Food & Drinks Highlights of Saudi Arabia | French Dishes to Try
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Food and Drinks Highlights of Saudi Arabia
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Tipping: Tipping is appreciated in Saudi Arabia, particularly in restaurants and cafes. A tip of around 10-15% is customary if service is not included in the bill.
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Eating Hours: Meal times in Saudi Arabia may vary, especially during Ramadan. Normally, lunch is the main meal, served after the Dhuhr prayer (midday), and dinner is lighter, often after the Isha prayer (evening).
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Shopping Hours: Shops generally open from 9 am to 12 pm, then close for a break and reopen from 4 pm to 9 pm. During Ramadan, hours change significantly, with shops reopening late at night and closing well past midnight.
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Discount Shops: Popular discount chains include Panda, Othaim, and Tamimi Markets where you can find good deals on a variety of items.
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Cuisine Type: Saudi cuisine features dishes rich in spices and flavors. Common dishes include Kabsa, a mixed rice dish with meat, and Mandi, made with rice, meat, and a blend of spices.
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Savoir Vivre: Eating with the right hand is the norm, as the left hand is considered unclean. It is also common to share dishes from a communal plate.
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Main Ingredients: Common ingredients include rice, lamb, chicken, yogurt, potatoes, and flatbreads. Dates are often served with Arabic coffee as a sign of hospitality.
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Most Popular Alcohol: Alcohol is prohibited in Saudi Arabia. Instead, traditional drinks like Arabic coffee and a variety of fruit juices are popular.
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Important Info: During Ramadan, eating, drinking, or smoking in public during daylight hours is prohibited, except in private or designated areas.
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Warning: Public display of consuming pork or alcohol is illegal in Saudi Arabia, as these are forbidden in Islam.
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Farmers' Markets: Local markets, often called 'souqs', are vibrant and full of fresh produce including dates, nuts, spices, and herbs. Souq Al Qaisariya in Al Hofuf is one of the oldest traditional markets.
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Cooking Workshops: Culinary workshops are less common but can be found in larger cities, offering lessons on traditional Saudi and wider Middle Eastern cuisines.
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Desert Dining: Experiencing a meal in the desert can be a unique opportunity, often featuring traditional Bedouin meals and settings.
Foods to Try in Saudi Arabia
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Kabsa: A quintessential Saudi dish, Kabsa is made with rice, vegetables, and meat (usually chicken, lamb, or camel), all cooked with a blend of spices that gives it a distinctive flavor.
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Mandi: Another popular rice dish, Mandi is made from rice, meat (typically lamb), and a mixture of spices, all cooked together in a pit to infuse the meat with a smoky flavor.
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Shawarma: While not originally from Saudi Arabia, Shawarma has become a beloved fast food in many parts of the Arab world. It's made from marinated meat, typically chicken or beef, that's slow-roasted on a spit and served wrapped in flatbread with vegetables and sauce.
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Saleeg: A white rice dish cooked in broth, often described as Saudi risotto, typically served with chicken.
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Samboosa: A popular snack during Ramadan, these are triangular pastries filled with a variety of ingredients including meat, cheese, or vegetables.
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Al-Areeka: A traditional dish made from bread mixed with dates, typically consumed in the western part of Saudi Arabia.
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Arabic Coffee: Known locally as 'Qahwa,' Arabic coffee is a symbol of hospitality, typically flavored with cardamom and sometimes saffron or cloves, served in small cups without handles.
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Maamoul: These are shortbread pastries filled with dates, pistachios, or walnuts, commonly served during religious festivals like Eid.
Interesting Saudi Food Facts
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Date Production: Saudi Arabia is one of the world's largest producers of dates. The date palm is highly revered and deeply integrated into Saudi culture and cuisine.
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Eating Customs: Traditional Saudi meals are often eaten on the floor, with a large communal plate placed on a plastic sheet or large cloth. It is customary for diners to sit cross-legged or kneel on one knee.
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Hospitality and Food: In Saudi culture, generosity and hospitality are expressed through food. Offering food is a sign of welcome and friendship, and refusing food can sometimes be seen as impolite.
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Aseeda: A traditional dessert made from wheat flour or whole wheat, mixed with water, butter, and honey, often served during special occasions and festivities.
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Camel Products: Camel meat and milk are both staple products in Saudi Arabia, valued for their nutritional benefits and integral to Bedouin dietary traditions.
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Spice Usage: Saudi cuisine uses a variety of spices, which reflects the country’s historical position on the spice trade routes. Spices such as turmeric, cumin, and coriander are commonly used in everyday cooking.
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