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A FOOD TRADITION

Najdi Cuisine

The inland cooking tradition of central Saudi Arabia, known for wheat-based dishes, rice meals, dates, and slow-cooked meats.

Dishes linked to this cuisine

1–12 of 14

Aseedah

A thick cooked flour preparation traditionally made into a soft dough or porridge and served warm with butter or a sweet accompaniment.

Date Maamoul

A baked semolina-and-wheat pastry filled with a sweet date paste and commonly flavored with butter or ghee and cardamom.

Gursan Bil-Lahm

A Najdi stew of thin wheat bread softened in meat broth and cooked with lamb, onion, tomato, and vegetables.

Harees

Harees is a traditional Bahraini dish of wheat and meat simmered for a long time and beaten into a smooth, savory porridge.

Jareesh

Jareesh is a Kuwaiti savory porridge of cracked wheat slowly cooked with onions, spices, and commonly beef or chicken until soft.

Jareesh Bil-Lahm

A Najdi savory porridge of coarsely cracked wheat simmered with meat, onion, and seasonings until soft and creamy.

Kabsa

Kabsa is a Saudi spiced rice dish traditionally prepared with long-grain rice and chicken or other meat, tomato, onion, and aromatic spices.

Khubz al-Tawa

A simple Saudi pan-cooked flatbread made from wheat dough and served alongside savory dishes.

Kleija

A traditional Najdi filled pastry made from spiced wheat dough enclosing a sweet date filling.

Marqooq

Marqooq is a Najdi one-pot stew in which thin wheat-dough pieces cook with lamb, vegetables, tomato, and onion.

Masabeeb

Small Najdi pancakes made from a lightly fermented wheat batter enriched with dairy or egg and flavored with cardamom.

Matazeez

Matazeez is a Najdi stew of small wheat-dough pieces simmered with lamb, vegetables, tomato, and onion in a seasoned broth.

Catalogue preview Cuisine connections may be unreviewed. Regional comparisons include their food references and do not establish the ingredients of a particular meal.