Kuwaiti seafood rice · Under an hour
Murabyan Recipe (Kuwaiti Shrimp Rice)
Shrimp out early. Dill and loomi. Back in to steam.
Recipe by Farwa ZeeshanTested in the NineFoods home kitchenMurabyan is Kuwait's shrimp rice, fragrant with dill, dried lime and spices. It goes wrong when the shrimp turn rubbery from cooking the whole time with the rice. The fix is searing the shrimp briefly, taking them out, and folding them back in only for the last few minutes of steaming.
The 3 laws of murabyan
Why this recipe works
Cook with rice
Shrimp need only minutes.
Dried herbs
Dill is the signature aroma.
Too much
Rice stays separate.
Shopping and prep list
Ingredients
Murabyan
The NineFoods shrimp gauge
Are the shrimp done?
Check the shape and colour.
Method · 3 stages
Step by step
Sear shrimp
- Season shrimp with half the spices and sear in ghee.
- Use the gauge above, then lift out.
Base and rice
- Fry onions golden, add garlic, tomato, remaining spices and loomi.
- Add hot water and rice and boil until steam holes appear.
Steam with shrimp
- Fold in shrimp and dill, cover and steam.
- Serve with lemon.
Chef's troubleshooter
What went wrong? Pick the symptom
Why
Cooked too long.
Fix next time
Sear briefly and add back only for the final steam.
Why
Too much water.
Fix next time
Use 1.5 cups water per cup of rice.
Why
Old shrimp.
Fix next time
Use fresh or properly frozen shrimp, deveined.
Why
Under-seasoned.
Fix next time
Season the water well before adding rice.
Swap smart
Ingredient roles and substitutes
| Ingredient | Job in the dish | Swap with |
|---|---|---|
| Shrimp | Main | Firm fish cubes |
| Fresh dill | Aroma | 1 tbsp dried dill |
| Bzar | Spice | Baharat |
| Loomi | Tang | Lemon zest |
After the meal
Serve, store, reheat
Serve with
Daqqus and a cucumber yogurt salad.
Store
Fridge 1 day.
Reheat
Steam gently, covered, just until warm.
How we tested this recipe
Tested in a home kitchen, not a studio
Recipe developed and tested by Farwa Zeeshan, who cooks and tests every NineFoods recipe on a regular home stove.
- Cooked from start to finish with the exact quantities above for 5 servings, using both the metric and US cup measures.
- Every one of the 3 stages was timed at the stove; heat levels and the 'look for' cues are what we saw in the pan.
- The doneness check (are the shrimp done) and the troubleshooter come from batches that went wrong, and how we fixed them.
- Reheating and storage advice was checked on leftovers, not guessed.
Keep cooking
Related recipes and guides
Quick answers
Murabyan FAQ
What does murabyan mean?
It comes from rubyan, the Gulf word for shrimp.
Can I use frozen shrimp?
Yes, thaw and pat dry before searing.
Why add dill?
Dill is the classic herb in Kuwaiti shrimp rice.
Is murabyan spicy?
It is aromatic rather than hot.