Mixing the foods of East and West is always an interesting experience. I continue to enjoy being exposed to traditional Saudi dishes and in turn like introducing my Saudi family to typical Western dishes too. While they have had old fashioned pancakes before served lavishly with pads of melted butter and maple syrup, today they decided to teach me how to enjoy pancakes “Saudi style.”
I made the pancakes in the usual way and served them up hot on a platter. My family members each put a hot pancake on their plate. But instead of first spreading butter on the pancake, they instead covered it with small slices of sharp white cheddar cheese. Next they dotted the cheese slices with honey. Once enough honey was placed over the cheese, they then proceeded to wrap up the pancake and eat it!
Filed under: America, culture, Food, Saudi Arabia, Saudi culture, Saudi customs, Saudi Living Tagged: | America, culture, customs, Food, Saudi, Saudi Arabia, Saudi culture, Saudi customs, travel
Seems more ‘eclectic’ style than Saudi style (after all Cheddar doesn’t come from Arabia). That being said it might be worth trying.
They sound good, but for exotica I would go for Rose Pancakes from Saudi Arabia
http://www.communityanderson.com/diversity/recipe_middleeast/Rose%20Pancakes%20-%20Saudi%20Arabia.pdf
Or Lahooh Bel Loaz
http://www.saudiembassy.net/Publications/MagWinter98/recipes.htm
Still, sharp cheddar and honey sounds like a good USA/KSA combo!
Sounds good. We used to do something like this but used Armenian string cheese and apricot preserve (fruit spread) … we’d stuff a pita pocket with it too for breakfast on the run.
I think most Arab countries have a variation of this method of eating “pancakes.” I’ve been shown the Egyptian, Iraqi, and Palestinian versions. The pancake can be substituted with a fresh, warm, soft round of pita bread, the honey can be helped with a spoonful of jam, and the cheese can be any one of several types of feta or cream cheese. All combinations are delicious!
I guess the people in this region see the pancake as something like a pita and so they approach it like one.
I have Palestinian friends who served something like this during Ramadan –and it really was like a pancake but the cheese was a soft white and all melty but I can’t remember the name. It was rolled up though.–and sweet. I love Middle Eastern food but could never get used to beans for breakfast!
Bismillaah
That’s too funny. Strangely enough as being an American it actually sounds quite good to me. Mhhmm
Totally – sounds gross, but strangely absolutely delicious! hehe.
I think they view pancake like bread…or kobuz…ive seen Bahrainis combine some very strange things together for their pancake breakfast.
There is a pan-Arab version of the pancake, called ‘qatayef’. They are more neutral tasting as they are rarely eaten alone and depend wholly on the stuffing, which range from the sweet (cream, banana, honey, nuts … etc) to the savory (minced meat, vegetables, cheese … etc). It is a staple of Ramadan cuisine.
BTW, melted cheese lends itself very well to honey I find. Cheese kunafa is delicious.
lol that’s funny..
well here’s my version, I myself can’t tolerate the maple syrup on my pancakes, but instead I spread butter & jam. (maple syrup is just the thing I won’t die for!).
I agree that while it sounds really strange, it’s totally worth trying at least once!
I FIND THE PANCAKE INGREDIENTS ARE QUITE HIGH IN CHOLESTROL. AT LEAST LET’S HAVE A LOW CHOLESTROL TOPING AND MORE MIDDLE EASTERN. TRY MIXING DATE OR SUGAR CANE MOLASSES WITH TAHINI (SESAME FUDGE) THEN SPRINKLE THE LITTLE BLACK SEEDS ( I DON’T KNOW THE NAME IN ENGLISH) USED WITH SOFT ROLLS SOMETIMES FOR A LITTLE AROMA. FOR A MORE EXCLUSIVE SPICY TASTE, I WOULD PUT FRESHLY CRUSHED BLACK PEPER INSTEAD.
sounds yummy_ I will Definitely try it out at home!
Saudi Jawa–Yes! That is what my friend served–and it is delicious.
I’m getting hungry … time for breakfast.
I don’t know about all that…but perhaps its like spreading cream cheese and jam on a bagel or croissant?
You should make them chocolate chip pancakes! mm.mmm….good.
Speaking of food. Anthony Bourdain, host of No Reservations on the Food Channel, did a special episode in Jeddah and one meal his Saudi hostess had prepared was baby camel on a bed of rice…lol. Now I love to eat, and ever since seeing that I’ve wanted to try it.
Yuck! Baby camel? Poor little thing.
Just by chance, my friend and I saw Anthony Bourdain near the restaurant where we were having dinner. We even got a picture with him here in Jeddah!!! Security was having a fit.
As to your pancakes….I prefer waffles myself. Belgian style, thank you….with warm syrup and beef bacon. Yummy.
I am a waffle girl
Miriam:
Don’t knock it ’till you’ve tried it!
Baby camel is delicious. Not that different from veal really. But the real treat is baby camel liver, another staple of Ramadan cuisine (in western Saudi Arabia anyway).
This breakfast makes sense when you look at what is a common breakfast in the area, bread, cheese, and olives.
HTIM–I think you mean poppy seeds. Great suggestions!
Just as a warning for anyone who works in a place where they do random drug testing, consuming a poppy seed breakfast (bagel, muffin, pancake, struedel) can show opoids in the urine (not joking, has happened)!
Baby any animal is the most prized meat (tender, not tough or stringy, and lends itself to more styles of preparation). If one can eat camelburgers, or kefta/kibbeh, or kebob, why not roasted stuffed baby camel, or baby camel kabsa?
Great comments with additional suggestions to try and like others, reading the comments made me hungry!
Saudi Jawa – we got those traditional pancakes while in Makkah. One type was filled with bananas and the other with cream cheese (Saudi style). They were both so delicious.
Yes, probably filled with cholesterol so partake in moderation! (chimes Dr. Bedu)
It seems to me this is a woman discussion…………
frankly, I used to cook when I was little, but I think I lost this hobby while getting older. There were some attempts that end totally disaster, however I still have the skill.Therefore, I am planing to regain this hobby as I getting enough with restaurants food while living away from my family during the working days.
a camel baby, oh dear god I can’t get enough of it and its liver.
Pertain to your topic, I love the cheese with honey whether it put on waffle, pancake, or bagel
SaudiBedu, women generally love it when men know how to cook.
Agreed. A real plus for a man! Even if you eventual learn he has mastered only one dish!
I think the “cream cheese” talked about is “Puk” or Kraft. It comes in a glass jar, blue top, at least the Puk does, Kraft has a gold top.
During the Danish incident it was very hard to get it here in the US as people were boycotting it.
This stuff is very popular in the Middle East and is VERY good.
My son does the majority of cooking in his family as he has always enjoyed cooking!
It sounds excellent!
I find the consumption of baby animals a sick idea. I try to make sure all the meat I eat is organic and from adult animals.
Saudibedu, cooking skills add ten points to a man’s total appreciation-count, I would pick it up again if I were you.
Have never had camel meat….maybe sometime in the next 30 years here. : )
It takes a long time to forget the sheep that are tied up in our backyard every year for Eid….. I prefer shopping for the meat that is already cut cleaned and ready to go.
Because I tend to view camels more as a pet rather than a herd animal, I will not even attempt to try camel meat!