Nutritive value of various rice based dishes in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Chemical composition and nutritional quality of eight Saudi dishes based on rice were investigated. On a fresh weight basis, the dishes contained 59.6-71.8% moisture, 2.5-4.7% protein (N×6.25), 1.2-5.4% fat, 20.4-32.1% carbohydrates, 0.1-1.7% dietary fibre, 0.5-1.7% ash and 124-165kcals (metabolizable energy) per 100g dish. Among vitamins, vitamin A (Retinol Equivalent) ranged from 0-900µg, thiamin 0.02-0.10 mg, riboflavin 0.01-0.64mg and vitamin C 0.22-1.26mg/100g. The mineral contents (mg/100g) were: Ca 0.6-125, P 26-101, Fe 0.2-1.2, Na 1-446 and K 24-150. The dishes contributed 7-12%, 8-28% and 60-84% of the total food energy from protein, fat and carbohydrate respectively. The average per caput consumption of rice dishes (160g/day) could meet 11% and 10% of daily energy and protein requirements respectively of the Saudi population at the national level. However, the dishes were adequate to meet the protein requirements of various age groups when compared with protein energy ratios (PE%). Because of their nutritional quality, rice based dishes may be recommended for the management of some diet related chronic diseases. KEY WORDS: Saudi Arabian dishes, rice based diets, nutrient composition, nutritional quality * Corresponding author. 223 224 M.A. AL-KANHAL ET AL.

Nutritional Evaluation of Selected Traditional Foods Commonly Consumed in Saudi Arabia

“…Surprisingly, Kabsah lahem which contain cooked lamb meat with rice has the lowest amount of iron (0.51 mg/100g). Our results are consistent with those reported by Al-Kanhal et al [9,10,11] for previously mentioned traditional Saudi foods regard having generally low content of calcium, phosphorus and iron. However, they reported a higher content of calcium, phosphorus (except for Foul mudames and Falafel) and iron (except for Harees, Foul mudames, Falafel and Hummus).…”

“…Carbohydrate content ranged from 2.57% reported in Mulukhiyah to 68.30% reported in Mafroud burr bread. Several studies were carried out previously by Al-Kanhal and colleagues [9,10,11] to investigate the nutritional composition of several traditional foods commonly consumed in Saudi Arabia. Al-Kanhal et al [9] studied the nutritive value of some wheat-based Saudi traditional foods, including; Gerish, Qorsan, Marqooq, Marassia and Harees.…”

“…Al-Kanhal et al [9] studied the nutritive value of some wheat-based Saudi traditional foods, including; Gerish, Qorsan, Marqooq, Marassia and Harees. In subsequent reports, some legume-based foods (including; Foul mudames, Falafel and Hummus), and rice-based foods (including; Kabsah) commonly consumed in Saudi Arabia were analyed for proximate composition [10,11]. Compared to our findings, they reported a lower content of protein (except for Qorsan, Falafel and Hummus) and carbohydrate (except for Harees and Kabsah) and a higher content of dietary fibre and fat (except for Harees, Hummus and Kabsah).…”

“…Unfortunately, information about nutritional composition data of traditional foods is missing for most current national food composition databases [8]. Nutritional evaluations of some traditional foods have been investigated in Saudi Arabia [9,10,11] and other neighbouring Arab Gulf countries [12,13,14]. However, many traditional foods commonly consumed in Saudi Arabia were not evaluated in these studies.…”

The Association between the Glycaemic Index of Some Traditional Saudi Foods and the Prevalence of Diabetes in Saudi Arabia: A Review Article

“…The wheat based dishes include Harees (whole grain wheat cooked with meat), Mataziz, Qorsan and Marqooq (whole wheat dough with vegetables and meat), Gerish (cracked wheat cooked with vegetables and meat), Marassia, Aseedah, Maamool Tamer, Qors Tamer and Klaija [22,23]. In addition, the main dish that is served at lunch time consists of rice with vegetables and meat, the so called Kabsa [14,24]. There are other rice based dishes which are commonly consumed such as Briani, Bukhary and Mandi but they are not considered as a traditional Saudi dish as Kabsa.…”