ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN YOULIN MAGAZINE
Written by: Nayha Jehangir Khan Posted on: April 29, 2022 | | 中文
Eid Dinner
Muslims spend the month of Ramadan engaged in religious duties of fasting from dawn till dusk. Attending daily prayers, recitations of the Quran and spiritual healing become synonymous with fasting. Eid ul-Fitr marks the end of fasting, when the first crescent moon is sighted. The following morning there is an Eid Prayer held for the entire community at a local mosque. Festivities begin at the end of the morning congregation where men, women & children exchange joyful salutations of “Eid Mubarak”
Biryani
On returning home, the first Eid treat expected to be served are saviyaan, which are made using wheat vermicelli that are fried in ghee and fresh milk. A traditional masterpiece with roots dating back to the Mughal era, the comforting flavours are further enhanced to create the perfect Sheer Khurma that includes cardamom, pistachios, almonds, saffron and dates. Popular worldwide, with a wide variety of variations to the recipe, depending on the region and history, it can be prepared with or without milk, and served with fresh cream and a side of mixed nuts to generously garnish your bowl.
Sweets made for Eid
The rest of the day is spent meeting family and friends, some hoping to catch the first meal of the day together. The breakfast meal is elevated into a royal affair by serving traditional nashta of Halwa, Puri & Channa, which is the perfect balance of sweet and savoury flavours. The Halwa is made from sweet semolina, while the Channa has chickpeas in a masala curry. The bread is light and crisp made by deep-frying in sizzling hot ghee. Wearing new clothes and applying mehndi are traditionally practised in many households throughout the country. Children eagerly wait in anticipation to receive edhi (money gifted to children on Eid) from parents, grandparents and close relatives.
Halwa Puri and Channa
These family gatherings are spread out throughout the entire day transforming lunch and dinner into scrumptious home-cooked feasts. The decadent and mouthwatering Shahi Korma is a slow-cooked dish prepared using either lamb, chicken, mutton or beef served only on special occasions. Usually paired with hot tandoori bread such as Roghni Naan, another important item on the Eid menu is Biryani. The name Biryani has its origin in the Persian language, as the word Birinj means rice. Since the Mughal time, the mixed rice recipe has travelled all over the world for its aromatic and rich taste. Considered to be a difficult dish to prepare, as it requires technical skill to measure each ingredient precisely while it is slow-cooked and smoked over charcoal. It can be served with traditional curry dishes such as mirchi ka salan and baghare baingan.
Nihari
Another classic for meat lovers is the Beef Paya, which is prepared by cooking the hooves of a cow, goat, buffalo or sheep until they are soft, in curry masalas. Slow cooking is an essential part of preparing Nihari that over the course of 4 to 6 hours infuses the meat gravy with the original taste of all the spices. The constant presence of Haleem during weddings, holidays and year-long festivities shows that it is an essential part of our food culture. Haleem is in the form of a thick stew prepared using pounded chicken or beef mixed into a variety of lentils and grains that is a nutritious and flavorful main dish at the lunch or dinner table. Have these curries with the luxurious saffron-flavoured flatbread called Sheermal that will bind together the spectrum of flavours that have landed on your plate. The summer heat has picked up and temperatures are rising as we get closer to the Eid day. The perfect chilled glass of Lassi or Sardai will ensure you are hydrated throughout the day.
Haleem
Recipes for these complex savoury dishes are handed down for generations, creating a legacy of food culture individualised to each family’s ancestry. Sweet dishes also require meticulous preparation and are considered an integral part of Eid celebrations. What is commonly known as bread pudding is transformed into the tantalising Shahi Tukda, which is considered one of the most popular sweet dishes for Eid. Other favourites include Phirni, Zarda, Doodh jaleebi & Ras Malai, which are prepared according to each family’s preferences and particular customs. Eid Ul Fitr is a joyous occasion that brings together family and friends enjoying conversation, laughter and love through sharing a memorable meal.
Shahi Tukda
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