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[Global series: Cuisine and Housework]Saudi Arabia Edition: Cooking Behavior

• Release date: Jun 19, 2024
• Update date: Mar 04, 2026
• 9686 Views

• Usage and altitude
• Food
• Consumer Electronics
• Culture/Habit
• Saudi Arabia

Saudi home cooking traditionally features many large platters. Instead of serving individual portions, families eat directly from the platter using their hands or spoons, fostering communication and enjoying each other's company. This method also makes it easier to gauge how much each family member eats. Encouraging children to “eat more” is a common expression of affection throughout the Arab world, not just Saudi Arabia.

I do my main shopping in bulk a few times a month.

In Saudi Arabia, families typically consist of many members. Due to traditions requiring cohabitation with family or grandparents, or the custom of not showing one's face or hair to male relatives beyond the fourth degree of kinship, homes are often converted into multi-unit dwellings for two or more generations, or families live together in the same apartment building. In urban areas, nuclear families are becoming more common due to migrants from rural areas, individuals preferring not to live together, and physical space constraints. Consequently, bulk purchasing and consumption are typical, with supermarket bulk shopping being the mainstream style. Monthly food expenses for urban households are approximately 1,000 to 1,500 riyals (about 40,000 to 60,000 yen). Households that eat out frequently tend to have higher food expenses than those with six or more children. In Saudi Arabia, supermarkets and hypermarkets dominate the distribution of cooking ingredients and meals. These stores offer a wide range of household goods, appealing to budget-conscious families.

Cook at least once a day

It is common for all women in the family to share responsibilities and work together to prepare meals. Furthermore, due to the heavy workload, many households have helpers who take on some or all of the cooking.
In Saudi Arabian households, where stay-at-home wives are common, daily cooking is standard. Home cooking is a daily habit, and since dinner is a particularly important meal where the family gathers, it is typically homemade. According to a 2020 report by Euromonitor International (※1), Saudi Arabian households cook at home an average of six or more times per week. However, some urban businesswomen do not cook at all.

Breakfast:

Breakfast is often a simple meal, typically requiring little cooking time. Some family members may skip breakfast, and many households purchase it from nearby shops. Options include ma'asoub (a sweet bowl of bread with honey or banana), freshly baked pita bread from the oven, or tamiz bread served with a plate of bean paste, fried lamb offal, scrambled eggs with tomatoes, cucumbers, tomatoes, cheese, etc., allowing everyone to assemble their own sandwich. Some families also eat sandwiches or mutabbaq (a dish similar to Korean jeon). Like other Arab countries, falafel and tamia (chickpea croquettes) are also common breakfast items. These popular breakfast foods are sold at many shops and are very affordable.
Households with elementary school children eat breakfast around 6:00 AM and prepare packed lunches to take to school.

Lunch:

It's rare for the whole family to gather together, so simple meals are often prepared individually. For those working from home or depending on the household, this meal may serve as the main meal. Lunch is frequently after 1:00 PM, and if the children are older, it can sometimes be as late as 3:00 or 4:00 PM.

Dinner:

Home cooking is central to family life, with abundant dishes prepared to bring everyone together. However, households that focus primarily on lunch often purchase light meals.

Friday:

In Islamic customs, families and relatives often gather together. It is common for the host household to prepare large quantities of food to enjoy, and guests frequently bring homemade dishes as well. When spending weekends at vacation homes, rental villas, or desert tents, men and women often cook separately, though there are also occasions where men prepare and serve all the food for both groups at once. Beyond preparing meals themselves, it is also common to order large platters of food like kapsa.

In such situations when sharing large platters, several large dishes are prepared. A large group sits on the floor, placing the dishes on plastic sheets called sufra. People eat by taking food from the dishes near them, using their hands or spoons. For example, near tables with many children, the pace of eating may vary. If meat seems likely to be left over, it might be brought to tables with heartier eaters.

In Saudi Arabia, hospitality is highly valued, and generosity is considered a virtue. Consequently, more food is prepared than strictly necessary. However, discarding food is considered religiously inappropriate. Leftover food is often set aside for the helpers. If there is still food remaining after that, it is frequently given to stray cats or other animals.

Dynamic Cuisine Capsule

Saudi Arabia's vast territory (roughly six times the size of Japan) means regional specialties vary, but the most famous dish is Kapsa. Kapsa is a traditional Saudi one-dish meal often prepared for special occasions and family gatherings. Rich in spice flavors, it is beloved in many households. Enjoying the meal together is also a way for families to gather around the table, deepening bonds and camaraderie.

To make Kapsa, chicken or lamb is used as the main ingredient, and rice is cooked in a pressure cooker. Meat and vegetables are simmered with spices; common vegetables include tomatoes, potatoes, carrots, onions, garlic, dried lemon, and shishito peppers. The spices used are cumin, coriander, cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, etc., varying slightly by household. When using chicken, it is often finished by baking in a gas oven until the surface is crispy.

Kapsa is served with many accompaniments: bread; a sauce made by blending bell peppers, tomatoes, and shishito peppers with lemon juice; tahini (sesame paste thinned and mixed with garlic); a tomato and cucumber salad (dressed with a little lemon juice and salt); raw onions; lemons; various Tabasco sauces; molokhia soup; and stewed vegetables. These accompaniments allow you to enjoy the rice by changing its flavor.

While more people in urban areas are eating with spoons, many households still eat with their hands.

After cooking, people often add Tabasco sauce, known as “shatta.” Whether someone likes spicy food varies, but it seems closer to the Japanese palate. Even those who enjoy spicy food tend to stick to mild heat. They don't seem to favor extremely spicy food like people from India or Indonesia do.

The spacious Saudi kitchen

Saudi Arabian kitchens are often designed to be spacious. Especially since large families are common, the cooking area is designed to be wide enough to prepare multiple dishes simultaneously. Additionally, powerful exhaust fans ensure comfortable cooking even when using large quantities of spices or oil. While many urban residents live in apartments, kitchens are often separate rooms and usually include a built-in oven. In most homes, gas is supplied directly from a gas cylinder, known as an “Ambouba,” to the kitchen stove and gas oven. Some households also use induction cooktops.

Cooking utensils and appliances commonly used in cooking

Common cooking utensils and appliances include large pressure cookers, large pots, frying pans, gas ovens, and shallow pans called tawa for warming bread. Knives are also used, though many people cut vegetables with a knife without using a cutting board. Food processors are frequently used to prepare sauces for dishes, blending tomatoes, bell peppers, and small amounts of shishito peppers for every meal. Vegetable cutters are also commonly used for making salads.

How to Eat and Present Food How to Eat

In Saudi Arabia, families often eat together, with dishes served on large platters for sharing. Food is roughly placed onto large silver round trays from the pot. There is no set format like one soup and three dishes; instead, a main dish is typically served with side dishes. Hospitality etiquette includes serving guests meat by hand to encourage them to eat freely. Meals are often taken in the large living room or guest room.

Cleaning up and washing dishes

Household chores like cleaning and washing dishes are often handled cooperatively by all the women in the family, but in households with a housekeeper, it is common for them to take charge. The use of dishwashers is also becoming more widespread.

Summary

Saudi Arabia places great importance on communication with others, whether within families, among relatives, between tribes, or among friends. They value others and deepen relationships through cuisine and dining styles. There is also a culture that values communication with relatives of all generations, viewing hospitality and serving others as virtues. Before and after meals, they engage in conversation while enjoying Saudi coffee (Saudi-style Arabic coffee) or tea.

※１　Euromonitor International. (2020). Home Cooking Trends in the Middle East and Africa. 
https://www.euromonitor.com/cooking-ingredients-and-meals-in-middle-east-and-africa/report

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  Author profile

  TNC Lifestyle Researcher

  I'm in my fifth year living in Saudi Arabia, currently a graduate student. I enjoy exploring towns and traveling overland, having circled Saudi Arabia by bus. While some things here are quite different from Japan, there are also many shared values, making it very livable. Each region has its own local specialties, so I make a point to try locally produced foods when traveling.

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  Editor profile

  Risa Takahama

  I was responsible for building the Global Market Surfer website. We primarily share information about consumers living overseas, focusing on the FMCG category. During home visits to Saudi Arabian households for research, I was always deeply impressed by how they almost invariably welcomed us with Arabic coffee, dates, and incense.