Traditional Food in Al-Bahah Province refers to the most renowned dishes in Al-Bahah Province, located southwest of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Most of these dishes have wheat products as their main ingredient. Wheat is also an essential ingredient for several baked goods dubbed with various names differing per their preparation and baking. These goods include Mifa bread, Tannour bread, and Muqana bread. Al-Bahah province shares some traditional dishes with Aseer Province. These dishes include Aseeda and Al-Mashghoutha, commonly known in Al-Bahah as Al-Aish.
Traditional food in Al-Bahah Province
Daghabis: One of the most renowned dishes in Al-Bahah Province, It is a hearty meal consisting of cut dough cooked with meat and broth. The dough is made of whole wheat flour cut into fist-sized or larger circularly-shaped pieces placed in a pot filled with boiling water, meat, and broth. This dish is prepared in large quantities for wedding celebrations to honor the event's guests.
Muqana bread: It is a staple food for the inhabitants of Al-Bahah Province. It consists of wheat flour kneaded with water and placed on a thing stone heated by lighting a fire beneath it. The dough is then covered with a dish-like object, known as al-Mushhaf, made of either pottery or thin iron. It is then covered with ash and embers. A small fire is lit on top until it is ready to be taken out and served.
Aseeda: It consists of grains such as whole wheat, yellow and white corn, and millet. It is stirred at medium speed with a stick until it is cooked and thick. It is usually eaten with broth, meat, ghee, and honey.
Al-Suwaiqa: It is a variety of Aseeda. It consists of barley harvested before ripening. It is cooked, along with its leaves, in a large pot with salt. After cooking, it is extracted and spread under the sunlight to dry and harden. It is then pounded with a thick stick known as Al-Mikhbata. Upon filtering, it is ground with a hand mill to make the porridge dish served on a cup of ghee placed on a wooden plate.
Al-Muthriah: It consists of flour, meat, broth, ghee, and honey. It is similar to Al-Aish dish, but varies in terms of consistency. In fact, it shares the same ingredients of Al-Aish dish to which ghee, honey, and milk are added. It is served in cups or is greased with ghee and honey.
Al-Furaiqah: It consists of the same ingredients as Al-Muthriah, but is known for being more fluid. It is usually served to the sick and hungry because it is easily digested.
Al-Mukhud: It consists of light dough formed upside down because it has to be turned on its inner side before eating. It is placed on an iron griddle. It somewhat looks like tamees bread. It is often mixed with onions and served with all kinds of Eastern sweets.
Mifa disk: It was named after how it is made. In fact, it is done in a ground oven dug and lined with terracotta where the dough is placed on its inner sides to cook. It is eaten directly. The Mifa oven is very similar to those used to cook tamees or modern bread.
Marqooq bread: It consists of kneaded whole wheat flour. The mixture is rolled until it becomes thin before being soaked in broth and cooked. It is then cooked into small pieces and mixed with meat and broth. It is served directly on the eating dish.
Al-Thuraida: It consists of bread and meat. The meat is cooked until it falls off its bones before adding bread to the mixture and eating the dish.
Lentil soup: It consists of lentil grains that are commonly grown in the province. These grains are dried under sunlight, upon harvesting, and then rubbed to extract lentils. Lentils are usually ground for use in making some types of bread, Aseeda, or al-Aish dishes.
Al-Khawt: It consists of garden cress and is considered an easy-making dish. It is made upon boiling water, adding dill, chard, spinach, parsley, and fennel, among other local herbs, where additions depend on personal taste and preference. While cooking, a cornmeal dough is prepared, then placed over the mixture, and cooked over low heat for about half an hour.
The traditional dishes in Al-Bahah Province are varied due to its multicultural diversity. The area also boasts other dishes, such as ghee and honey Fatteh, consisting of small pieces of local bread mixed with ghee. Upon concentration, honey is added to the mixture. The dish is usually served hot. Another popular dish in the area is Al-Labza, made from the same ingredients as Daghabis, and Al-Mulbanah, consisting of a mixture of corn or millet flour, spices, ghee, and honey, as well as other dishes such as Al-Qursan, Al-Muqata'a, Al-Malbuza, Al-Mu'araq, and Hmiss, among others.
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