Freej Soweileh – Lamb/Mutton Machbous - Kuwaiti Comfort food

I've always been wanting to write about this dish for a long time but probably haven't had the best words to describe it. This is one of our favourite dishes from many years in Kuwait and here's my take on it.

I’m sure most of you in Kuwait have visited this restaurant, but if you haven’t, then this is a must do. Freej Soweileh is an authentic Kuwaiti restaurant serving Kuwaiti food in addition to other Arabic dishes. However the star dish of this restaurant is the Lahamb Machbous or Lamb/mutton Machbous. Kuwait's own amalgamation of rice and meat flavours combined.

Now this is what you would call comfort food. We prefer to get a mega serving of this dish in the comfort of our home, sit in our comfy clothes and gorge on this dish.

I haven’t had anything like this anywhere. The quality of meat is so tender that it melts in your mouth. The long grains of rice slowly passing down your throat, giving you that satisfaction, that magic feeling, making you content. This dish has been cooked by someone who is an expert and has been conjured with some magical ingredients with a method that I have found that no one can replicate. Ofcourse if you have eaten this at Kuwaiti homes, only then you will find superior flavours. However, with no such options any more, Freej Soweileh is our only such source and a great one indeed. I had the priviliege of tasting this dish in my early years when I was employed with a Kuwaiti army man and who would have food coming everyday from his home. Partly one of the reasons for me being so chubby. I have tried many restaurants who tried to replicate this dish, but till date have not found any who could match the same taste. The flavour is so distinct that those who have tasted it will know how I feel. Every time we eat this dish, it has the same taste and consistency.

Other than the Lamb Machbous, they also serve Chicken machbous which for some reason can never match the taste of the Lamb flavours. The fish (Pomfret) Machbous is also pretty good but somehow the quality of the fish is not upto the mark simply because the fish used is frozen. Fresh Pomfrets cost a bomb and I doubt it will be feasible at the price they charge. However it is a very good dish. The machbous is served along with a dish of Dakous which is a tomato based gravy. This may be added to your rice which gives you that free flow down your throat..... Ummm yummmm.. I’m drooling. Also served are condiments like a roughly ground fresh green chilly in oil, a red chilli mix and a garlic and carrot pickle which is sour and delicious.

The other noteworthy dishes are the lamb Kebabs and the Kibbeh which are both stunning. However, we keep off the appetizers as we go only to enjoy the machbous. You can have some soup which is served in a bread bowl and some baba ghanouj which is served in a deep fried crisp dough dish.

I guess this dish may happen again on the weekend. You guys who haven’t tried must if you are in Kuwait.

A sweet desset called Luqaimat is also served along with arabic coffee

A short quick glimpse of the Kitchen

Fish Majboos (Kuwaiti Cuisine)

Everyday morning big question mark??? WHAT TO COOK TODAY????? Either to please your husband, daughter/son, Motherinlaw, Fatherinlaw (My f-i-l- no worries, he will never complain even if there is more salt/less salt or no salt. The thing that matters is the food to fill his stomach) I'm sure this is the biggest problem for all the housewives or whoever is cooking daily.

Well got up this morning removed a packet of Sole fish (leppo), another packet of 2 silver pompfrets thinking will make Leppo Curry, rice & Pompfret fry. Sabu hates fish so it was a BIG NO. Adrian was not very happy with the menu, gave me a suggestion why don't you make Fish Majboos (Kuwaiti Cuisine) & some Dakkous (tomato sauce-Kuwaiti style). It was a great suggestion, Sabu loves Majboos & so does Adrian. So that is it the menu for today's meal was fixed. Here goes the recipe for Fish Majboos & Dakkous - Kuwaiti Ishtyle.


Ingredients :
2 medium size silver pompfrets

Removes the scales. Trim the sides. Put 6 to 7 gashes on the fish. Pull all the dirt out without damaging & keep the fish whole. Remove the gills. Wash it with ample cold water. Strain the water & keep it aside.

Take a bowl, add 3/4 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp turmeric powder, 1 tsp red chilly powder, 1/2 tsp black pepper powder, 2 tbsp vinegar. Mix it well. Now add the silver pompfrets in the marinade. Leave it aside till you finish making the rice. Once the rice is ready & garnished. Shallow fry the fish till crisp.

4 cups of Basmati Rice
1 big onion thinly sliced
4-5 green cardamom pods
1" cinnamon stick
4 Knorr veg. stock cubes
6 cups of boiling water
2 big lemons (squeeze the juice)
4 tbsp oil

Wash & clean the rice well. soak it in lukewarm water for 1 hour.
Take a Pot put it on high flame. Add oil, once hot add the cardamom, cinnamon stick.
Add the sliced onion and fry till it slighlty browns. Add the boiling water, veg. stock cubes, lemon juice. After one boil add the rice stir it once. Close the lid tightly and leave it on very very slow flames for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes open the lid & lightly loosen the rice with a fork. Keep it aside.


For the Rice topping :
1 big onion thinly sliced
1 tbsp sumac
1/2 tsp cardamom powder
1/4 tsp pepper powder
1/4 tsp cummin powder
2 tbsp oil

Put a frying pan on high flame. Once hot add oil, now add sliced onion and fry till it lightly browns, now add the remaining spices. stir & put off the flame.

To Assemble the Majboos :
Take a big bowl or plate. Spoon the rice in the bowl.
Garnish it with the rice topping. Now place the fried fish on top & serve it piping hot with dakkous.

To make Dakkous :
4 med tomatoes
5-6 big cloves of garlic minced
1 med onion minced
1 green chilli , cut it into 4-5 pieces
4 tbsp tomatoe paste
1/2 cup of water

Blanch the tomatoes in boiling water for 5-6 minutes untill the skin starts peeling.
Peel off the skin & once cooled puree it.
Take a pot, put it on high flame. Add 1 tbsp oil. Upon heating the oil add minced garlic & after a minute or two add the minced onion. Now add the green chilly, tomato paste, tomato puree. Add 1/2 cup of water, salt to taste. Leave it on slow flame for 10 minutes. Dakkous is ready to be served.




Enjoy the yummy Zubaidi Majboos with dakkous.