Tasting traditional Bahraini food means immersing yourself in a world of different flavours and aromas. In fact, the country’s cuisine is heavily influenced by other Arab countries. In the most popular and tasty dishes, rice shares the limelight with lamb and chicken, all types of fish, all kinds of vegetables and also many spices that are part of the culinary tradition of this small island country.
Nevertheless, Bahrain’s traditional food is not only influenced by its proximity to neighbouring and coastal Middle Eastern countries. Its history also plays a role since the country has been a regular stopover for expeditions linking the peoples of Asia, Africa and Europe since time immemorial. This is noticeable not only in the familiar and generous use of spices and ingredients of faraway lands, but also in recipes prepared in a manner similar to that of places that may seem exotic from a Western standpoint.
Here are some of these dishes, their main ingredients and some tips on how to enjoy them.
Ghouzi
Ghouzi, one of the stars of traditional Bahraini food, is usually eaten during festivities or special celebrations. Nevertheless, increasingly more restaurants are offering it as a regular feature on their menus. It is a whole lamb stuffed with chicken, eggs, rice, onion, the occasional vegetable and a precise vegetable combination. All of this is grilled over a wood fire or in the oven and served in portions shared by as many people as possible.
Shawarma
This is not a specific Bahraini dish but it is shared with other Arab and North African nations that have been conquered at some point in time.
It is a kind of pita bread wrap filled with shredded lamb, chicken or even fish. It is more of an informal meal, but one that should be tried at some point when visiting this small country.
Machboos
This traditional Bahraini food is arguably the national dish. Naturally, at one time or another during the week (or even during the day), it is prepared in every household in the country. Behind it, of course, is a great story: that of the encounter between Persian traders and those from the Indian Peninsula millennia ago. Today, as in the past, offering visitors majboos is one of the highest expressions of hospitality by Bahraini families.
It is essentially a combination of basmati rice with chicken or lamb (or fish), onions, tomatoes, garlic and spices such as turmeric, black lime, coriander seeds, cinnamon sticks and cardamom seeds.
Sambosa
In traditional Bahraini food, sambosas are the equivalent of the well-known fried samosas (or triangular-shaped dumplings) typical of Indian and other Asian cuisines.
In Bahrain, the most popular fillings are chicken, lamb, beef and tuna, accompanied with vegetables and spices such as turmeric and saffron. Cheese-based and vegetarian-only versions of samosas are also available.
Muhammar
Like all other Arab countries, rice cooked with an enormous variety of ingredients has its own version in Bahrain. In this case, roasted or fried fish or roast lamb (usually leg or shoulder) share the limelight with the rice. The most striking and suggestive aspect of this dish is the contrast of flavours since the rice has a sweet touch and is accompanied by the aromas provided by the saffron, cardamom, cloves, rose water and other spices.
Typical desserts from Bahrain
Perhaps the sweetest of all Bahraini desserts is Bahraini halwa, a gelatinous recipe made from cornstarch, saffron, rose water, ghee (a type of clarified butter), sugar and nuts. It is the perfect accompaniment to a cup of coffee and, in Bahraini households, both are a great gesture of hospitality towards visitors.
Also very popular are the ma’amoul, the typical filo pastries filled with dates and nuts and dipped in plenty of honey.
Another of the most common desserts in Bahrain, of course, and one that is easy to find, especially in souks and street stalls, are dates, which are usually filled with cheese and/or nuts.
