Traditional dishes for Eid-al-Fitr

LUTHO PASIYA lutho.pasiya@inl.co.za

MUSLIMS around the world are preparing for Eid-ul-Fitr 2023, which is expected to fall on Saturday, April 22, (depending on when the moon is sighted).

The festival is the earlier of the two official holidays celebrated within Islam. It also commemorates the end of Ramadaan, the Muslim holy month.

During Ramadaan, Muslims across the world fast from dawn to dusk. After a month of this spiritual practice comes Eid-ul-Fitr, “the feast of fast breaking”. On this occasion people offer prayers to Allah and, later in the day, families and friends gather for a mega feast.

Though no festival is complete without delicious meals, think how wonderful food can taste after a month of fasting.

Here are some of the most popular dishes eaten during Eid-al Fitr.

Breyani

Eid-al-Fitr and breyani go hand in hand. Breyani is a dish that almost every foodie enjoys. It has a distinct flavour that has left many a taste bud craving for more. It’s a celebration of all that is great about Indian food – the strong aromas, the vibrant colours, the fluffy rice, and those addictive curry flavours, it is worth every munch. The kind of meat added to breyani differs from country to country. Although chicken is typical, lamb and goat are also used.

EID AL-FITR and breyani go hand in hand. | Pexels

Korma

Korma is a South Asian dish that is popular across the world, along with chicken breyani, chicken tikka masala and butter chicken. It is prepared by marinating and then braising the meat in a yoghurt or cream base. The dish is traditionally cooked on low heat for about an hour until the meat is tender and the sauce turns into a rich and creamy glaze.

KORMA is a South Asian dish that is hugely popular worldwide, along with chicken breyani, chicken tikka masala and butter chicken. | Supplied

Tagine

A tagine is a North African stew named after the clay pot in which it is prepared. It is a hearty dish that can be easily modified to taste. The tagine’s cone shape makes a moist, hot cooking environment for the dish being cooked. The base is wide and shallow, and the tall lid fits easily inside. It is filled with meat, dried fruit and vegetables, and a small amount of liquid and left to cook for a few hours on low heat, producing a meltingly tender stew.

A TAGINE is a North African stew named after the clay pot in which it is prepared. | Supplied

Pulao

Pulao is comfort food at its best. It is a fragrant Indian-style rice dish made by cooking rice with spices and vegetables. You can make pulao in several ways. The only thing you need to take care with is the rice-to-water ratio and the cooking time. Pulao can be eaten as is, but it is mostly served with raita (a side dish made of dahi together with raw or cooked vegetables) pickle, and papad (deep-fried dough of black gram bean flour).

PULAO is comfort food at its best. | Pexels