into four pieces. After removing the chicken, she fried sliced onions, followed by garlic, green chillies and chopped tomatoes.
In a separate bowl, she mixed soaked rice with a traditional seven-spice blend and salt, then layered it over the onion and tomato mixture. The chicken pieces and fried cauliflower formed the next layer, followed by more rice and water.
The pot was left to simmer over low heat for 30 minutes, then covered with a traditional cloth known as a boqja and allowed to rest for another 15 minutes.
In the final step, Daqqaq turned the contents onto a serving platter, revealing the layers of chicken, rice and cauliflower, before garnishing the dish with fried mixed nuts. She served it alongside a fresh cucumber and tomato salad.
Beyond the culinary demonstration, Daqqaq shared insights into her professional journey, including her decision to pursue her passion for cooking later in life. Her story reflects a determination to turn a personal passion into a successful culinary career, encouraging women in the audience to pursue their ambitions and embrace new opportunities.
Daqqaq is the chef-owner of Dubai-based restaurants Bait Maryam and Sufret Maryam, both recognised with Michelin Bib Gourmand distinctions. Through her restaurants, she has built a reputation for bringing authentic Middle Eastern and Palestinian home cooking to the dining scene, with an approach that places family traditions, generous hospitality and the stories behind each dish at its heart.
Her participation at SIBF highlighted the connection between food, storytelling and cultural heritage, demonstrating how culinary traditions can preserve a community’s identity while introducing its stories to new audiences.
Organised by the Sharjah Book Authority, the 45th Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF 2026) runs from November 4 to 15 at Expo Centre Sharjah under the theme ‘Made of Stories’, with the Sultanate of Oman as Guest of Honour. The fair brings together 3,212 publishers and exhibitors from 126 countries, showcasing more than 1.7 million titles. Its programme features 1,500 cultural, creative and artistic events, with 106 guests from 25 countries.
