Bahraini Foods: 30 Most Popular Bahrain Dishes. Bahrain is renowned for its abundance of date palms, but it is also renowned for its cultural diversity.
This diversity is reflected in the architecture, souvenir shops, and language, as well as its cuisine, which is a combination of traditional and contemporary flavors, providing a balanced and satisfying experience.
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1. Samboosa
This appetizer is a thin pastry dough filled with a variety of fillings, typically in the shape of a triangle. Other fillings may include cheese, meat, or pizza-style.
When fried, it forms a crispy golden pocket. No local restaurant on the island will not serve this appetizer, which can be enjoyed at any time of the day, such as during the morning, afternoon, or evening.
A local experience is to have the Samboosa wrapped in chapati bread, then topped with hot sauce, which is commonly served for breakfast. This combination is commonly found in local chai kark shops throughout the island. – Bahraini Foods
2. Mehyawa
Mehyawa is a Persian-style sauce that is very popular among the locals. It may seem strange when you think about how it is made, but it is one of the most popular dishes in Bahrain.
It is made by fermenting anchovies for a few days, which gives it its unique flavor. Then, it is mixed with spices like anise, cumin, and coriander.
The result is a sauce-like texture that you can drizzle over different dishes. You can find Mehyawa in many bakeries in Bahrain, and it is often served with fresh Iranian bread, which is a thin bread that is like a wafer. – Bahraini Foods
3. Luqaimat
Luqimat dumplings are crunchy, lightly fried, and served with sweet or date syrup on top. This sweet dough is made with a mixture of flour, yeast, and sugar and topped with saffron and cardamom.
It’s the ideal bite-sized dessert that you won’t be able to resist eating. Luqimat is especially popular during Ramadan, but it’s also available year-round in most local restaurants. – Bahraini Foods
4. Machboos
Machboos, a traditional rice dish originating from the Arabian Gulf, is a delectable one-pot dish that is rich in flavor and full of whole spices.
It is simple to prepare and is often served with a salad to provide a balanced and enjoyable meal for the entire family. This article will provide a step-by-step guide to making Machboos. – Bahraini Foods
5. Emmawash
Emmawash is a rice dish made with shrimp cooked in a mixture of Bahrat, Loomi, and a blend of mung beans and lentils. The shrimp are cooked after caramelizing onions.
The beans are added to the mixture, then topped with rice and cooked all together.
This dish is popular during the first holy month of Ramadan, known as Muharram, when the locals cook Emmawash in large quantities and distribute portions free of charge to visitors of Manama. Black-eyed peas and mung beans are also used. – Bahraini Foods
6. Baid Tamat
Recipe
Baid is an Iranian breakfast dish that consists of eggs and Tamat, which is a type of tomato. The eggs and Tamat are fried to perfection, and the dish is usually served with freshly baked Iranian bread or baked beans.
The basic recipe for Baid Tamat calls for only tomatoes and eggs, but many variations may include other fillings such as onion, tomato paste, etc. – Bahraini Foods
7. Khobez Jebn
Recipe
One of the most important things to do in Bahrain is to visit one of the many local bakeries known as Khabaz. These small bakeries can be found all over the island, inside the neighborhoods.
They open their doors at the crack of dawn and start their day by making fresh bread. On their minimal menu, you won’t want to miss out on one of the best Khabaz Bars in Bahrain.
This breakfast is made with bread dough and spreadable cheese, then rolled into a pocket and baked in a clay oven. It’s a simple but delicious breakfast that is always a go-to when you’re looking for a low-cost meal! – Bahraini Foods
8. Kabeb Bahraini
Recipe
This appetizer is not composed of meat or chicken but is instead a vegetarian option that is popular in Bahrain’s cuisine. It is composed of a blend of chickpea flour, ghar masala, eggs, tomato, and onions, and is served in the form of small buns that are fried.
This dish is enjoyed all year round but is particularly popular during Ramadan when it is served for Iftar meals with a side of tangy tamarind sauce. – Bahraini Foods
9. Zenjabari
Recipe
This traditional Bahraini fried bread is not widely available elsewhere on the island. To find it, one must seek out the specialized shops that manufacture it, and Qambar Sweetshop, located in the city of Muharraq, is one of the most renowned.
The dough is composed of flour, yeast, and black sesame and can be served in a variety of ways, including as a sweet treat with powdered sugar on top, or as a savory option with spreadable cheese.
In some cases, the cheese can be topped with hot sauce, making it a popular choice for pairing with Samboosa or Chapati. – Bahraini Foods
10. Balaleet
Recipe
Balaleet is a dish that appeals to those who appreciate a combination of savory and salty flavors. Delicately spiced, the pasta is complemented by either a fried egg or a scrambled egg and is a popular breakfast dish on the island, typically served at breakfast in most local eateries.
The combination of the sweetness of the pasta and the savory saffron flavor of the eggs makes it the ideal carb/protein combo for breakfast, ensuring a full stomach throughout the day. – Bahraini Foods
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11. Nashef
This Indian-inspired dish features deboned lean lamb, which is cooked for an extended period of time to achieve a tender and tender flavor. The meat is then accompanied by onions and tomatoes, which have been seasoned with Indian spices. The meal is typically served with either white rice or freshly baked Iranian bread. – Bahraini Foods
12. Bahraini Halwa
This traditional dessert is thought to be a variant of the traditional Omani Halwa and is also referred to as Shawiter Halwa due to the Shawiter family owning the sweet shops that have been selling it for the past two and a half centuries.
The jelly-like texture of the dessert is achieved by cooking it at high temperatures and stirring it continuously, resulting in a unique and gelatinous texture.
It is traditionally served with a blend of sugar and cardamom, as well as nutmeg and saffron. To ensure a fresh taste, it is often served with an Arabic coffee.
In Bahrain, one can observe the preparation of this traditional sweet at one of the local sweets shops in the city of Muharraq, which uses special tin pots to package it. – Bahraini Foods
13. Keema
This dish, which is inspired by southern Asian cuisine, is composed of minced meat of any kind, such as beef, lamb, or mutton, which is then cooked until browned.
Peas are then incorporated into the meat, and in some cases, a combination of potatoes and tomatoes is also included. This dish can be enjoyed throughout the day, with some people preferring to serve it for breakfast with fried eggs. – Bahraini Foods
14. Ghoozi
Ghoozi has become so popular in Bahrain that it has technically become a local dish. You can get this dish for lunch at most restaurants. It’s a roasted lamb filled with rice, minced meat, nuts, raisins, and spiced rice on a bed of rice. – Bahraini Foods
15. Macaroni Taybeen
Macaroni taybeen literally means “good old macaroni.” It’s a traditional dish that you’ll find at your local market or you can try it at home if you’re visiting.
It’s made with shredded macaroni, minced meat, and tomato paste, mixed with a variety of vegetables (usually peas, carrots, and potatoes, but you can add a dash of dill and dry coriander). In some cases, it’s topped with a creamy cheese sauce called bechamel. – Bahraini Foods
16. Thareed
Thareed is a traditional dish that has its roots in the time of the Prophet. It is a meat and vegetable stew that can be served spread on regular bread or on crispy Regag bread.
You can find Thareed all year round but it is one of the most popular dishes served during the holy month of Ramadan for Iftar. – Bahraini Foods
17. Harees
Haree is a traditional dish that is typically served as an accompaniment to meals during the holy month of Ramadan.
It is composed of coarse wheat mixed with lamb meat and ghee, and cooked for a period of more than eight hours until it has a porridges consistency. It is a popular choice for Iftar meals, as it is served almost daily.
There are various varieties of Haree, particularly between Gulf countries, and some may be flavored with cinnamon and sugar for a sweeter flavor, while others may be made with wheat instead of oats and meat instead of chicken. – Bahraini Foods
18. Tikka
This dish is an ideal choice for those who enjoy grilled chicken or meat. It is typically served at dinner time and is available in two varieties: Yoghurt and Loomi.
The Yoghurt version is marinated overnight and then grilled on the spot, while the Loomi version is coated with a sour loomi marinade. Served with fresh Iranian bread and vegetables, Tikka is an ideal dinner for meat lovers. – Bahraini Foods
19. Samak Safi
Safi is a fish that’s popular in Bahrain, and it’s easy to find around the island. The locals like to fry it in a special sauce of turmeric, pepper, coriander, sumac, and more, then serve it with some plain rice and some fried tomatoes and eggplant. – Bahraini Foods
20. Sharbt Zafran
A popular beverage among locals, this Persian-inspired beverage is renowned for its refreshing, sweet aroma of saffron. It is believed to have a range of health benefits, such as reducing blood pressure, alleviating depression, and more.
Some people even suggest that daily consumption of this beverage can lead to improved skin health. It is best served in a chilled state and can be consumed with any meal throughout the day. – Bahraini Foods