This section covers the common dishes eaten during breakfast, lunch, and dinner in Yemen. And yes, we included Yemeni-favorite desserts as well! — Joshua P.
Breakfast
In Yemen, breakfast is usually a full meal that is guaranteed to leave one feeling satisfied and full! This breakfast menu is popular not only in Yemen but in other neighboring countries as well.
Coffee and tea are always served during breakfast, and in true Yemeni-fashion, they are spiced with ginger and cardamom.
Dishes that are popular for a Yemeni breakfast are Masoub, Fatoot, ful medames, mutabbaq, Shakshouka, Malawah bread, and Bint Al-Sahn.
Lunch
Like the earlier meal, lunch in Yemen is a full meal that is guaranteed to leave one feeling well-nourished—if that person thought they too much for breakfast or had little time to. For Yemenis, lunch is the most important day because it is when they can have fellowship with one another, which is especially important for families.
Lahoh Sana'ani flatbread and Yemeni honeycomb bread are always served during lunch, as it is common to eat the lunch dishes with these breads.
Dishes that are popular for a Yemeni lunch are Chicken Mandi, Saltah with Lahoh Sana’ani flatbread, Red lentil soup, Lamb Haneeth, and Shafoot.
Dinner
Unlike the earlier two meals, dinner in Yemen is on the lighter side of things. For example, if dinner is to be had, it is made from leftovers from lunch or snacks are made. This cultural trait explains why Yemen is so sustainable in terms of food waste. Similar to lunchtime, dinnertime too is a important time for spending time with family.
Common snacks eaten are Sambusa, Masoub, Asida, and Murtabak.
Desserts
Common desserts are Masoob, Basbousa, Balah El Sham, Fatah, and Areekah.