Kuwaiti Daqoos (Garlic Tomato Sauce for Rice)Middle Eastern

Kuwaiti Daqoos (Garlic Tomato Sauce for Rice)

A mild, garlicky tomato sauce cooked down with a little tomato paste and brown sugar until thick and glossy. Kuwaitis spoon daqoos over machboos and other spiced rice dishes.

25minutes
3Servings
easyDifficulty
Jump to ingredients & method
Execution guide

Method

Read the full method before starting. Cooking times are guides; check texture and doneness as you cook.

Shows the steps one at a time, with a timer for each timed step.

0 / 4done
Set up your tools

Saucepan or pot, Sharp knife and board

Before the heat goes on

Measure, cut, and arrange every ingredient in order of use. Read the full method and keep finishing ingredients separate.

  1. 01

    Blending

    2 minutes

    Blend the tomatoes with the water until smooth.

    Success cue

    A smooth, thin tomato puree.

  2. 02

    Garlic

    2 minutesMedium heat

    Heat the olive oil in a small pot on medium heat and cook the crushed garlic for 1 to 2 minutes until light golden.

    Success cue

    Pale gold garlic with a sweet smell.

    Watch out

    Dark garlic turns the sauce bitter.

  3. 03

    Simmering

    15 minutesGentle simmer

    Pour in the tomato puree, then stir in the tomato paste, brown sugar, salt and black pepper. Simmer uncovered for 15 minutes, stirring now and then, until thick.

    Success cue

    A glossy sauce that coats the spoon.

  4. 04

    Serving

    1 minute

    Taste for salt and serve warm or at room temperature.

    Success cue

    Balanced, mildly sweet sauce.

PlateMap is still in testing. Quantities and results may vary with ingredients and equipment. Please check food safety yourself, especially with meat and poultry.

Cooking tips

Extra tip

The spoon of brown sugar does not make it sweet; it softens the sharpness of the tomatoes and paste.

  • • Ripe, deep red tomatoes give the best colour without extra paste.
  • • Daqoos keeps for 4 days in a closed jar in the fridge.

Common mistakes

  • • Browning the garlic too far, which makes the whole sauce bitter.
  • • Serving it thin and watery instead of simmering until it coats a spoon.

Substitutions

  • • Instead of brown sugar: white sugar
  • • Instead of olive oil: vegetable oil

Serving ideasServe in a small bowl beside machboos or kabsa.

Estimated nutrition per serving

Calculated estimate per serving from the listed quantities. Product choice and retained cooking fat affect the result; this is not a laboratory analysis.

Calories
≈ 175
Protein
1.8g
Carbs
12.2g
Fat
14.1g
Calculation source and assumptions

USDA Standard Reference

Values use USDA data and linked product labels, adjusted for edible quantities and base servings. Brands, ingredient varieties, and cooking methods can change the result.

Potential allergens

Check ingredient labels

Compound ingredients vary by product; check labels and possible cross-contact.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is daqoos spicy?

The Kuwaiti daqoos is mild. Saudi and Emirati cooks often blend in a green chilli; add one with the tomatoes if you like heat.

What do you serve daqoos with?

With machboos, kabsa, murabyan and fried fish with rice. It is spooned over the rice at the table.

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