‘Iftar brings us together:' Expats remember cherished delicacies that offer taste of home
27 Mar 2025 01:30
RAJIVE CHERIAN (ABU DHABI)For expats in the UAE, the Holy Month of Ramadan brings back memories of home and, come iftar time, many couldn't help but long for the taste and aroma they grew up with back in their countries. Now in their second home, many residents try to recreate their favourite dishes and share them with friends who became family over the years. 'More than the food, it is having iftar with friends that make every gathering much sweeter,' Egyptian expat Hammad Khalil told Aletihad. As the air echoes with the call to prayer, iftar meals — be they grand or modest — await to be served after day-long fasting during the Holy Month of Ramadan. Although iftar traditions vary across the world, it's a time when spiritual fulfilment meets the symphony of taste, bringing gratitude and the feeling of togetherness.In conversation with Aletihad, members of the expat community recalled the cherished delicacies that take centre stage at iftar gatherings back home.
Stuffed Pigeons and Molokhia For Khalil, the first food that comes to mind when thinking of iftar is molokhia, the iconic green soup made from jute leaves. It can accompany rice with chicken, duck, or meat.'Of course, stuffed pigeon as the main course and Umm Ali as the dessert are the major highlights,' he said.The stuffing for the pigeon-based dish, known as 'hamam mahshi', includes rice mixed with onion and herbs.When it comes to dessert, the legendary Umm Ali reigns supreme, he said. This traditional bread pudding, baked in a clay pot, is a blend of puff pastry, roasted nuts, spiced milk, sugar, and raisins. Barbusa, semolina cake soaked in syrup, and Qatayef, mini pancakes filled with crispy nuts or cheese and drizzled with sugary syrup, are also among the favourites for dessert.
Matoke For Shamila Owomugisha from Uganda, it's Matoke, a spicy green banana mash, that is the main attraction for iftar.Matoke is steamed green bananas later mashed in banana leaves and served with stew, fish, egg, meat or vegetables.Katogo, cassava cooked with beans, and Irish potatoes mixed with meat are also iftar favourites, she said.For dessert, fruits gain prominence, mainly pawpaw, mangoes, watermelon, and jackfruit.'Iftar brings us family members all together in gratitude, and sometimes, our neighbours join us, too. For us, it's the time to pray for forgiveness, especially during Laylat Al Qadr — one of the last nights of Ramadan — and renew our faith,' she added.
Thari Kanji and Pathiri The simplicity of thari kanji distributed at mosques at the end of fasting is wafting through the mind of Saeed Manikoth Thangal, an expat from the south Indian state of Kerala. Thari kanji is a creamy porridge made of semolina, milk, and coconut milk. It has numerous varities, too, but all of them are topped with ghee-infused cashew, shallots, and raisins.In households, it's pathiri — pancakes made of rice flour, served with spicy beef or chicken curry — that is the signature part of the iftar meal, he said.
'Beyond food, it's the time for the spiritual discipline of fasting, it makes us aware of hunger and the importance of sharing with others. It's also the time for Zakat, the Islamic practice of donating 2.5% of a Muslim individual's cash, gold, silver, cattle, farms and rentable assets to charity.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Etihad
4 days ago
- Al Etihad
Abu Dhabi takes the lead in building sustainable, community-focused infrastructure, say experts
18 June 2025 00:37 SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)The UAE capital has brought together over 2,000 global leaders in the construction industry for the inaugural Abu Dhabi Infrastructure Summit (ADIS), a two-day event that emphasises the role of human-centred sustainable infrastructure in developing liveable and resilient and thought leaders at the summit highlighted how Abu Dhabi takes the lead in redefining infrastructure to prioritise quality of life, sustainability, and wellbeing over traditional development by the Abu Dhabi Projects and Infrastructure Centre (ADPIC), ADIS 2025 kicked off on Tuesday under the banner 'Future Cities: Rethinking Infrastructure for Better Lifestyles'.The summit opens up opportunities for investments and partnerships to key industry players from around the world, said Eng. Maysarah Mahmoud Salim Eid, Director General of ADPIC. In an interview with Aletihad , Eid emphasised the importance of fostering collaboration and innovation as part of Abu Dhabi's efforts toward realising its ambitious infrastructure agenda. "We are managing a massive portfolio of over 600 government-funded capital projects worth more than Dh200 billion. Delivering that alone is not easy — we need fresh partners and new blood to join us through investment or collaboration," he it comes to infrastructure, Abu Dhabi is distinguished by its human-centred approach, Eid said."The uniqueness of our infrastructure lies in its focus on social impact-developing what the community needs to enhance lifestyles, health, and wellbeing. As 2025 is the Year of Community, everything we develop is meant to elevate citizens, residents, and even tourists," he key projects, Eid noted: "We have a world-class housing programme, an upgraded transport network, and major tourism developments like Saadiyat Island, the Natural History Museum, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, and the upcoming Disneyland." Prioritising Quality of LifeAbu Dhabi has been redefining infrastructure to create "liveable - and even lovable-communities", said Mahmoud Dandashly, Chief Business Officer of Lead Development for Jubail Island, who was also present at the summit. "Infrastructure today is no longer just about engineering and utilities," he said. "It includes both hard and soft infrastructure, supporting not only growth and mobility but also environmental quality and social wellbeing."The high-end, nature-focused Jubail Island - with 40 million square meters of mangrove forests and coastal areas - is a living testament to this vision, he said."The integration of sustainability, wellness, and liveability into national planning shows how deeply the leadership values quality of life," Dandashly emirate's sustainability vision extends across the construction sector. For example, Abu Dhabi-based Build Hub provides high-quality, sustainable building materials under one roof."Our goal is to make it easy for customers to find everything they need in one place," said Eng. Al Anood Al Ali, CEO of Build Hub, and Oday Al Ahmed, Project summit participant, real estate developer Reportage Group, praised the emirate's focus on people over skyscrapers."What makes Abu Dhabi stand out is the quality of life it delivers," said Sara Satari, Senior Global Communications Lead at Reportage Group. "It is about cleaner air, better living, and holistic wellbeing."Developer Bloom Holding also aligns its strategies with the emirate's ambitions. "Successful master developments are about human connection - where people feel rooted, inspired, and empowered," said Carlos Wakim, CEO of Bloom Holding. AI Platform for Construction IndustryAt the event, the Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) showcased how its AI-powered 'BINAA' platform has been streamlining Abu Dhabi's construction journey. Eng. Maryam Almheiri, Acting Section Head of Business Systems Development at DMT, said BINAA allows developers, contractors and engineers to monitor the progress of their projects in real time. "It improves transparency, speeds up processes, and enhances communication among all stakeholders." Features like 360-degree project views, compliance charts, and a firm directory make it easier for users to manage timelines and select partners based on verified data.
Al Etihad
4 days ago
- Al Etihad
Revitalise body and mind on International Day of Yoga in Abu Dhabi
18 June 2025 00:51 ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)Saturday, June 21, is International Day of Yoga and if you are looking for a revitalising experience for the body and mind, the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi is hosting an International Day of Yoga event in collaboration with the Indian Embassy at the Louvre Abu an inclusive community setting dedicated to health, harmony and holistic wellbeing, featuring outdoor yoga sessions in the picturesque Louvre Abu Dhabi Park, set against the backdrop of the tranquil Saadiyat Island you're a beginner or an experienced yogi, you will enjoy connecting with like-minded individuals as you breathe, stretch and immerse yourself in the transformative power of mats will be provided but participants may also bring their the Galleria Al Maryah Island invites guests to join its complimentary yoga sessions. Classes are being hosted indoors on Level 2, South Link Bridge near the food court, facilitated by professional free sessions are set to run every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday, from 8.30am to 9.30am. Guests are required to bring their own yoga mats and towels. Source: Aletihad - Abu Dhabi
Al Etihad
5 days ago
- Al Etihad
Under the directives of the UAE President, ICP exempts Iranians from overstay fines
17 June 2025 18:00 ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)Under the directives of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security (ICP) on Tuesday issued a decision exempting Iranians in the UAE from overstay fines. The decision applies to both residents and visitors who arrived in the country on any type of entry measure comes in response to the exceptional circumstances facing the region, aimed at providing relief to Iranians who have been unable to return to their homeland due to the airspace closure and flight suspensions, the authority said. The ICP urged those covered by the exemption to register on its smart platforms or visit its customer happiness centres across the country. Source: Aletihad - Abu Dhabi
