Bahraini Muhammar (sweet rice)

Recipe No.: G-34

Gulf70 minServes 6

Muhammar, or "aish muhammar", is a sweet rice cooked with date syrup or caramelised sugar, cardamom and ghee, and served in Bahrain with fried or salted fish. Bahrainis balance its sweetness with the sharpness of daqoos, and it is a dish for gatherings and Eid.

Ingredients for Bahraini Muhammar

• For the rice
• 3 cupsbasmati rice, soaked 30 minutes and drained
• ½ cupdate syrup (or ⅓ cup sugar, caramelised)
• 4½ cupshot water
• 3 tbspghee
• 1 tspground cardamom and a pinch of salt
• A pinch ofsaffron steeped in 1 tbsp rose water (optional)
• For the fish
• 1 kgfish (hamour, sobaity or sheri), in fillets or whole
• 4 clovesgarlic, crushed, 1 tsp turmeric and salt
• Oil for frying and lemon
• To serve
• Spicy daqoos and salad

Method

1. In a heavy pot, melt the sugar over low heat until amber if using it, or use the date syrup directly.
2. Add the hot water and stir until dissolved, add the ghee, cardamom and salt and bring to a boil.
3. Add the drained rice and stir once, then boil 5 minutes until the liquid drops below the surface.
4. Sprinkle the saffron and rose water, cover tightly and cook on low 20 minutes, then rest 10 minutes.
5. Season the fish with the garlic, turmeric and salt and fry until golden both sides (4 minutes per side).
6. Serve the sweet rice beside the fish with spicy daqoos and lemon.

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