Saudi keto guide
Navigable
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.
34 matching dishes
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
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
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
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
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
Dajaj Salg
Boiled Chicken with Spices
Tender chicken pieces (often bone-in and skin-on for flavor) boiled in a rich, spiced broth with onions, garli…
6 net8 total2 fibre70 protein38 fat650 kcal
Kalamari Mashwi (Grilled Calamari)
Grilled Calamari with Lemon and Herbs
Tender calamari (squid) rings or tubes, often marinated lightly and then grilled to perfection, seasoned with …
6 net8 total2 fibre50 protein40 fat550 kcal
Khusyan Mashwi
Grilled Lamb Testicles
A delicacy in Saudi cuisine, lamb testicles are marinated in a tangy blend of lemon juice, garlic, and aromati…
6 net7 total1 fibre58 protein52 fat710 kcal
Kofta Mishwiya
Grilled Ground Meat Skewers (Kofta Kebab)
Ground lamb or beef (or a mix) mixed with finely chopped onions, parsley, and spices, then shaped onto skewers…
6 net8 total2 fibre70 protein55 fat750 kcal
Shish Tawook
Grilled Chicken Skewers
Succulent cubes of chicken breast or thigh, marinated in a flavorful blend of yogurt, lemon juice, garlic, and…
6 net8 total2 fibre70 protein40 fat650 kcal
Kibda Dajaj (Sautéed Chicken Liver)
Sautéed Chicken Liver with Onions and Bell Peppers
A flavorful and rich dish of pan-fried chicken liver, typically sautéed with onions, bell peppers, garlic, and…
7 net12 total5 fibre50 protein50 fat680 kcal
Muqalqal Dajaj
Spiced Chicken Stir-fry
Diced chicken pieces quickly stir-fried with onions, bell peppers, tomatoes, and a blend of traditional Saudi …
7 net10 total3 fibre55 protein38 fat600 kcal
Muqalqal Rubyan
Sautéed Shrimp with Tomatoes and Peppers
A flavorful stir-fry of fresh shrimp with diced tomatoes, bell peppers, onions, and traditional Saudi spices. …
9 net12 total3 fibre55 protein55 fat750 kcal
Muqalqal Samak
Spiced Fish Stir-fry
A quick and flavorful stir-fry of diced fish fillets (e.g., hammour, tuna) with onions, bell peppers, tomatoes…
9 net14 total5 fibre55 protein38 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
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
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
KAsoon
Samak Hanith
Slow-Cooked Spiced Fish
A whole or large cuts of fish (such as Kingfish or Hamour) traditionally slow-cooked, often in a tightly seale…
6 net8 total2 fibre52 protein42 fat580 kcal
KAsoon
Kibda Hashi Qaliya
Camel Liver Stir-fry
A regional specialty, featuring tender pieces of camel liver quickly stir-fried with onions, garlic, and a ble…
7 net10 total3 fibre60 protein40 fat620 kcal
KAsoon
Mirq Al-Lahm al-Bayda
White Lamb Stew
A clear and savory lamb stew, distinct from tomato-based stews. Lamb chunks (often bone-in) are slow-cooked wi…
7 net10 total3 fibre50 protein60 fat750 kcal
KAsoon
Qalb wa Gunas bil Dajaj (Sautéed Chicken Hearts and Gizzards)
Sautéed Chicken Hearts and Gizzards
A flavorful and protein-rich dish of chicken hearts and gizzards, sautéed with sliced onions, bell peppers, ga…
7 net10 total3 fibre55 protein48 fat680 kcal
KAsoon
Qassab Maglyah
Sautéed Mixed Offal (Lamb/Goat)
A robust and traditional pan-fried dish featuring a medley of fresh lamb or goat offal, typically including li…
7 net10 total3 fibre48 protein58 fat720 kcal
KAsoon
Muqalqal Kibda Dajaj
Sautéed Chicken Livers with Onions and Bell Peppers
A vibrant and quick stir-fry of tender chicken livers cooked with finely sliced onions, colorful bell peppers,…
8 net11 total3 fibre42 protein35 fat500 kcal