Table of Contents

Yemeni Cuisine

Saltah

Considered the national dish, Saltah is a meat stew made with lamb or beef, tomatoes, onions, and a fenugreek froth on top. It is often served with a side of flatbread. 1)

Mandi

A traditional dish of rice, meat (usually lamb or chicken), and a blend of spices, cooked in a special oven called a tandoor, giving it a unique smoky flavor. 2)

Fahsa

A hearty stew made with shredded lamb, mixed vegetables, and hilbeh (fenugreek paste), usually served bubbling hot in a stone pot. 3)

Aseed

A dough-like dish made from wheat or sorghum flour, served with a meat or vegetable broth, and often enjoyed with a spicy tomato sauce. 4)

Zurbian

A fragrant rice dish cooked with meat (lamb or chicken), potatoes, and a blend of spices like saffron, cardamom, and cloves, similar to biryani. 5)

Jachnun

A traditional Jewish-Yemeni bread, rolled and baked overnight at a low temperature, resulting in a sweet, dark, and flaky pastry served with tomato dip and hard-boiled eggs. 6)

Shakshouka

A popular breakfast dish consisting of eggs poached in a spicy tomato sauce with peppers, onions, and cumin, often served with bread. 7)

Haneeth

A traditional dish where meat (usually lamb) is marinated with spices and slow-cooked in a tandoor, making it incredibly tender and flavorful. 8)

Mutabbaq

A stuffed savory pastry, typically filled with spiced minced meat, onions, and herbs, and then fried or baked until crispy. 9)

Sambusa

Yemeni samosas, deep-fried pastries filled with spiced meat, lentils, or vegetables, enjoyed as a snack or appetizer. 10)

Malawah

A flaky, layered flatbread, often served with honey and butter, making it both a savory and sweet delight. 11)

Tharid

A bread-based dish where pieces of flatbread are soaked in a flavorful meat or vegetable broth, often considered comfort food. 12)

Fattah

A dish made from torn pieces of bread soaked in broth or milk, mixed with honey and butter for a sweet version, or with meat and vegetables for a savory version. 13)

Lahm Maraq

A light, flavorful soup made with lamb, tomatoes, and a blend of Yemeni spices, typically served as a starter. 14)

Bint al-Sahn

A traditional Yemeni dessert made from layered pastry dough baked with butter and honey, creating a rich and sweet treat. 15)