10 Best Traditional Foods To Try In Oman

1. Madrouba (porridge with chicken and rice)

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Omani madrouba is a hot and spicy porridge with chicken and rice, which is prepared by mashing after being cooked for a long time. Madrouba means beaten rice. It contains wonderful spices, such as cumin, turmeric, ginger, cloves, garlic, black pepper, and cinnamon. A distinctive aroma fills the kitchen as this Middle Eastern porridge simmers on the stove. Adding cardamom-flavored ghee and fried onions is a game changer. The result? A delicious bowl of comfort food. It is best eaten when hot and garnished with fresh limes. In some parts of the country, madrouba is also called kabsa, makboos, or majboos, which is still made with the same ingredients: rice, vegetables, meat, and spices.

2. Mashuai (spit-roasted kingfish)

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A traditional Omani dish, mashuai is usually prepared with kingfish. The fish is abundant in Oman’s coastal waters, and locals call it “kanad.” It is marinated for at least three hours with oil and spices. Usually, these spices include garlic paste, cumin, turmeric, cardamom, black pepper, and nutmeg. Lemon juice is also added for a citrus flavor. Other ingredients, such as ground coriander seeds, salt, ginger, and cinnamon, are optional. Then the fish is roasted over a charcoal grill or baked in a pre-heated oven at 200 degrees for 20 minutes. The dish is served over a bed of Omani lemon rice with cashews on the side.

3. Omani halwa (sweet jelly dessert)

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The Omani halwa is considered the national dessert of the country. Halwa, in Arabic, means sweet. Cooking halwa is challenging because it involves a lot of stirring in a very large copper pot called mirjnl. Some halwa recipes remain a secret and are only shared among families to preserve their original taste. This beloved sweet is made with farina and almonds, rose water, caramelized sugar, saffron, cardamom, and butter. It comes in three colors: brown, yellow, and white. It differs in taste depending on the ingredients used and is usually served in small bowls and cups with kahwa (coffee) for birthday celebrations, weddings, funerals, and Ramadan. You can find it at souks, which are traditional marketplaces.

4. Shuwa (slow-cooked lamb or goat)

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One of the favorite recipes of Omanis is shuwa (or “chauwa”). It means grilled meat in Arabic. It is a slow-cooked marinated goat or lamb that is often made during Eid al-Fitr and other festive occasions. Locals usually prepare the meat from lamb, goat, cow, or camel on the first day of Eid. They marinate the meat with Omani spices and a special date paste, wrap it in sacks made of banana leaves, and then roast it in a special underground sand oven, which makes the cooking process quite unique. Shuwa meat is one of the flavorful and fall-off-the-bone dishes. Moreover, making shuwa is a communal activity that a village engages in and eats after two days.

5. Harees (crushed wheat and meat)

Harees is another popular traditional food eaten during festive events and Ramadan. It is also known as hareesha, jahreesa, or harisa. Other Arab cultures have different versions of this dish, but Omanis prefer to eat it with dry fruits, chicken, and barista. It is easy to digest, as it is made from wheat in salted water for a few hours and stirred with a masad masr (wooden spoon) in a pot called “mash pan” until it becomes a thick paste. Chicken or lamb is added and cooked for another four hours. It is usually served with boiled barley or a combination of barley and wheat.

6. Kabouli (chicken and rice dish)

Kabouli is one of Omani’s popular traditional rice dishes, which is similar to biryani (an Indian mixed rice dish). It is also known as chicken kabouli or qabooli and eaten as a main dish for lunch. It consists of aromatic basmati rice with pieces of chicken and an Omani masala blend of ground or whole spices, such as cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, and coriander. The chicken is usually boiled with different spices and then fried. The dish is often garnished with a mix of saffron, dates, chickpeas, potatoes, sultana raisins, and nuts, such as almonds. It is traditionally served on a large metal tray, topped with meat and enjoyed among families or groups of friends on Fridays after their midday prayers.

7. Halawet ahmad (noodle dessert)

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Noodles for dessert? Omanis love having sweet noodles for dessert, and it is called halawet ahmad. It is a customary Omani dessert, which means ahmad pastry or ahmad sweets. It is made by melting butter on a sauce pan and then mixed with roasted vermicelli noodles, condensed milk, sugar, desiccated coconut, and almond powder. After being mixed with these ingredients, it is sautéd until slightly golden over medium heat and shaped into dome-like molds or a nest-like shape. Sometimes, colored vermicelli noodles are used for a splash of color instead of the plain ones. This unique dessert can be found across Middle Eastern countries and is served with almonds or crushed pistachios on top.

8. Omani paplou soup (fish soup)

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Paplou soup is a dish for seafood lovers in the coastal area of Oman. It is a fish or seafood soup often made with tuna and has a a wonderful citrus flavor that balances out the heat. Sometimes, tuna roe, shellfish, and other types of fish are used. Fresh lime juice and dried lime are added to the soup. However, the dried lime is not consumed before serving, and it should be removed. The soup is best eaten when hot. It is also served with basmati rice and garnished with cilantro and wedges of lime. Cayenne or chili is added for a spicy flavor.

9. Mishkak (grilled beef, chicken, or mutton)

Originating from Oman, mishkak or kebab, is a marinated beef, chicken, or mutton skewered on sticks and grilled according to your taste. To prepare this dish, the meat is sliced into small pieces and marinated with various spices and herbs, such as cardamom, ginger, black pepper, cloves, and cumin. The skewered meat must not be grilled too long to avoid ruining its taste. Once grilled to perfection, you can dip the meat with chili sauce or spicy tamarind sauce and accompany it with salad. Another way to enjoy mishkak is to put it on warm bread or pair it with rice for lunch or dinner.

10. Laban (yogurt and buttermilk drink)

Laban is a special blend of buttermilk and yogurt. In Arabic, laban means sour milk; it is a generic term for yogurt. In Oman, it is a salty drink or yogurt drink that comes in different flavors. Popular flavors of this drink contain pistachios, mint, cumin, cardamom. Laban is an essential drink during the holy month of Ramadan. It is known as “an army of drinks” since Omanis drink it to take a break from daily fasting during Ramadan. They start with a few dates and water. Then they slowly ease themselves into eating food and have some yogurt drinks. This helps prepare their bodies for solid food after a day of fasting. Omanis also use yogurt as dressing for their salad.

Feast on Omani dishes

Omani food is savory, flavorful, and packed with different kinds of herbs and spices. Most of these traditional dishes are served during special occasions, such as family gatherings, and during Ramadan. Learning about each kind of dish is enough to make anyone want to try or crave mouthwatering meat with rice and lovely sweets.