The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a nation steeped in history and tradition with the cuisine to prove it, is also blessed with culinary treasures from its varied terrains, centuries-old traditions and an infusion of visitors from around the globe. From the busy streets of Riyadh to the markets of Jeddah, Saudi Arabian food is a blend of traditional flavours, spices and techniques that are handed down from generation to generation. Saudi Arabia’s culinary traditions are rooted in Bedouin culture, Islamic heritage, and the country’s geographic position at the centre of ancient spice trade routes. And if you are heading to the Kingdom, there is no better way to get to know the culture than by way of its food. Here’s a guide to the must-try dishes that will help make your trip to the kingdom a memorable one.
The Richness of Kabsa
4) Get to know Saudi Kabsa (the most popular food in Saudi Arabia). Another known thing here is Kabsa, and I would dare say it might even be considered the country’s signature dish. Kabsa — a fragrant, invigorating combination of long-grain rice, tender meat (lamb, chicken, or goat are the most common), and a crest of spices including cumin, coriander, cinnamon, and cardamom. It’s a pot dish, which is cooked in the same pot with the rice absorbing all those wonderful savoury juices from the meat, and it makes for an absolutely comforting and flavorful meal.
Kabsa is a national favourite, and every woman will have her recipe for it, and it’s usually one of the main dishes served at weddings or big parties. It is also popular on Friday, when families gather for a meal. What’s beautiful about Kabsa is how deceptively simple and flavorful it is – a perfect distillation of the Saudi way of cooking: a few, great ingredients come together to perform a full-on flavour concert. And make sure to serve it with crispy sambusa, the little pastry pockets filled with meat or spiced vegetables.
Shawarma: A Middle Eastern Classic That’s Perfect for a Night In
Walk around the streets of Jeddah or Riyadh, and you’ll eventually run into a Shawarma stand. Originating in the Levant, Shawarma has been embraced as street food in Saudi Arabia. It is a seasoned meat (usually lamb, chicken, or beef) that is slowly cooked on a vertical rotating grill and then thinly sliced and wrapped in a warm flatbread with fresh veggies, pickles, and garlicky creamy sauce.
The beauty of Shawarma is that it’s flexible, you can eat it in a sandwich, wrap or on a plate with some rice. It’s a great meal when you’re on the fly, and who needs an excuse for a speedy and tasty snack? The combination of spicy, savoury, and tangy flavours is what makes Shawarma an irrefutable favourite for both locals and international guests. Be sure to taste the warhorse of the menu, the standard chicken Shawarma, served with a side of fattoush (a crispy, tangy salad), and you’ll understand why this backcountry spatchcocking method has survived for so long.
Mandi: The Desert’s Aromatic Dish
Another famous Saudi dish that’s just about as popular as Kabsa is Mandi. It’s a classic rice dish often made in a large, communal pot, with rice, meat (usually lamb or chicken), and an assortment of spices, including saffron, turmeric, and dried lime. The real difference in Mandi is in how it’s cooked. The rice and meat are traditionally cooked in a tandoor oven, which imparts the dish with an irresistible smoky scent.
Mandi is usually made from rice ( mostly long-grain basmati), meat (lamb, camel, goat, or chicken), and a mixture of spices. The seitan is tender, soaked in the spices , and just falls off the bone, making it a perfect companion to the fluffy rice—a very fulfilling dish. For the full experience, eat it with qursan, a type of flatbread that is used to scoop up the rice and meat, adding an extra level of authenticity to the dish.
Jareesh: The Saudi Comfort Food
When you need something comforting and healing, Jareesh is the dish. This classical food is prepared from crushed wheat that is cooked with soft meat, either chicken or lamb, and is flavoured with a mix of different spices used in the region. It’s almost like a porridge in the way the wheat absorbs a fabulously concentrated broth and the flavours of the meat and spices in a thick sauce that becomes irresistibly creamy. Jareesh is typically accompanied by a dollop of yoghurt or a fresh salad to offset the warmth of the dish with something cool and tangy.
Jareesh is usually consumed in the winter, or when a family comes together for a large meal. It’s a soothing, soul-warming dish that speaks to the country’s love of making big flavours out of the most basic ingredients, resulting in a dish that tastes like home. Served as a lunch or dinner item, Jareesh is popular and is another must-try item of Saudi cuisine.
Dates and Arabic Coffee: The Classic Saudi Greeting
A visit to Saudi Arabia isn’t a visit to Saudi Arabia without enjoying a traditional custom—eating dates and sipping Arabic coffee—a way of life in which they take immense pride. Dates have been grown in Saudi Arabia for hundreds of years and are a gesture of hospitality and goodwill. You’ll be treated to them whenever you set foot in someone’s home, along with a steaming cup of Arabic coffee (known on these shores as qahwa).
Arabic coffee is made with ground coffee beans, cardamom, and sometimes saffron, which gives it a unique flavour that is at once spicy and fragrant. It’s usually served in tiny cups and comes with dates, the sweet-yet-not-too-sugary fruit perfectly complementing the strong, bitter coffee. The marriage of flavours not only treated my taste buds, but it also linked me to a tradition of hospitality in Saudi Arabia.
SAUDI VISA FOR BAHAMIAN CITIZENS
Mutabbaq: A Tasty Street Snack
If, on the other hand, you’re meandering the streets of Saudi Arabia and fancy a take on savoury deep-fried street food, why not try Mutabbaq or Saudi stuffed pancake? Ingredient 2: Syrian za’atar (or get creative and mix your own.) For both dishes, have a go at mixing your za’atar. These popular street eats are thin layers of dough filled with a mix of ground meat, onions and spices, and then grilled until crispy and golden. Many recipes also have eggs and cheese, which adds a savoury, satisfying feeling to your mouth.
Mutabbaq is a great snack to eat on the run, though it can also be served as a light meal with a side of salad or yoghurt. Its crunchy crust and tasty and tempting filling make it a contagious snack that you can see in all locals’ hands for breakfast or dinner.
Conclusion: Saudi Arabia, A Gourmet Journey
The culinary flavours of Saudi Arabia are a harmonious and aromatic combination of flavours, fragrances and textures that have a complex bond with the country, its society and its history. But the food is more than just sustenance — it is a testament to Saudi Arabia’s warm embrace, its ties to the land and its history. Whether you taste the smoky flavours of Mandi, or the simplicity of Shawarma, or if you’re tasting the sweetness of dates and Arabic coffee, each dish is a chance to taste this nation’s soul. No trip to this gorgeous country would be complete without wallowing just a little in its food culture, and once you do, you will want to come back for more.
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