Saudi keto guide
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156 dishes68 keto as served106 with a photo
Keto friendliness
Saudi cuisine presents a moderate challenge for keto dieters, requiring careful selection and modification due to its reliance on carb-heavy staples.
Top ingredients
Excellent traditional keto ingredients include lamb, goat, chicken, beef, eggs, olive oil, ghee, and a wide array of aromatic spices.
Danger zones
The biggest carb traps are ubiquitous rice (Kabsa, Mandi), various breads (khubz), legumes (foul, hummus), and sugary dates or desserts.
Best for
This cuisine works best for adaptable keto dieters who are comfortable requesting modifications, focusing heavily on grilled meats, and skipping traditional starchy sides.
23 matching dishes
Nikhāʿ al-`Aẓm Mashwi
Roasted Bone Marrow
A rich and decadent dish featuring beef or lamb bone marrow, typically roasted until soft and gelatinous, seas…
0 net0 total0 fibre15 protein90 fat850 kcal
Lisan Ghanam Maslouq
Slow-Cooked Lamb Tongue with Herbs and Lemon
Succulent lamb tongue slow-boiled until exceedingly tender, then typically sliced and dressed with a simple ye…
1 net2 total1 fibre65 protein25 fat500 kcal
Qawarma
Slow-Cooked Preserved Lamb in its Fat
A traditional dish of lamb pieces that have been slow-cooked and preserved in their own rendered fat (ghee or …
1 net1 total0 fibre60 protein60 fat800 kcal
Batarekh
Fish Roe (Sautéed with Olive Oil)
A delicacy of fish roe, typically from mullet or tuna, lightly sautéed with high-quality olive oil, lemon juic…
2 net2 total0 fibre30 protein35 fat450 kcal
Hashi Salg
Boiled Camel Meat with Keto Sides
Tender pieces of camel meat slow-boiled with aromatic spices like bay leaves, cardamom, and cinnamon until exc…
2 net3 total1 fibre90 protein40 fat700 kcal
Mokh Maslouq
Boiled Brain with Spices
A traditional dish of boiled brain (typically lamb or calf) seasoned with simple spices. Naturally high in fat…
2 net3 total1 fibre25 protein55 fat600 kcal
Salata Jarjeer
Rocket Salad
A simple, fresh, and peppery salad made primarily from wild rocket leaves (jarjeer), dressed lightly with good…
2 net4 total2 fibre3 protein15 fat150 kcal
Dajaj Maqli (Keto-Style)
Fried Spiced Chicken (without breading/flour)
Crispy and flavorful chicken pieces marinated in traditional spices and pan-fried or deep-fried without any br…
3 net4 total1 fibre80 protein75 fat950 kcal
Haneeth Lahm
Slow-Roasted Lamb with Keto Sides
Tender, succulent lamb slow-cooked in a traditional pit oven (or modern oven) until it falls off the bone. Sea…
3 net5 total2 fibre80 protein65 fat900 kcal
Langosta Mashwi
Grilled Lobster with Spices and Ghee
Fresh lobster, split and grilled to perfection, seasoned with local spices, and often basted with ghee or clar…
3 net3 total0 fibre70 protein28 fat550 kcal
Maqlooba Lahm
Pan-Fried Spiced Lamb Chunks
Tender lamb chunks that are pan-fried in ghee or olive oil with a fragrant mix of spices, garlic, and minimal …
3 net5 total2 fibre70 protein50 fat750 kcal
Marag Lahm (Keto Style)
Spiced Lamb Broth (Keto Style, No Noodles/Rice)
A rich, aromatic broth made from slow-cooked lamb, often flavored with onions, garlic, and traditional Saudi w…
3 net5 total2 fibre25 protein25 fat350 kcal
Mokh Maqli
Sautéed Lamb Brains with Lemon and Garlic
A delicacy featuring tender lamb brains, often lightly seasoned and pan-fried or sautéed. It's typically dress…
3 net4 total1 fibre30 protein55 fat650 kcal
Rubyan Maqli (Keto Style)
Pan-Fried Spiced Shrimp (with Keto Sides, No Rice)
Fresh shrimp seasoned with garlic, lemon, and Middle Eastern spices, pan-fried quickly until tender and flavor…
3 net4 total1 fibre45 protein35 fat550 kcal
Sahawik (Spicy Saudi Condiment)
Spicy Saudi Chili Condiment
A vibrant and fiery Saudi condiment, typically made from fresh green or red chilies, tomatoes, garlic, and fre…
3 net5 total2 fibre2 protein10 fat100 kcal
Samak Maqli (Keto Style)
Pan-Fried Spiced Fish Fillet (with Keto Sides, No Rice)
Fresh fish fillet (e.g., Hamour, Najil) lightly seasoned with Middle Eastern spices (cumin, coriander, turmeri…
3 net5 total2 fibre60 protein50 fat700 kcal
Samak Mashwi
Grilled Fish
A whole fish (e.g., hammour, snapper, seabream) or large fillets, marinated simply with lemon, garlic, olive o…
3 net5 total2 fibre60 protein40 fat600 kcal
KAsoon
Dhab Mashwi
Grilled Spiny-tailed Lizard
A very traditional desert dish, Dhab (spiny-tailed lizard) is a prized meat, often grilled whole or in pieces …
1 net1 total0 fibre65 protein20 fat480 kcal
KAsoon
Wabra Mashwi
Grilled Rock Hyrax
Similar to Dhab, Wabra (Rock Hyrax) is another desert delicacy, prepared by grilling the meat after it's been …
1 net1 total0 fibre60 protein18 fat450 kcal
KAsoon
Shuqdan Mashwi
Grilled Camel Hump Fat
A unique Saudi delicacy featuring thick slices of camel hump fat, typically seasoned simply with salt and blac…
2 net2 total0 fibre18 protein100 fat950 kcal
KAsoon
Beidh bil Ghee wal Baharat (Scrambled Eggs with Ghee and Spices)
Scrambled Eggs with Ghee and Spices
A straightforward and flavorful breakfast dish featuring fresh eggs gently scrambled with a generous amount of…
3 net3 total0 fibre28 protein45 fat520 kcal
KAsoon
Jibneh Arabieh
Plain Arabic Cheese
A traditional, semi-hard, white, brined cheese commonly made from sheep, goat, or cow's milk. It has a salty, …
3 net3 total0 fibre25 protein28 fat350 kcal
KAsoon
Shorbat Lahm Saffi
Clear Lamb Broth
A light and comforting clear broth made from slow-simmered lamb bones and meat, seasoned subtly with whole spi…
3 net3 total0 fibre25 protein15 fat250 kcal