7 Authentic & Traditional Saudi Dishes.

Rediscover the iconic flavours of Saudi cuisine

Yara Jaber

03 April 23

Savour the flavours of Saudi cuisine.

Embark on an exquisite journey through the delectable flavours of Saudi cuisine and relish the familiarity of home, or discover something new, in dishes that embody the essence, culture and history of the region.

Exploring the culinary delights of the world can be a thrilling adventure, but there is something so comforting about truly savouring the culinary heritage of one's culture.

We have carefully selected a range of delicious and celebrated Saudi Arabian dishes. Let this be your rediscovery of our nation’s best traditional dishes or the start of your authentic Saudi culinary experience.

Fish Majboos

As a large part of our nation touches the edges of The Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf, it will come as no surprise that a fish dish is one of Saudi’s celebrated heritage dishes. Majboos is a slow cooked, wholesomely spiced rice dish made using fillets – or whole pieces – of king fish or brown spotted reef cod (hamour).

Where to find this dish: Head to Al Romansiah Restaurant for a delicious Fish Majboos.

Hineni

A traditional Arabic and Saudi comfort food, and often served at iftar during Ramadan. This delicious, sweet dish made using whole wheat flour, dates, and butter or yogurt. The mixture is then heated, ideally over an open fire for a truly traditional, smoky taste. Different regions have different methods for cooking this dish; in Riyadh, the dish is prepared in lumps whilst in the Qassim region, the dish is served as almost a bunt cake.

Where to find this dish: Halib Wahil Restaurant serves traditional and delicious hineni.

Kabsa

Kabsa, the traditional Saudi Arabian dish that graces the table of homes throughout the Kingdom. The quintessential ingredients of this meal are rice and meat or chicken, while variations can be made using of vegetables, nuts, raisins. Additional ingredients are added (or removed) as per the chef’s preference or the family’s traditions.

The name of this dish is derived from the Arabic word for ‘squeezing’, as the ingredients are combined through a squeezing process. Despite the seemingly simple preparation, the spices used in each Kabsa dish are highly specific to the family's taste, resulting in unique flavour profiles.

Where to find this dish: Najd Village in Riyadh serves up a very tasty and authentic Kabsa dish.

Masabeeb

Masabeeb or masabeb is a dish usually eaten for breakfast or as a dessert. And simply put, masabeeb are Saudi pancakes. Made using wither oats or flour, small round pancakes are fried on a pan until golden and then served smothered in butter or to be dipped in honey.

Usually eaten in the morning at breakfast, with coffee, or after a hearty dinner, Masabeeb is one of the staple desserts in Saudi Arabian cuisine. The two-star ingredients in this dish are black seed and ghee, known to give Masabeeb its distinctive flavour.

Where to find this dish: Treat yourself at Tuwaren Restaurant.

Matazeez

Another prominent dish in Saudi Arabian cuisine is matazeez. Matazeez is a hearty and warming stew dish, consisting of vegetables, meat and savoury dumplings. Whole wheat flour is kneaded and rolled with water, flour, oil and a sprinkling of salt to create savoury dumplings. These flattened dough shapes are cooked in a robust and flavourful meat and vegetable stew.

Although each family and restaurant will have their own preference, vegetables usually included in this stew are tomatoes, onions, carrots, cauliflower, aubergine and gourds such as pumpkin. Lamb is the traditional meat choice for this authentic dish.

Where to find this dish: Look no further than Aseil in Jeddah.

Murtabak

Commonly served as an appetiser, murtabak or motabbaq is a mouth-watering, stuffed panfried bread or savoury pancake. Usually served in a square shape, authentic murtabak is filled with cooked vegetables and minced meat. Crispy on the outside, pillowy and juicy on the inside, this dish is nothing short of moreish. Some people have even created sweet variations, with chocolate and sweet condensed milk.

Where to find this dish: Try some tasty and traditional murtabak at Al Saudi Restaurant.

Saleeg

Coming from the Hejaz region in Western Saudi Arabia, this is one of the most authentic and delicious Saudi dishes. Possibly the Kingdom’s most loved dish, saleeg is hearty and wholesome. White rice cooked is cooked with butter, milk and broth, to create a creamy risotto-like consistency. This creamy rice is then topped with succulent pieces of roast chicken, and all topped with a squeeze of lemon.

Where to find this dish: Visit Mna7i Restaurant.