VoltraCalories in kabsa: chicken, lamb and camel, per 100 g and per plate
Kabsa has about 137 to 189 kcal per 100 g in lab analyses from Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Food and Drug Authority measured 158 for lamb kabsa, 187 for chicken kabsa and 189 for camel kabsa [2]; a home-cooked meat kabsa from Riyadh measured 137 [1].
For example, 400 g of chicken kabsa is about 750 kcal (calculated). The water in the rice and the fat in the pot move the number most.
Calories per 100 g
| Kabsa | kcal | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meat kabsa, home-cooked in Riyadh (lab analysis) [1] | 137 | 5.5 g | 1.9 g | 24.5 g |
| Lamb kabsa (Saudi Food and Drug Authority, lab analysis) [2] | 158 | 4.7 g | 6.1 g | 20.0 g |
| Chicken kabsa (Saudi Food and Drug Authority, lab analysis) [2] | 187 | 8.4 g | 5.6 g | 25.0 g |
| Camel kabsa (Saudi Food and Drug Authority, lab analysis) [2] | 189 | 7.1 g | 7.3 g | 22.3 g |
| Meat (lamb) kabsa, calculated from recipes [3] | 137 | 7.3 g | 5.0 g | 15.6 g |
| Chicken kabsa, calculated from recipes [3] | 108 | 5.1 g | 3.3 g | 14.6 g |
Per 100 g of cooked kabsa as served, rice and meat together. The Saudi Food and Drug Authority's carbohydrate figures are available carbohydrate. Its lamb and chicken recipes are the same apart from the meat and the water: 667 g of meat, 80 g of tail fat, 600 g of short-grain rice, with tomato, onion and pepper, and 2.8 litres of water for lamb against 1.5 litres for chicken [2]. The recipe calculations varied by about ±17 to ±21 kcal per 100 g from one recipe to another [3].
A plate of kabsa
None of these studies gives a standard plate size, so weigh your plate, or use these examples:
| Amount | Lamb or meat (lab) | Chicken (lab) |
|---|---|---|
| 250 g | 340–400 kcal | ≈ 470 kcal |
| 400 g | 550–630 kcal | ≈ 750 kcal |
| 600 g | 820–950 kcal | ≈ 1120 kcal |
Calculated from the lab figures per 100 g above [1][2].
What changes the number
- Water in the rice. In the Saudi Food and Drug Authority's analyses, chicken kabsa came out higher than lamb kabsa because its rice was cooked in less water: 58 g of water per 100 g against 66 g [2]. Firmer rice packs more calories into each spoonful.
- Fat. The lab analyses found 1.9 to 7.3 g of fat per 100 g [1][2]. Tail fat, ghee and oil barely show on the plate but add calories, and so does chicken skin.
- Portion. The size of the plate and the share of rice change the total more than the choice of meat.
- Rice on its own. We found no published analysis of kabsa rice by itself, so we don't give a number for it.
How to log it in Voltra
- On the Eat tab, tap Scan a meal and photograph it, or tap Describe and type it, for example "chicken kabsa, one plate, cooked with ghee".
- Add a note about anything on top or cooked in, such as ghee, sugar or date syrup.
- Check the grams, then tap Log. If you weighed it, use that weight.
Frequently asked
How many calories are in a plate of kabsa?
It depends on the plate's weight. At 158 kcal per 100 g, 400 g of lamb kabsa is about 630 kcal; chicken kabsa, at 187 kcal per 100 g, about 750 kcal (calculated).
Chicken or meat kabsa: which has fewer calories?
In the Saudi Food and Drug Authority's lab analyses, chicken kabsa had more calories per 100 g than lamb kabsa, 187 against 158, because its rice held less water. A recipe study found the opposite. So the recipe matters more than the meat.
How many calories are in kabsa rice on its own?
We didn't find a published analysis of kabsa rice by itself, so we don't give a number.
Can I eat kabsa while losing weight?
Yes, if it fits your daily calories. Weighing your portion, or taking less rice and more salad, makes it easier to fit.
Sources
- Al-Faris NA (2017). Nutritional evaluation of selected traditional foods commonly consumed in Saudi Arabia. Journal of Food and Nutrition Research 5(3):168–175. Tables 2 and 3, No. 7 (kabsah lahem).
- National Nutrition Committee, Saudi Food and Drug Authority (2025). Saudi Food Composition Tables, 1st edition. Lamb, Young Camel Meat and Chicken Kabsa, pp. 220–225.
- Basaqr R, et al. (2025). Comprehensive nutritional compositions of traditional dishes from five Saudi regions using ESHA. Frontiers in Nutrition 12:1658078. Table 3: calculated with ESHA software from household recipes.
Sources checked on 30 September 2026. Values are rounded to one decimal place.
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