The 20 most famous dishes of Oman
Omani cooking is of the sea and the mountains, built on fish, rice, dates and spices from Zanzibar and India, famous for shuwa, Omani halwa and cardamom coffee.
1Omani Shuwa
Lamb or goat rubbed with a red spice paste, wrapped in palm fronds and buried in a pit of embers for one or…
2Omani Qabouli
Rice with chicken or lamb, chickpeas, caramelised onion, Omani spices and raisins — rich and fragrant.
3Mashuai
Whole spit-roasted kingfish served with lemon rice — a time-honoured coastal dish.
4Mishkak
Small skewers of meat marinated in tamarind, garlic and spices, grilled over coals on Eid nights and in…
5Arsiya
Rice and chicken beaten with ghee and cardamom into a porridge — for Eid and weddings.
6Omani Harees
Wheat and meat cooked for hours, served at Ramadan and Eid with ghee.
7Omani Halwa
A dark, glossy sweet of starch, brown sugar, ghee, saffron, cardamom and rose water, served with coffee in…
8Omani Kahwa
Omani coffee with cardamom and rose water, served with dates and halwa — part of Arabic coffee on UNESCO's…
9Paplou (Fish Soup)
A clear fish soup with turmeric, dried lime, garlic and chili, served with rice.
10Maqdeed
Salted, sun-dried meat prepared after Eid and later cooked with onion and tomato.
11Khubz Rakhal
Omani paper-thin bread cooked on a hot griddle, eaten with honey or eggs.
12Sakhana
A sweet soup of wheat, dates and milk, eaten in Ramadan.
13Omani Lokhemat
Cardamom dough balls fried and dipped in date syrup or honey.
14Omani Shawarma
Chicken shawarma with hot sauce, toum and fries — Oman is known for its generous style.
15Omani Madrouba
Rice and chicken cooked with spices into a porridge — a comforting Ramadan meal.
16Omani Kingfish Curry
Kingfish curry with coconut, tamarind and spices, showing clear Zanzibari and Indian influence.
17Omani Biryani
Chicken or lamb biryani with yoghurt, spices and saffron — very common in homes and restaurants.
18Omani Majboos
Rice with Omani spices and dried lime with meat, served in homes on Fridays.
19Khubz with Mahyawa
Thin bread spread with mahyawa and egg — breakfast on the Batinah coast.
20Al Owaal (Dried Shark)
Traditionally salted and sun-dried shark, soaked and cooked with onion, tomato, spices and lemon, served with…