The most famous and iconic traditional dish in Kuwait is Machbus, often considered the national dish of the country. It typically consists of heavily spiced meat—such as lamb, chicken, or fish—layered over long-grain basmati rice that has been cooked in a rich, aromatic broth flavored with regional spices like cardamom, cloves, saffron, and dried lime known as loomi. Other renowned culinary specialties include Gabout, Mutabbaq Samak, and sweet saffron-infused rice desserts, reflecting a rich heritage shaped by coastal trading history and bedouin culinary traditions.