Baku Kitchen! An independent reference of traditional food

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia’s food is built around date- and spice-rich Bedouin and Hejazi cooking; communal rice platters and ritual coffee hospitality. Look for Kabsa (spiced rice with chicken or lamb, dried lime and tomato; national platter), Jareesh (cracked wheat cooked creamy with meat and yogurt; Najdi comfort food) and Arabic coffee (pale cardamom-saffron coffee poured ceremonially with dates). The kingdom’s national rice dish, spiced with dried lime, cloves and black pepper, with each region tuning the mix. This atlas has 32 Saudi Arabia dishes catalogued below, from everyday cooking to food kept for festivals and special occasions.

32 dishes.

Arabic coffeeArabic coffeecardamom and saffron coffee served in tiny cups with datesAreekaAreekaMashed dates and crumbled bread bound with ghee, topped with cream and honey.Camel milkCamel milkfresh camel milk drunk warm, slightly salty, in the desert southDatesDatesajwa, sukkari and khalas varieties served with every coffeeDebyazahDebyazahDried apricot and fruit compote cooked with nuts, served in small dishes.GursanGursanthin dried bread layered under stewed meat and vegetablesHasawi riceHasawi riceShort red rice cooked with lamb, tomato and loomi in one pot.IqtIqthard dried buttermilk, grated into wheat porridges such as jareeshJareeshJareeshcracked wheat cooked creamy with meat and yoghurt; Najdi comfort foodKabsaKabsaspiced rice with chicken or lamb, dried lime and tomato; national platterKhaliat al-nahlKhaliat al-nahlhoneycomb of dough balls stuffed with cream cheese and glazed with syrupKleijaKleijaQassim spice cookies filled with date molassesLabanLabanSalted drinking yoghurt served ice cold with machboos and grilled fish.LuqaimatLuqaimatsyrup-soaked crisp fried dough ballsMadfoonMadfoonMeat and rice buried in an underground oven and cooked overnight in the sand.MargoogMargoogvegetable-lamb stew simmered with thin whole-wheat dough sheetsMasoubMasoubmashed banana with crumbled bread, cream and honeyMatazizMatazizdiscs of dough simmered in meat and vegetable stew until softMishaltatMishaltatLayered buttery flatbread stretched paper-thin, folded and baked, eaten with honey.MugalgalMugalgallamb or liver flash-fried with pepper and onion in a shallow panMukhallalMukhallalturmeric-yellow pickled vegetables served beside rice dishesMutabbaqMutabbaqcrispy folded pancake stuffed with spiced meat, egg and leekRayebRayebNaturally soured raw milk, thick and tangy, drunk plain or with dates.SaleegSaleegHejazi milky rice porridge served under broth-roasted chickenSamboosaSamboosathin fried pastry triangles of meat, cheese or vegetablesSaudi champagneSaudi champagnesparkling apple juice with mint, lemon and sliced fruit, poured at restaurantsSayadiehSayadiehRed Sea fish over caramelised-onion spiced riceShorbat habShorbat habwheat and lamb soup that opens the Ramadan iftarSobiaSobiathick sweet milky drink of rice or coconut, served very coldTalbinaTalbinaSoothing barley flour porridge cooked in milk, sweetened with honey or dates.TameesTameesgiant Afghan-style tandoor bread, Hejazi breakfast partner for fulVimtoVimtoDark berry cordial mixed with cold water, poured to break the Ramadan fast.

  • Talbina

    Soothing barley flour porridge cooked in milk, sweetened with honey or dates. Ready in 5 minutes prep and 15 minutes…

  • Vimto

    Dark berry cordial mixed with cold water, poured to break the Ramadan fast. Ready in 5 min prep and 1…

  • Areeka

    Mashed dates and crumbled bread bound with ghee, topped with cream and honey. Ready in 20 minutes prep and 10…

  • Camel milk

    Fresh camel milk drunk warm, slightly salty, in the desert south. A drink recipe from Libya.

  • Dates

    Ajwa, sukkari and khalas varieties served with every coffee. Ready in 5 min prep and none cooking. A plate for…

  • Debyazah

    Dried apricot and fruit compote cooked with nuts, served in small dishes. Ready in 30 minutes prep and 1 hour…

  • Gursan

    Thin dried bread layered under stewed meat and vegetables. Ready in 1 hour prep and 1 hour 45 minutes cooking.…

  • Hasawi rice

    Short red rice cooked with lamb, tomato and loomi in one pot. Ready in 30 minutes prep and 1 hour…

  • Iqt

    Hard dried buttermilk, grated into wheat porridges such as jareesh. Ready in 30 min prep and 20 min cooking. Makes…

  • Khaliat al-nahl

    Honeycomb of dough balls stuffed with cream cheese and glazed with syrup. Ready in 40 min prep and 30 min…