Ma'alooof
Yogurt-Braised Lamb (Served without Rice)
Yes, with a tweak: cRITICALLY, request to omit rice. About 10g net carbs per serving.
What it is
A savory Iraqi dish featuring tender lamb pieces slowly braised in a creamy, tangy full-fat yogurt sauce, seasoned with garlic and fresh mint. The dish is rich and aromatic, and typically served with rice, but can be enjoyed as a keto-friendly main course when the rice is omitted.
Key ingredients
Lamb shoulder or leg (bone-in or boneless), full-fat plain yogurt, garlic, fresh mint, cornstarch (as thickener, must be omitted), salt, pepper, traditional spices.
How to make it keto
CRITICALLY, request to omit rice. Confirm full-fat yogurt is used. Ask if a starch thickener is used in the sauce and request its omission if so.
Say this to the waiter (Arabic)
للمعلوف، من فضلك استغنِ عن الأرز. وتأكد أن اللبن المستخدم كامل الدسم. وإذا كانت الصلصة تحتوي على نشا مثخن، فمن فضلك استغنِ عنه.
For Ma'alooof, please omit the rice. Confirm full-fat yogurt is used. If a starch thickener is used in the sauce, please omit it.
Watch out for
Traditional serving with rice. Lactose from yogurt (if too much sauce is consumed). Potential hidden starch thickeners in restaurant sauces. Some restaurants may use low-fat or sweetened yogurt.
Macros are estimates for a typical serving and vary by restaurant. Confirm ingredients with staff, especially if you have allergies. Our ingredient lists are generated automatically and describe how a dish is typically made.
More on the Iraqi menuAll 262 Iraqi dishes ›
