10 Authentic Kuwaiti Food Recipes to Try

Kuwaiti cuisines are part of Arabian Peninsula or Khaleeji cuisines that is known to contain meat and rice that are rich in herbs and spices. From main courses like Majboos to dessert like luqaimat.

Kuwaiti food recipes are very similar to those of most Khaleeji countries like Saudi Arabia or the UAE, which makes sense since they share a similar culture. When I was living in Kuwait before, I had the opportunity to try many delicious Kuwaiti foods. Their main dishes contain meat with rice, typically served for either lunch or dinner. Additionally, they are rich in spices and herbs, making their food very aromatic and flavorful.

Kuwaiti cuisine has a rich influence from Indian, Persian, and Mediterranean cultures, which play an important part in their food. These include dishes like Al Faham grilled chicken, found in both India and Arab Gulf countries, and Maqluba, a well-known dish in Jordan and other Levantine countries.

Here are the 10 most delicious Kuwaiti food recipes that you can cook at home.

Chicken Majboos (مجبوس)

Chicken Majboos is a national dish of Kuwaiti which consists of tender chicken cooked with fragrant basmati rice and a blend of aromatic spices. The dish is often garnished with fried onions, and sometime raisins that is traditionally served with daqoos and sometime salads.

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Daqoos (دقوس)

Daqoos or Daqqus is a popular condiment Kuwaiti tomato garlic sauce recipe which is mixed with olive oil, tomatoes, tomato paste, coriander leaves. garlics, and water. This is used as a sauce when serving with biryani or majboos.

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Fish Machboos (مكبوس سمك)

This Fish Machboos, also known as Mutabbaq Samak, is a spiced rice dish garnished with fried onion that is served with fried or grilled Zubaidi fish (white pomfret). Like Majboos, it is traditionally served with daqoos.

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Arabic Biryani (بيرياني دجاج)

Arabic Biryani is a Gulf Arabian chicken spiced rice dish which is mixed with spices and garnished with fried onion that is traditionally served either with yogurt garlic sauce or tomato daqoos sauce.

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Tashreeb (تشريب)

Tashreeb is a Kuwaiti dish consists of chicken cooked in a tomato stew with vegetables. The stew is then served over the bread, which is soaked in the broth of the stew giving a wet and soft texture. This is a popular Ramadan dish that is served during Iftar.

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Al Faham Chicken (دجاج الفحم)

Al Faham Chicken is a traditional Arabian oven grilled chicken that is marinated in yogurt, lemon juice, garlic, ginger, and Middle Eastern spices. It's typically served with rice, salad, or khubz bread, accompanied by traditional sauces like garlic sauce and tahini.

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Awama or Luqaimat (عوامة)

Awama is a Middle Eastern doughnuts which consists of a deep-fried dough balls soaked in sugar syrup. It is traditionally served warm and enjoyed during the Islamic month of Ramadan.

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Arabic Khubz / Kuboos (خبز عربي)

Kuboos, also known as Khubz or Arabic pita bread, is a leavened flatbread that is round in shape and made from whole wheat flour. This type of bread is healthier since it is rich in fiber and is best used to wrap sandwiches such as shawarma, kebab, or falafel.

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Maqluba / Maglooba (مقلوبة)

Maqluba is a traditional Middle Eastern dish consisting of layers of vegetables such as eggplant, potatoes, cauliflower, and tomatoes, along with chicken and rice cooked together in a pot and seasoned with different spices for a richer flavor. Although this is traditionally a Levantine cuisines, it is a popular rice dish among locals in Kuwait

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Margoog (مرقوق)

Margoog is an Arabian stew dish found in the Gulf region, consisting of chicken, vegetables, aromatic spices, and raw dough that is added to the stew. This flavorful dish is found in most Gulf Arab countries including Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

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