~433 cal · 6g protein · 84g carbs · 8g fat (estimated, per serving)
🍽️
Amber sweet rice studded with saffron threads
🇧🇭 Manama
Muhammar is the sweet counterpoint at the heart of a Bahraini table, its rice darkened and perfumed with date molasses, saffron, and cardamom. The island kingdom pairs it with crisp fried fish so the sweet and savory play off each other — a dish that tastes of the Gulf's ancient love of dates.
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🥕 Vegetarian
🌱 Vegan
🌾 Gluten-Free
🥛 Dairy-Free
🥜 Nut-Free
🥚 Egg-Free
Ingredients
Serves 6 —
•
2.5 cups basmati rice, soaked
•
1/2 cup date syrup (dibs) or brown sugar
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a generous pinch saffron, bloomed in warm water
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1 tsp cardamom
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1 tbsp rosewater
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1 stick cinnamon
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3 tbsp ghee or oil
Instructions
1
Parboil the soaked rice in salted water for 6 minutes, then drain.
2
Warm the date syrup with the saffron, cardamom, cinnamon, and rosewater.
3
Fold the syrup gently through the parboiled rice with the ghee or oil.
4
Cover and steam on very low heat 20 minutes until the grains are tender and glossy amber.
5
Serve mounded, traditionally alongside fried or grilled fish.
Manama tradition.
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🌏 While it simmers — know your destination
📍
Manama. A Gulf capital sweet on saffron-and-date rice.
🗺️
Bahrain. A Gulf island kingdom sweet on saffron date rice.
🌍
Asia. From street-cart woks to slow monastery kitchens.
The story behind this dish is up top — worth a read while the pot works.
👩🍳
Richard Moore & Kelsey Tucker
Recipes cooked, tested, and researched by the creators of Spin the Globe. How we build our recipes →
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