The tiny island of Bahrain may fool people with its size as it packs a wild ride for foodies and travelers who want to explore new mouth-watering delicacies.
Due to its geographical location, situated on the western shores of the Persian Gulf, Bahrain, a tiny island was considered to be a very important seaport and junction in ancient times. This created the presence of different communities on the island which as a result have influenced the culture, cuisine, and heritage of the Bahrainis. Over the course of time, this amalgamation of various cultures and communities has become an integral part of the island. The clear influence can be explored not only through books or the internet, but it can be explored through taste buds too. In this blog, some of the most famous and traditional dishes of Bahraini cuisine are mentioned for readers to check out.
- Samboosa
Whenever the thought of a light snack arises, the name samosa is the first one to pop into people’s minds. This very homely and friendly pocket of nostalgia is actually not from India at all. This small pouch of delightful flavors might be the go-to snack for every Indian but it originally came from Bahrain where it is called Samboosa. Similar to a samosa, these thin dough pastries are filled with stuffing of minced meat or veggies and deep fried till golden and crispy. It is by far the most common and locally available snack in this region.
- Machboos
Sort of like a long-distance cousin of today’s biryani, Machboos is a famous rice dish that is cooked with meat or chicken. A special blend of spices called Bahrat along with dried lime called Loomi is thrown into the mix which creates an explosion of flavors when eaten. The process of cooking is a bit similar to biryani, as the rice, chicken, or meat is cooked together which gives a unique flavor to the rice. In Bahrain, this dish is generally served with a side sauce called Daqoos which is a green chili-based sauce.
- Showaiter Halwa or Bahraini Halwa
This delectable dessert goes by different names but mainly as Showaiter Halwas as the family that has been running the shop where this dessert is sold for the past hundred and five years is from the Showaiter family. The mixture is gelatinous in nature as it is continuously stirred while cooking to attain that texture. Spices like cardamom, nutmeg, and saffron along with sugar are cooked together to get the required heavenly taste. The best way to cherish this delicacy is with a sip of original Arabic coffee. Foodies or travelers can experience the making of this dish while visiting Muharraq city.
- Balaleet
What is better than getting the taste of both the world of sweet and spicy? Nothing. So when experiencing this heavenly dish one can get the taste of the sweet and mildly spiced vermicelli pasta topped with slightly salty, fried, or scrambled egg. Both of the different taste creates a unique balance of flavor in the mouth for which it is one of the most famous traditional dishes of Bahrain. The protein and carb-packed dish is enough to make people feel full and give a boost of energy for the day which is why it is usually served as breakfast in this region.
- Harees
This is one of the most traditional dishes of Bahrain with a consistency like porridge or gruel. The dish is a mixture of roughly cracked wheat or boiled cracked wheat with meat, usually lamb, a blend of spices, and ghee or butter. The cooking process is a lengthy one in this case as it is cooked for about eight hours for the meat to dissolve completely in the mixture. It is mainly served at the time of Ramadan with either rice or freshly baked bread as a part of Iftar meals. Some have added a twist to this traditional dish by replacing wheat with oats and lamb with chicken which has not taken away the mouth-watering flavors of the dish at all.
- Thareed
This dish hits home for most of the Bahrainis as it is considered to be served at the times of the prophet. This is a simple-looking stew made with meat and vegetables and served as a spread on normal bread or crispy bread also known as Regag. This homely stew is one of the staple foods finding its place in the local shops and restaurants but generally, it is served during the month of Ramadan and is often served as a part of the Iftar meals.
- Emmawash
This dish is more like the closest cousin of Machboos, as it has the same process of cooking and the same blend of spices but instead of meat or chicken cooked with rice, this dish consists of luscious prawns as its protagonist. Onions are cooked till perfectly caramelized before throwing the prawns in to soak the flavors. Apart from prawns, black-eyed peas, mung beans, and lentils are also incorporated into this dish. Emmawash is mainly cooked in the first month of the Islamic calendar in huge batches to be given away portion for free to the visitors of the capital Manama.
- Baid Tamat
Egg is by far the most common and important ingredient to cook when it comes to breakfast and Bahrain is not an exception. The name of this delightful breakfast dish translates to egg tomato as baid means egg and tamat means tomato. Might be the most simple of all the dishes on this list but when fried together with a little bit of salt and pepper it can easily make people drool all over the place. Creativity plays an important role in uplifting this traditional dish. The addition of onions or other fillings can make this humble dish a diva.
- Sharbat Zafran
The influence of different cultures is not only found in solid food items available in Bahrain but it is also clear in the drinks served in this region. Sharbat is a traditional beverage that brings with itself the undeniable influence of Persia and tastes best when served chilled. The drink consists of a concentrated mixture of saffron and sugar, sometimes topped with a lemon edge to give it a kick and balance. This drink is believed to have medicinal benefits like controlling depression, keeping up low blood pressure, and a factor causing glowing skin if consumed daily. The drink can be a part of every meal in general but most of the time is consumed to break the fast during the month of Ramadan.
- Khabees
Another dessert from this region is the old and traditional dish called Khabees. Making a dessert is not always hassle-free, but when it comes to this sweet breakfast dessert, from professional chef to amateur cook, anybody can stir up this delectable heavenly delight with just wheat flour and oil or ghee. The toasted wheat flour is the main ingredient in this dessert so toasting it to perfection is a must. It can either make or break the Khabeesa.
This list of holding only ten of the most famous traditional dishes of Bahrain can never do justice to the wide range of flavors this tiny piece of land has to offer. The plethora of different cultures like Sumerian, British, Arab, Persian, and Babylonian has contributed hugely to the vast display of flavors of this region. Travelers, foodies, and vloggers from all over the world just like in ancient times have been visiting this land of utterly tantalizing and appetizing cuisine.
