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Saudi Arabian Cuisine

Firstly, if you are contemplating a job in Saudi, you have to understand their Islamic dietary laws.

I think wherever you travel it’s important to respect that cultures traditions, but in Saudi it is more than that, as their strong Islamic beliefs affect their cuisine in the preparation and procuring of the food. It is forbidden to drink alcohol or eat to pork, however this does not mean that the Saudi diet is lacking in variety or splendour.

Apart from the introduction of all the major fast food chains, there are many new supermarkets. These manly cater for western tastes, and whilst the goods are more expensive than local produce, if you want to cook for yourself, you may have little or no difficulty in sourcing ingredients normally found in your home land supermarket

So what of Saudi cuisine, what can you expect?

 As with many old cultures they have stayed with what they like and know.  For many thousands of years the Saudi diet has consisted of: wheat, rice, dates, fava beans, chicken, chickpea, lamb, goat, yogurt, Dishes such as: Kabsa is a typical dish and contains rice, chicken and lamb and it will be on all menus. Shawarma is sliced lamb that has been cooked on a spit. Khobz (Arabic unleavened bread) will be eaten with most meals and sometimes used to serve the food from the pot, then eaten with your meal, soaked in all the delicious sauce.

You could also be offered Falafel which is made from ground chickpeas mixed with spices then formed into balls and deep fried. Also don’t miss out on the fresh dates they are truly scrumptious.

Tea is also very important to the Saudi Arabians and there are many varieties of herbal Arabic tea. This will be offered for all occasions and served without milk.  I am sure once tasted you will be hooked on Arabic tea as the infusion  of the herbs, the delicate taste, the smell  is far better than any pre-packed tea bought at the supermarket..

The last thing I think worth mentioning are the Saudi Arabian stall holders. As with many other Middle Eastern countries, they are, quite used to haggling. In fact they expect it and enjoy the banter, often helping you to establish a good relationship and maybe getting that little bit extra special something, next time you shop with them. You must also make it your duty to visit at least one local market. Stalls trading as they did thousands of years ago selling the very best fresh produce the country has to offer, a visual taste of the past..

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