Muhammar
Sweet Rice
Muhammar is a uniquely sweet rice dish from Bahrain, flavored with sugar, honey, rose water, and cardamom. It's often served as a side dish with fish or can be enjoyed on its own as a delightful dessert.
🧂 Ingredients
- 1.5 cups Basmati rice
- 3 cups Water
- 0.33 cup Ghee or Butter
- 0.25 cup Sugar
- 0.25 cup Honey
- 1 tsp Rose water
- 0.5 tsp Cardamom powder
- 0.25 tsp Saffron threads(soaked in 1 tbsp warm water (optional))
- 0.5 tsp Salt
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Rinse the basmati rice thoroughly. In a saucepan, bring 3 cups of water to a boil. Add the rice and cook for about 8 minutes until it's about half cooked. Drain the rice.
- 2
In the same saucepan, heat the ghee or butter over medium heat. Add the drained rice back into the pot.
- 3
Pour the sugar, honey, rose water, cardamom powder, saffron (if using), and salt over the rice. Mix gently to combine.
- 4
Use the handle of a wooden spoon to poke 3-4 holes in the rice mixture, reaching the bottom of the pot. This helps steam circulate.
- 5
Cover the pot tightly with a lid. For a better seal, you can place a piece of parchment paper or a clean kitchen towel over the pot before putting on the lid. Cook on very low heat for 10-15 minutes, or until the rice is fully cooked and tender. Do not stir during this time.
- 6
Fluff the rice gently with a fork before serving. Serve warm.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓The key to this dish is slow cooking on low heat to allow the flavors to meld.
- ✓If you don't have rose water, you can omit it, but it adds a distinct floral aroma.
- ✓Saffron is optional but adds a beautiful color and subtle flavor.
✨ Twist Ideas
Inspiration for your own version of this recipe
- Substitute brown sugar for white sugar for a deeper caramel note.
- Add a few drops of orange blossom water along with the rose water for an extra layer of fragrance.