Considered the national dish of Kuwait, machboos laham combines basmati rice and meat with a mixture of fried onions, raisins, and yellow split peas. The dish is typically made with pieces of lamb, chicken, or fish which are flavored with various spices such as cardamom, cinnamon, turmeric, cloves, pepper, and ginger.

Traditionally, the spiced rice is cooked in the aromatic and flavorful broth in which the meat has been cooked, which infuses the dish with even more flavor. The succulent pieces of meat are combined with the fried onions, raisins, and yellow split peas, and they are then served atop a bed of fluffy rice, usually drizzled with saffron-infused water as a final touch.

This dish is typically enjoyed at family gatherings and on special occasions such as Kuwait National Day.