VoltraCalories in mutabbaq: savoury, sweet, and mutabbaq samak
Savoury mutabbaq, the pan-fried pastry stuffed with meat or chicken and egg, has about 177 to 208 kcal per 100 g in lab analyses from Riyadh and the Saudi Food and Drug Authority [1][2]. Sweet mutabbaq with banana or cheese has about 290 to 310 [2].
In Kuwait, mutabbaq samak is a different dish: fried fish on spiced rice, with about 147 kcal per 100 g [3]. For example, a 250 g savoury mutabbaq is about 440–520 kcal (calculated).
Calories per 100 g
| Dish | kcal | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mutabbaq with meat and egg, bought in Riyadh [1] | 177 | 8.4 g | 5.5 g | 23.6 g |
| Savoury mutabbaq with meat (Saudi Food and Drug Authority) [2] | 201 | 9.7 g | 6.6 g | 24.3 g |
| Savoury mutabbaq with chicken (Saudi Food and Drug Authority) [2] | 208 | 10.1 g | 6.1 g | 27.3 g |
| Sweet mutabbaq with banana (Saudi Food and Drug Authority) [2] | 290 | 7.1 g | 10.1 g | 41.3 g |
| Sweet mutabbaq with cheese (Saudi Food and Drug Authority) [2] | 310 | 8.9 g | 12.9 g | 38.0 g |
| Mutabbaq samak, fish on spiced rice, Kuwait (household recipe) [3] | 147 | 7.0 g | 2.5 g | 24.1 g |
Per 100 g as served. The Saudi Food and Drug Authority's savoury mutabbaq with meat is white-flour dough around minced lamb, onion, tomato, leek and egg [2]; its carbohydrate figures are available carbohydrate. The Kuwaiti value is for the fish and rice together, bones removed [3].
Portions
None of these sources gives a standard portion, so weigh yours, or use these examples:
| Amount | Savoury | Sweet | Mutabbaq samak |
|---|---|---|---|
| 150 g | 270–310 kcal | 440–460 kcal | ≈ 220 kcal |
| 250 g | 440–520 kcal | 720–780 kcal | ≈ 370 kcal |
| 400 g | 710–830 kcal | 1160–1240 kcal | ≈ 590 kcal |
Calculated from the figures per 100 g above [1][2][3].
What changes the number
- Sweet or savoury. The sweet versions have about half as many calories again as the savoury ones, from the sugar and the extra fat [2].
- Oil on the griddle. Mutabbaq is fried on a griddle, and the oil it takes up varies with the cook.
- For mutabbaq samak, the share of rice to fish changes the total, as with machboos.
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 "savoury mutabbaq with meat and egg, one piece".
- 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 one mutabbaq?
It depends on the weight and the filling. A 250 g savoury mutabbaq is about 440–520 kcal, and a sweet one about 720–780 kcal (calculated).
How many calories are in sweet mutabbaq with banana?
About 290 kcal per 100 g in the Saudi Food and Drug Authority's lab analysis; with cheese, about 310.
Is mutabbaq samak the same as mutabbaq?
No. In Kuwait and Bahrain, mutabbaq samak is fried fish on spiced rice. In Saudi Arabia and Yemen, mutabbaq is a stuffed pastry.
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. 24 (mutabak).
- National Nutrition Committee, Saudi Food and Drug Authority (2025). Saudi Food Composition Tables, 1st edition. Muttabaq, pp. 66–73.
- Eid N, Al-Awadi F, et al. (1989). National Food Composition Table, I: Kuwaiti Composite Dishes (report 3267). Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research. Table 3 (mutabbaq samak).
Sources checked on 30 September 2026. Values are rounded to one decimal place.
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