What does Ramadan mean to you? This question gets asked often. Ramadan brings with it blessings and joy. One of the most delightful aspects of Ramadan that I look forward to experiencing is the food, or rather the exchanging of food.
I love seeing the food going from house to house in the local neighbourhoods. It is almost like little random acts of kindness in traditional hot pots being transported from one house to another. I love seeing anticipation on the faces of the families as they carefully peel off the aluminum foil and wave off the steam to reveal the gastronomical pleasures that lie within. There is something so nostalgic about this, and I imagine that this practice hasn’t changed much since the old days of Dubai.
Getting lost in the hustle and bustle at the supermarkets between people buying last minute ingredients is something that I detest on normal days but somehow don’t find so bad during Ramadan.
Aside from breaking the fast with dates and water, generally a unified practice among Muslim households, Ramadan brings out an array of food rarely seen during other times of the year. I am blessed to have to parents who cook on a regular basis but their inner master chefs really shine during the holy month. My mother makes Basboosa, a traditional Arabic cake made from semolina and my father makes traditional Emirati food every day.
He makes Machbous (a meat and rice dish), chicken stew, chicken soup, regag (flatbread) and lugaimat or fried dumplings in date honey for dessert. They cook every day for Ramadan and preparations take about three hours.
I know that some people say that football is a universal language, and I am a die-hard football fan, but I truly believe that food is the universal language.
There is no other time during the year that has so much of it. From the elaborate restaurant iftar buffets to the suhoor tents and intimate family gatherings. The spirit of Ramadan can be seen everywhere and enjoyed by Muslims and non-Muslims alike.
Vimto, the most popular drink during Ramadan, obviously takes centrestage. However, the delicacies served up in Ramadan are a celebration of the harmonious mix that we live in.
If anything, food during the month is a direct reflection of the very nature of the UAE, a community with a place for everyone. This, to me is the true spirit, a feeling of togetherness that makes Ramadan a time unlike any other. Ramadan Kareem from me to you.
