How many calories are in kabsa?
How many calories are in kabsa? There's no single number — per SFDA lab analysis of Saudi food composition, kabsa runs about 158 to 189 kcal per 100g depending on the meat, and a full pot that serves 4 adults measures 3670 to 4020 kcal.
The three kabsa recipes SFDA measured
| Dish | kcal/100g | Protein g | Fat g | Carbs g | Full recipe kcal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lamb Kabsa | 158 | 4.7 | 6.1 | 22.0 | 4020 |
| Young Camel Meat Kabsa | 189 | 7.1 | 7.3 | 24.7 | 3960 |
| Chicken Kabsa | 187 | 8.4 | 5.6 | 26.0 | 3670 |
SFDA per-100g and per-recipe figures for the published Al-Baha recipes — source cited below.
Why chicken kabsa reads higher than lamb kabsa
The number surprises most people: chicken kabsa reads 187 kcal per 100g, while lamb kabsa reads only 158 — by this measure, chicken kabsa is the "heavier" dish. It isn't because chicken is fattier. It's moisture: the lamb recipe holds more water (66.2%) than the chicken recipe (58.2%). Less moisture in a sample means more calories packed into the same 100 grams, because you're weighing a lighter, more concentrated portion.
That's why "per 100g" and "per plate" tell different stories — a plate of lamb kabsa carries more broth and moisture, spreading its calories across more weight.
Why every app gives you a different number
Saudi menu-labelling regulation (GSO 2604) permits a tolerance of up to ±20% around a declared calorie figure — meaning two lawful, official sources can legitimately differ by as much as 40%, and both are correct. On top of that, home cooking varies from kitchen to kitchen: the amount of rice, the type and quantity of fat, and cooking time all shift the total further. That's why this page gives you a range instead of a single number that pretends to a precision the underlying data doesn't have.
Your share of the pot — divided by four
The figures above are for a full pot that serves roughly 4 adults (the published SFDA yield). If you split that pot evenly by four — our own division, not an SFDA-published figure — your rough share works out to about 1005 kcal for lamb kabsa, 990 kcal for young camel meat kabsa, and 918 kcal for chicken kabsa. Notice the order flips versus the per-100g numbers: the whole lamb pot weighs more (it holds more moisture) even though it's less calorie-dense.
How many calories are in kabsa?
Per SFDA lab analysis, kabsa runs 158 to 189 kcal per 100g depending on the meat — lamb kabsa is the least calorie-dense (158), while chicken and young camel meat kabsa read higher (187 and 189).
Is chicken kabsa lighter than lamb kabsa?
Per 100g, no — chicken kabsa (187) reads higher than lamb kabsa (158), because the lamb recipe holds more moisture (66.2% vs 58.2%), not because chicken is fattier. Compared pot-for-pot at the same serving count, the gap depends on the whole pot's weight, not just density.
How many calories are in a full pot of kabsa?
A pot serving roughly 4 adults ranges from 3670 kcal (chicken) to 4020 kcal (lamb), per SFDA figures.
Why does every app give a different calorie number for kabsa?
Saudi menu-labelling regulation (GSO 2604) permits a tolerance of up to ±20% around a declared figure, so two lawful, official sources can differ by as much as 40% and both be correct — on top of that, home cooking varies from kitchen to kitchen.
Lab figures for lamb, young camel meat and chicken kabsa (Al-Baha region).
Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) — Saudi Food Composition TablesRetrieved 2026-09-17
Pages 220 (Lamb Kabsa), 222 (Young Camel Meat Kabsa), 224 (Chicken Kabsa).
The information on this page is for general nutrition awareness, drawn from published lab data — it is not individual medical or dietary advice. Hadeed is a general-wellness product: Not a medical device.