Eid-al-adha began Monday evening and ends Friday, July 23. Called the “Festival of the Sacrifice”, Eid-al-adha commemorates Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail as an act of obedience to Allah's command.
Eid-al-adha follows the Hajj pilgrimage, hence it is considered the great Eid because of its religious significance.
While families spending together is a big part of Eid-al-adha, the most important thing about the festival is giving back to your immediate community and those who are in need.
As soon as possible after Eid prayer, those who have the means will ritually sacrifice, or Qurbaan, livestock such as sheep, goats, cattle or camels.
The meat of these sacrifices is distributed among one’s family, neighbours and the poor.
Thanks to the pandemic, the usual celebratory feasts after the sacrifice might not be happening for many. With so much having changed, there are some things that should not change what the festival is also about – breaking bread together.
It is also a day where great food is to be had and many families prepare a succulent leg of lamb with all the trimmings.
Here are some ideas that will give a new spin to the tried, tested and well loved Eid-al-ahda recipes to cater for everyone, including those following a plant-based diet.
Lamb Meatballs (Serves 6-8)
Ingredients
1kg lamb mince
10ml salt
3ml turmeric
10ml ground chilli powder
3ml ground coriander
5ml ground cumin
1 green chilli, chopped
10ml ginger and garlic paste
2 eggs, beaten
6 slices of old bread, soaked in water until soft and squeezed out.
2 onions, grated
3-4 spring onions, chopped
250ml fresh coriander, chopped
Sauce:
15ml oil
1 onion, chopped
4 tomatoes, grated
3ml chilli powder
2ml turmeric
3ml ground cumin
3ml ground coriander
Method
Combine the mince with the salt, turmeric, chillies, coriander, cumin, green chilli, ginger and garlic paste, eggs, soaked bread, onions, coriander and spring onion and mix well.
Shape the mixture into balls and fry in a little oil until browned.
Remove and set aside.
Sauce: Heat the oil and fry the onion until soft. Add the tomatoes and remaining ingredients and simmer for 10 minutes. Add the meatballs and simmer until cooked through. Garnish with coriander.
LAMB WITH ORZO (Serves 4)
Ingredients
30ml olive oil
750g lamb cubes
1 onion, sliced
15ml chopped garlic
5ml ground cinnamon
2 bay leaves
4 anchovy fillets
400g can of chopped tomatoes
500ml chicken or lamb stock
250ml orzo pasta
salt and pepper
15ml each of chopped parsley, mint and rosemary
Method
Heat the oil and fry the lamb cubes until brown. Remove and set aside.
Add onion and garlic and fry until soft. Add the cinnamon, bay leaves and anchovies and cook for a few seconds. Add the tomatoes and stock and return the meat to the pot.
Cover and simmer for 1-2 hours until the meat is tender.
Add the pasta and cook for another 15-20 minutes or until the pasta is tender. Season to taste and stir in the herbs before serving.
Parsley-crusted rack of lamb
Ingredients
1 x 4-bone rack per portion
Butter
Dijon mustard
Generous handful Italian parsley, stems removed
4 heaped Tbs breadcrumbs
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
Salt and pepper to taste
Olive oil
Pan-fry the racks in hot melted butter until well browned on all sides, a couple of minutes per side. Transfer to an oven dish, fatty side up, season with salt and pepper and smear Dijon mustard generously to completely cover the fat.
Rinse the parsley and pat dry. Chop it finely and mix in a small bowl with the breadcrumbs, garlic, salt and pepper and olive oil (2 or 3 Tbs should suffice, Daisy).
Pack this generously on top of the rack or racks (the quantity of which, Daisy, will depend on how many people you’re feeding – so, yes, you may need to increase the quantities of the crust ingredients).
Roast in a 220°C oven for 15 minutes, cover with foil and cook for 5 or 10 minutes more. Leave to rest, warm but out of the oven, for 10 minutes before serving.
Green Mango Salad
Ingredients
1/3 cup (75 ml) chopped cashews or peanuts
2 unripe mangoes, 2 lb/1kg in total
1/3 cup (75ml) of chopped fresh coriander
1/3 cup (75ml) of chopped mint
2 tbsp (25ml) of lime juice
4 tsp (18ml) of granulated sugar
4 tsp (18ml) of fish sauce
1 tbsp (15m) of vegetable oil
¼ tsp (1ml) Asian chilli sauce or hot pepper sauce
1 sweet red pepper, thinly sliced
1 cup (250ml) of thinly sliced red onions
Method
In a pan, toast the cashews over a medium heat until fragrant and golden, about 8 minutes; set aside.
Cut pointy ends off mangoes. Set each mango on cut end. Using serrated knife, cut off peel. Cut flesh on either side of flat pit into thin slices; stack and cut into thin strips.
In a bowl, whisk together the coriander, mint, lime juice, sugar, fish sauce, oil and chilli sauce. Add the mangoes, red pepper and onion; toss to coat. (Make-ahead: Cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days.)
Sprinkle with cashews.
Rose and Pistachio Phirni (Serves 6)
Ingredients
4 cups milk
4 tbs Jungle Taystee Wheat
4 tbs condensed milk
½ tsp fine cardamom
50g chopped or crushed pistachio
2-3 tablespoons rose syrup. Feel free to adjust to your preference
155g tin dessert cream
A few drops of pink colouring
Method
Make a paste using half a cup of the milk and Jungle Taystee Wheat.
In a separate pot, bring the rest of the milk to a boil.
Add the paste to the milk and continue to whisk until it thickens.
Add the condensed milk, rose syrup, pistachios, and cardamom.
Remove the mixture from the heat and allow to cool completely.
Add the dessert cream and a few drops of colouring.
Pour into dessert bowls and decorate with crushed pistachio or as desired.
Recipe by Haseena Vawda