The 20 most famous dishes of Bahrain
Bahrain's cuisine is an island of flavours: Gulf fish, spiced rice and the famous Bahraini halwa, with Indian and Persian influences from centuries of trade and pearling.
1Bahraini Machboos
Bahrain's national dish: rice with spices and dried lime with chicken, fish or lamb, served with daqoos.
2Muhammar
Sweet rice with sugar or date syrup, saffron, cardamom and rose water, traditionally served with fried fish.
3Bahraini Halwa
A glossy starch sweet with sugar, ghee, saffron, cardamom and nuts — Bahrain's most famous gift and symbol of…
4Ghoozi
Whole lamb or leg stuffed with rice and nuts and slow-roasted — the great banquet dish.
5Bahraini Mutabbaq Samak
Rabbitfish or grouper over rice cooked in spiced fish stock with coriander.
6Fried Safi Fish
Gulf rabbitfish seasoned with turmeric and pepper and fried crisp — muhammar's companion.
7Bahraini Harees
Wheat and meat beaten smooth and topped with ghee, sugar and cinnamon.
8Bahraini Thareed
Regag with lamb stew, pumpkin and potatoes — the Ramadan staple.
9Bahraini Jireesh
Cracked wheat cooked with chicken and tomato, topped with crisp onions.
10Bahraini Balaleet
Sweet saffron vermicelli with egg — Friday breakfast.
11Bahraini Khanfaroosh
Fried saffron-cardamom cakes, a traditional festive sweet.
12Bahraini Chebab
Saffron and cardamom pancakes served with date syrup and cheese.
13Bahraini Nakhi
Chickpeas cooked with cumin and lemon, sold on Ramadan nights.
14Bahraini Bajilla
Dried fava beans boiled with salt and cumin — a popular snack.
15Bahraini Samboosa
Vegetable or meat samosas with Indian spices — a legacy of trade with India.
16Bahraini Saloona
A Gulf-spiced stew of vegetables and meat.
17Bahraini Khubz
Large tannour bread with sesame, baked each morning in the old neighbourhoods.
18Bahraini Mahyawa
Fermented fish sauce eaten with bread and egg at breakfast.
19Gahwa (Arabic Coffee)
Lightly roasted Arabic coffee with cardamom and saffron, poured into small cups with dates — the symbol of…
20Bahraini Luqaimat
Fried dough balls with date syrup, present at every Bahraini Ramadan majlis.