🇴🇲 Omani Cuisine

Mashuai

Whole Roasted Kingfish with Rice

Prep Time 2 hours

Servings 6

Difficulty Hard

Calories 476 kcal

A whole kingfish marinated in a tangy tamarind and spice paste, roasted until crispy-skinned and flaky. Served over fragrant lemon rice, this coastal Omani dish celebrates the sea.

Ingredients

1 whole kingfish (2-3kg), cleaned
3 tbsp tamarind paste
4 cloves garlic, crushed
2 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp turmeric
1 tsp chili powder
2 tbsp lemon juice
3 cups basmati rice
1 lemon, sliced
Fresh parsley
Salt to taste
Vegetable oil

Instructions

1 Score the fish deeply on both sides. Mix tamarind, garlic, cumin, turmeric, chili, lemon juice, and salt into a paste.
2 Rub the paste thoroughly inside and out. Marinate for at least 1 hour.
3 Roast the fish over charcoal or in a hot oven (220C) for 30-40 minutes until skin is crispy and flesh is flaky.
4 Cook basmati rice with lemon slices and a pinch of turmeric until fluffy.
5 Serve the whole fish atop lemon rice, garnished with fresh parsley and lemon wedges.

Did You Know?

In coastal Oman, mashuai is often cooked directly on the beach over driftwood fires after the morning fish catch comes in.