8 Delicious Gastronomic Delights That Would Put Saudi Arabia on Your Foodie Map!

When we talk about Middle Eastern cuisine, we mostly hear about Mediterranean dishes. Dishes from countries like Lebanon, Israel, and Morocco are so popular that the delectable fares from Saudi Arabia often get sidelined. But things are changing and restaurants serving authentic Saudi delicacies are becoming popular! Today, the cuisine from Saudi Arabia is no more limited to grandma’s kitchen, it's rather winning hearts in fine-dining restaurants.

For example, Kabsa is a rice dish served on a communal platter with rice, vegetables and meat. Mutabbaq is another delicacy that resembles stuffed and fried pancakes made with a stretchy dough, folded with fillings of meat, garlic, eggs, curry, peppers and a variety of other spices. Many other gorgeous gastro options let you relish succulent pieces of meat and aromatic rice. If you are keen on sampling some of these fares, the list below takes you through a gastronomic journey!

1. Kabsa

If you are travelling to Saudi and craving an authentic Arabian delicacy, try kabsa — the national dish of Saudi Arabia! The name is derived from the Arabic word ‘kbs’ that means pressed. To prepare it, ingredients are pressed together in a single pot. Kabsa is also known as machboos and comes in several combos. It’s mostly served with lamb, chicken, fish or other seafood. You can try this delicacy both in fine-dining restaurants and food courts!

Where to try: Najd Village Restaurant in Riyadh

2. Jareesh

Looking for a dish that can warm your soul? You must eat jareesh, one of the oldest Saudi Arabian preparations. If you are travelling to Saudi during the month of Ramadan, then you must give this dish a try. It is made with boiled and crushed wheat, onion, rice, meat, broth and spices, such as parsley, cumin and coriander. Did you know that haleem, a popular dish in many Middle Eastern and Asian countries, originated from jareesh? Also known as harees, this recipe was also documented in Ibn Sayyar al-Warraq's 10th-century cookbook Kitab Al Tabikh!

Where to try: Jareesh Cuisine in Jeddah 

3. Shakshuka

A savoury and spicy breakfast dish, shakshuka is prepared with poached eggs, tomato and onion sauce. Shakshuka is popular throughout the Middle East and northern Africa. Ingredients like cayenne, chilli and cumin are used in the recipe. It can be made easily in a single pan. The word ‘shakshuka’ comes from the Arabic word “shakka,” meaning “stick together,” and it refers to how well the eggs, tomatoes and other ingredients stick together in this speciality.

Where to try: Madeleine Restaurant Riyadh in Riyadh 

4. Bukhari Rice

If you fancy a flavoursome and fragrant rice meal like biryani, try bukhari rice! This dish has its origins in Afghanistan. It looks very much similar to tehri or pulao but has a distinct taste and aroma. Made with basmati rice, carrots, cumin and tomato sauce, it is served with roasted chicken. The preparation is often garnished with fried almonds and raisins. You can try this delicacy as street food as well.

Where to try: Rice Taste Bukhari Restaurant in Riyadh

5. Mutabbaq

Even though the cuisine of Saudi Arabia is mostly dominated by meat, there are a few delicacies that even vegetarians would love to try! Mutabbaq is just one of them. It is a comfort food for the population of this country! A kind of folded pancake, Mutabbaq is prepared with the stuffing of parsley, tomatoes, onions, and a few jalapeño peppers. In some cases, mincemeat or eggs are used as the filling. Mutabbaq is available in many varieties and mostly at very affordable prices! 

Where to try: Abu Zaid in Jeddah

6. Tamiya

There is probably no town in Saudi Arabia where you can’t have this delectable street food. These fritters are served in khubz, an Arabic bread. It is made of fava beans or chickpeas. If by any chance you get a place where the sauce is served right in a Tamiya sandwich, then you will fall in love with this vegetarian delicacy!

Where to try: Any street food joint across Saudi Arabia

7. Mansaf

In Arabian meals, lamb is the staple meat and mansaf is also made with lamb, yoghurt and rice. It is a popular dish that is prepared on commemorative occasions such as Eid and gatherings like weddings, births and graduations, or to honour a guest. It is traditionally eaten collectively from a large platter. It was first prepared by the Bedouins of Jordan and, apart from Saudi Arabia, this recipe can be found in Palestine, Kuwait, Iraq, and Syria.

Where to try: Quick Bites in Al Khobar 

8. Saleeg

A warm and filling meal, saleeg is popular across Saudi Arabia, especially in the city of Taif. It's a traditional Saudi Arabian rice dish that hails from the country's coastal region of Hejaz. To make this scrumptious delicacy, creamy porridge-like short-grain rice is cooked with roasted meat, usually chicken. Other meats that are used in cooking saleeg include beef and lamb. Chicken is boiled in water with spices like cardamom, black pepper, bay leaf, cinnamon, and mastic. Then the rice is cooked in this broth in which the meat has been boiled. Then the rice is later mixed with ghee or butter along with milk, and heated until it reaches the desired consistency!

Where to try: Any restaurant in Taif

If no amount of meat and rice is enough for your palette, Saudi cuisine is your pick! To make your Saudi trip memorable for years to come, indulge in a gastronomic delight and try at least one or two of these authentic Saudi delicacies.