The following highlights some of the popular Traditional Omani Foods. If you manage to be in an Omani restaurant or you are visiting Oman, I recommend the following:
1. Mushaltat
A well-known delicacy in Oman is Mushaltat, which is a soft flatbread filled with honey, meat, spinach or cheese. The bread is made from refined wheat flour and kneaded into thin cakes, filled with the ingredients and baked for about 5 minutes, making it a quick dish.
2. Shawarma
Shawarmas are popular sandwiches found on the streets of almost every Middle Eastern country. This tasty sandwich consists of meat marinated in spices, wrapped in pita bread. Often eaten with chips or garlic paste, shawarmas are made fresh at street stalls in Oman and eaten hot.
3. Shuwa
Shuwa means grilled meat in Arabic. It is a favourite dish in Oman often prepared for special occasions such as Eid. The process of cooking the Shuwa dish takes a long time. In fact, Omanis usually prepare the meat on the first day of Eid and eat it on the second or third day. The Shuwa is marinated in Omani spices, then wrapped in banana or palm leaves and placed in an underground sand oven, where it is cooked for one or two days.
4. Mishkak
Also known as kebab, Meshkak is marinated beef, lamb or chicken grilled on sticks. It is usually marinated with different spices, especially curry, and served with Omani bread. This is another special Omani dish that is prepared all over the country, especially during celebrations, and you’ll see it in every restaurant.
5. Mashuai
Mashuai is a tasty fish dish from Oman. It consists of grilled kingfish with a special tasty lemon sauce. With traditional Omani spices, these dishes are delicious and should not be missed on a visit to the country. The dish is served with chopped cashew nuts, lemon juice and curry leaves.
6. Majboos
Also called Kabsa and Makboos, Majboos is a traditional mixed rice dish originating in Saudi Arabia. It is famous in the Arab world especially in the Gulf countries, including Oman. The dish consists of rice, usually basmati, vegetables, meat or chicken and a mixture of spices. It is sometimes served with yoghourt or green salad, traditional bread and tomato sauce.
7. Dates
Palm trees are a very common tree in Oman, which produce great tasty patties, making them the country’s most typical snack, but also one of the most common ingredients in national recipes. Offering this dish is the national symbol of hospitality here. Omani dates come in all kinds, differing in taste, size and colour.
8. Omani Bread
There are several types of Omani bread. One is thick and has a large circular shape. Another is crisp and thin, and is the size of a small circular plate. Most Omanis make their own bread at home, and obviously there are also bakeries, bread is also popular in restaurants served with meals.
9. Halwa
Halwa means dessert in Arabic. However, Halwa is also the name given to Oman’s most famous sweets. It has a strong texture that is thicker than custard. Although Halwa is brown in colour, no chocolate is used in its preparation. Omani Halwa consists of sugar, honey, rose water, eggs, various Omani spices and nuts, which makes it a gelatinous, sticky and sweet snack. Omanis present it on a large plate with several spoons so that guests and visitors can share the delicacy.
10. Laban
Laban means sour milk in Arabic. Omani Laban is made from yoghourt and buttermilk. It is a savoury drink served everywhere in Oman and is usually flavoured with cardamom, mint or cumin.
If you found this list useful, here are some more Traditional Asian Foods to try out on my Pinterest channel.