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.
35 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
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
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
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 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
Hamam Mashwi
Grilled Pigeon
Whole pigeon, seasoned with traditional Saudi spices such as cardamom, cinnamon, and black pepper, often with …
4 net5 total1 fibre70 protein35 fat650 kcal
Kalamari Bil Baharat
Spiced Sautéed Calamari
Squid rings or pieces quickly sautéed in olive oil or ghee with a vibrant mix of Saudi spices, garlic, and a h…
4 net5 total1 fibre45 protein25 fat420 kcal
Kebda Ma'az Mashwi
Grilled Goat Liver Skewers
Tender pieces of goat liver, marinated in a simple blend of spices, lemon juice, and olive oil, then skewered …
4 net5 total1 fibre50 protein28 fat480 kcal
Lahm Mashwi
Grilled Lamb Skewers
Tender cubes of lamb meat, often from the leg or shoulder, marinated simply with onion juice, olive oil, and s…
4 net5 total1 fibre65 protein48 fat700 kcal
Lahm Nashif
Pan-Fried Spiced Lamb/Beef
Tender pieces of lamb or beef, seasoned with Saudi spices, pan-fried until slightly crispy and intensely flavo…
4 net7 total3 fibre70 protein50 fat750 kcal
Rubyan Mashwi
Grilled Prawns/Shrimp
Fresh prawns or shrimp marinated with lemon, garlic, olive oil, and Middle Eastern spices, then grilled on ske…
4 net5 total1 fibre60 protein30 fat550 kcal
Salatit Khudra
Mixed Green Salad
A simple yet fresh salad made with mixed greens, cucumber, and bell peppers, typically dressed with olive oil …
4 net8 total4 fibre3 protein25 fat250 kcal
Samak Salg
Boiled Fish with Spices
Whole or filleted fish gently boiled in a flavorful broth with traditional Saudi spices, onions, and sometimes…
4 net6 total2 fibre60 protein15 fat400 kcal
Aja Bil Khudar
Saudi Omelette with Vegetables
A fluffy, savory omelette or frittata-style dish, generously mixed with finely chopped fresh herbs like parsle…
5 net8 total3 fibre25 protein35 fat450 kcal
Halloumi Mashwi
Grilled Halloumi Cheese
Thick slices of firm, salty halloumi cheese grilled to perfection until golden brown with a slightly crispy ex…
5 net5 total0 fibre25 protein32 fat400 kcal
Kebda Ghanam/Baquar
Sautéed Lamb/Beef Liver
Tender pieces of lamb or beef liver, quickly sautéed with onions, bell peppers, and a blend of aromatic spices…
5 net7 total2 fibre65 protein45 fat700 kcal
Salata Baladi
Arabic Vegetable Salad
A refreshing traditional salad made with finely diced cucumbers, tomatoes, and onions, dressed simply with oli…
5 net10 total5 fibre4 protein30 fat300 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
KAsoon
Marag Lahm Al-As'ad
Spiced Lamb Bone Broth
A deeply nourishing and aromatic bone broth, prepared by slow-simmering lamb bones and meat with a traditional…
4 net5 total1 fibre28 protein30 fat380 kcal
KAsoon
Omelette bil Jibneh (Cheese Omelette)
Plain Cheese Omelette
A simple and satisfying omelette prepared with fresh eggs, generously folded with Arabian cheese (or a suitabl…
4 net4 total0 fibre25 protein38 fat450 kcal
KAsoon
Ra's Ghanam Maslouq
Boiled Goat's Head
A traditional and hearty dish featuring a boiled goat's head, typically seasoned with aromatic spices like bay…
4 net5 total1 fibre70 protein40 fat650 kcal
KAsoon
Salatit Zeitoun
Olive Salad
A refreshing and tangy salad featuring a medley of green and black olives, often combined with finely diced be…
4 net8 total4 fibre2 protein20 fat200 kcal
KAsoon
Haneeth Rubyan
Slow-Roasted Spiced Shrimp
Large, fresh shrimp marinated in a deeply aromatic blend of Yemeni-Saudi spices, then traditionally slow-roast…
5 net6 total1 fibre42 protein32 fat470 kcal
KAsoon
Hashi Harak
Pan-Seared Camel Meat with Spices
A simple and robust dish featuring lean camel meat, cut into small pieces and quickly pan-seared or stir-fried…
5 net6 total1 fibre70 protein35 fat600 kcal
KAsoon
Kabab Meroo (Keto)
Grilled Grouper Kebab
Delicate and flavorful skewers of minced or cubed grouper (Meroo), seasoned with a blend of regional spices, f…
5 net6 total1 fibre45 protein30 fat480 kcal
KAsoon
Kebda bi Dihn
Pan-Fried Liver with Rendered Fat
A deeply traditional dish of thinly sliced lamb or beef liver, quickly pan-fried in rendered animal fat (often…
5 net6 total1 fibre45 protein55 fat680 kcal