Eating Habits in Saudi Arabia
Eating Habits in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia reflect the customs and traditions of eating across Saudi Arabia's provinces. They form an integral part of Saudi culinary culture, typically involving gathering around a single large dish while seated on the floor, eating with the right hand.
Breakfast in Saudi Arabia
The traditional Saudi breakfast is quite simple, typically consisting of dates and coffee, or bread with cheese. Common breakfast options are tamees (a flatbread made from leavened dough), fava beans, and Ash-Shakshouka, which consists of scrambled eggs with tomatoes.
Lunch in Saudi Arabia
Lunch is the main meal in Saudi Arabia. In most provinces, it often features Saudi kabsa, which has become a symbol of Saudi dining and is closely linked to Saudi cuisine. Kabsa is made of rice with either meat or chicken, with the rice topped by chicken, meat, or fish. It is served with tomato sauce and chili peppers as side dishes, along with a simple chopped salad.
Dinner in Saudi Arabia
Dinner in Saudi Arabia is lighter than lunch and usually resembles breakfast. It includes bread, cheeses, tamees, and fava beans. It also features Al-Mutabbaq, a stuffed pancake filled with minced meat, chopped leeks, and eggs, then mixed, as well as Al-Masoub, made from baked discs of pure wheat bread placed into a wooden bowl called a "Gidh" after baking, topped with honey, ghee, and bananas.
Factors influencing eating habits in Saudi Arabia
In the early 1990s, Western influences started to emerge with the spread of fast-food restaurants in Saudi Arabia, along with other restaurants serving Western dishes like pizza.
These restaurants introduced various marketing approaches to Saudi society, such as home delivery services, making it easier for many families to order these foods. Some restaurants also created separate family sections apart from single sections, encouraging families to dine out until it became a common practice, especially among youth and children.
Eating habits during Ramadan in Saudi Arabia
Fasting people begin their iftar meal at sunset with the call to prayer, usually starting with dates, water, laban (yogurt drink), and some juices. Samosas are among the most popular Ramadan foods and have become a staple on the Ramadan iftar table, along with oat soup, which varies in preparation from one home to another.
The Ramadan table also includes beverages, among them As-Sobia, a favorite drink in Jeddah, Makkah Al-Mukarramah, and Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah, alongside hot drinks such as Saudi coffee.
During Ramadan, certain fast foods sold in restaurants and food carts gain popularity, including liver, balila, golden corn kernels, and fresh drinks.
Community iftar banquets are an annual tradition and a familiar sight in villages and cities, with their own spiritual and social significance, providing an opportunity for families, friends, and neighbors to gather at one table.
Many Saudi provinces uphold inherited Ramadan traditions, including At-To'ma, which is the exchange of food dishes prepared by homemakers between neighbors before the Maghrib call to prayer throughout the month. Typical At-To'ma dishes include soups, Al-Jareesh, Al-Mansaf, Al-Qursan, Al-Marqooq, samosas, Al-Luqaimat, Al-Thareed, Al-Aseeda, and others.
Hospitality customs and traditions in Saudi Arabia
No event or occasion is without hospitality befitting the host and showing appreciation for the guest. In Saudi Arabia, honoring a guest is an unconditional human value and is highly regarded in society. Dates and Saudi coffee remain a central element of hospitality in Saudi Arabia, and are customarily served to guests visiting a home or office.
Tea is another staple of Saudi hospitality customs, served in informal gatherings among friends and family, as well as at formal events like weddings.
Coffee is served in white cups poured from gold-colored pots. The server stands, holding the pot in the left hand, and serves coffee with the right hand, filling the cup to no more than a third. Service begins with the guest or the host, then proceeds to those on their right. If multiple servers are present, coffee is served to the guest and host simultaneously.
It is preferable to serve dates alongside coffee, separated for easy picking, ideally on skewers with the pits replaced by suitable nut fillings. When serving chocolates, they should be wrapped and presented on an appropriate tray, ensuring they are complete and untouched.
Sources
The Saudi Encyclopedia.
Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
Visit Saudi.
Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University.
Majmaah University.