Basbousa Recipe (Semolina Coconut Cake in Syrup)
Make basbousa: a soft semolina and coconut cake with yoghurt, baked golden and soaked in lemon syrup. The Ramadan favourite across the Gulf, moist, never dry.
Kabsa, mandi, saleeg, jalamah and the Ramadan sweets of Saudi Arabia, from the Hejaz to Najd, written for home kitchens with clear timings and fixes.
Recipes developed and tested by Farwa Zeeshan
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The recipes to cook first
- 9Chicken KabsaOne-pot spiced rice
Lamb MandiSmoky oven mandi- 9SaleegCreamy Hejazi rice
- 9JalamahSlow lamb stew
- 9QatayefRamadan pancakes
KunafaCrisp kunafa
Learn the technique
Guides behind these recipes
Quick answers
Saudi Recipes FAQ
What is the national dish of Saudi Arabia?
Kabsa, a one-pot spiced rice with chicken or lamb.
What is saleeg?
A creamy rice cooked in stock and milk, from the Hejaz.
What is baharat?
An Arabic spice mix of allspice, black pepper, cumin, coriander and cinnamon.
Every recipe
All Saudi recipes
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Amba Recipe (Spiced Mango Pickle Sauce)
Make amba, the tangy turmeric and fenugreek mango sauce poured on Gulf and Iraqi sandwiches, kebabs and shawarma. Quick cooked version, keeps for weeks.
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Batata Harra Recipe (Spicy Arabic Potatoes)
Make batata harra: potato cubes fried or roasted crisp, then tossed in garlic, chilli, coriander and lemon. The spicy Arabic side dish, ready in 30 minutes.
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Burek Recipe (Saudi Meat and Cheese Pastries)
Make Saudi burek for iftar: thin pastry rolled around spiced mince or cheese, brushed with ghee and baked or fried until shatteringly crisp. Freezer friendly.
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Mutabbaq Recipe (Saudi Stuffed Pan Bread)
Make Saudi mutabbaq: paper-thin dough folded around spiced minced meat, egg and leek, then fried crisp on a hot pan. A Ramadan street food made at home.
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Jalamah Recipe (Saudi Spiced Lamb Stew)
Make Saudi jalamah: lamb on the bone browned, then slow-cooked with tomatoes, onions and baharat until it falls apart. A simple, rich stew for rice or bread.
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Muhallebi Recipe (Rose Milk Pudding)
Make silky muhallebi, the Arabic milk pudding thickened with cornflour and scented with rose or orange blossom, topped with pistachios. Lump-free method.
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Kaak Recipe (Saudi Date-Filled Cookies)
Make Saudi kaak, soft semolina cookie rings filled with spiced date paste for Eid and Ramadan. Dough resting, shaping and baking cues so they stay tender.
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Saleeg Recipe (Hejazi Creamy Rice with Chicken)
Make Saudi saleeg: short-grain rice simmered in chicken stock and milk until creamy, served with roast chicken and ghee. The Hejazi comfort dish.
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Jallab Recipe (Date, Grape and Rose Drink)
Make jallab at home, the dark Ramadan drink of date and grape molasses with rose water, served over crushed ice with pine nuts and raisins. Ready in 10 minutes.
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