Saudi Arabia is home to a rich culinary tradition that reflects its diversity. It is home to people from the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent as well as East Africa. Saudi Arabia is known for its unique cuisines heavily influenced by Middle Eastern cuisine 🇮🇳 ️ 🇸🇦 !!
Traditional Saudi cuisine is served family-style on large plates or bowls, often alonged with fresh flatbreads just like pita, naan or Arabic bread! Meals usually feature pots of rice or couscous along with various vegetables cooked in various spice-filled sauces. Much of the cuisine relies on meat or poultry which are then served cooked and flavored with various spices and sauces.
Many of the traditional meals consumed in Saudi Arabia are divided into several courses with the first course typically consisting of soup for instance, lentil vegetable, or tomato soup; the second course may be a salad; the third course may be a main course, like lamb or chicken dishes; and the fourth course may be a selection of pastries, for instance, baklava or qatayef.
One of the most popular dishes in Saudi Arabia is Kabsa a spicy rice dish cooked with chicken beef lamb or fish and served with tomato sauce, and a variety of spices. Kabsa is typically served family-style in large platters, perfect for sharing . Another popular dish is Mandi which is a combination of spiced rice yogurt and meat cooked in a tandoor-style clay oven and served with various accompaniments.
Seafood is also an important part of the Saudi diet, especially in the coastal cities 🇸🇦. Fish dishes are often served with plethora of special spices, as cardamom, cumin, and ginger, while shrimp dishes are often cooked with garlic and onions 🐟 🦐 🧄. Additionally, there are plenty of yummy seafood soups and stews, for example the famous Shorba, a seafood soup that includes tomatoes, onions, and spices ️.
For breakfast, Saudis often eat a selection of traditional Arabic food, like falafel, hummus, and foul madames, a dish made from fava beans, garlic, lemon juice, and spices. Other popular breakfast dishes include Labneh a type of yogurt dip plethora tasty egg dishes like Shakshouka a dish made from tomatoes peppers and eggs ️ 🥚.
Saudi Arabs love sweet treats like Kunafa, a sweetened cheese pastry made from shredded phyllo and topped with syrup ️ 🧀 🇸🇦. Umm Ali, a pudding made of phyllo, cream, and various spice, is another popular dessert. Luqaimat, which is a fried dough dumpling topped with date syrup, is another popular dessert ️ 🥟 📅.
No matter what part of Saudi Arabia someone may be from they will find many traditional dishes to enjoy. From sharing family-style platters of Kabsa, to indulging in sweet treats like Kunafa and Umm Ali, Saudi cuisine offers something for everyone 🇸🇦. . .
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