Oman

A staple during the month of Ramadan in numerous Middle Eastern countries is a plate of jareesh, a satisfying meal which combines coarse wheat and meat. This centuries-old dish probably originated in Saudi Arabia, but has since spread throughout the entire Middle East and India. Numerous... Read more

This internationally known, decadent, and sugar-packed dessert is usually made with a mixture of flour, sugar, yeast, and salt, which is deep-fried and then bathed in syrup or honey. The origin of lokma fritters is ancient but often debated. It is presumed that they first appeared in Greece or Tu... Read more

Often dubbed as the national dish of Oman, shuwa is usually prepared with bone-in cuts of lamb or goat meat, or occasionally beef or camel. The meat is coated in a spice blend that typically combines chili peppers, cardamom, cloves, cumin, or coriander. It is traditionally wrapped in banana or pa... Read more

Kabsa is a rice dish that is enjoyed throughout the Gulf States of the Arabian Peninsula. Heavily influenced by Persian and Indian biryanis, kabsa makes use of the water that was used for cooking fish or meat and re-using it to cook the spiced, long-grain rice i... Read more

Omani halwa is a gelatinous and sticky sweet that is commonly served at weddings, birthdays, festivities, and during the holy week of Ramadan. The ingredients vary from one halwa-maker to another, but the base is usually made with water, sugar, ghee butter, and cornflour. Halwas can be flavored w... Read more

Hailing from Oman, mishkak is a popular street snack consisting of beef, chicken, or mutton that is marinated, skewered, and grilled to perfection. The meat is cut into bite-sized cubes, which are then typically marinated in a combination of various herbs and spices such as black pepper, cardamom... Read more

Mashuai is a traditional fish specialty made by spit-roasting a whole fish which has been rubbed with oil and spices. Traditionally, this dish is prepared with kingfish, known locally as kanad, which is abundant in the coastal waters of Oman. Typical spices used for flavoring the fish in... Read more

Chicken kabouli, kabuli, or qabooli is a traditional rice dish that is similar to a biryani. It consists of basmati rice that is flavored with an Omani masala blend of whole or ground spices such as cardamom, coriander, cloves, and cinnamon. The aromatic rice is combined with fried onion... Read more

This rice dish is an Omani take on traditional Indian and Persian chicken biryanis. Just like other chicken biryanis, this one also consists of basmati rice mixed with chicken parts (legs or breasts). What makes this dish truly Omani is the use of spices and herbs that are typical of Omani cuisin... Read more

Madrouba is a spicy and comforting Omani and Qatari porridge made with chicken, overcooked rice, and a plethora of flavorings such as turmeric, cumin, cardamom, ginger, cloves, cinnamon, garlic, and black pepper. Variations do exist, though, as there is no fixed recipe. One of the more common is ... Read more

Lokhemat is a traditional sweet originating from Oman. It's made with a mixture of flour and yeast that's flavored with cardamom. The dough is shaped into balls that are deep-fried in hot oil until golden. Once done, lokhemat is served with a syrup based on sweet limes and cardamom. The balls are... Read more

Halawet Ahmad is a traditional dessert, meaning Ahmad dessert or Ahmad sweets. It is made by combining roasted vermicelli, condensed milk, sugar, butter, almond powder, and desiccated coconut. The mixture is typically pressed into molds to acquire a distinctive domed or nest-lik... Read more

Black lemon, also known as loomi, noomi basra, or dried lime, is a popular ingredient in Middle Eastern cuisine. Despite its name, black lemon is actually a dried lime, typically sun-dried or oven-dried until it turns dark brown or black. Black lemons are small, hard, and dark brown to black in c... Read more

Bzar is a traditional and Gulf-region spice blend widely used in the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and other Gulf countries. Typically, Bzar includes cumin, coriander, black pepper, cinnamon, turmeric, and cardamom, with some variations adding cloves, fenugreek, or dried chili peppers for extra war... Read more