The festival of Eid-ul-Fitr is a joyous time for those who follow the Islamic faith – it is a three-day festival that celebrates the completion of the Holy month of Ramadan. You can learn more here, but as all able Muslims fast during daylight hours in Ramadan, one of the ways in which Eid-ul-Fitr is celebrated is by enjoying a delicious feast with loved ones – cooking traditional dishes that delight each member of the family.

Doubtless, every family will have their own Eid food traditions, but if you fancy trying something a little different this year, here are some tantalising new recipe ideas to get you started!

Nunor Bora

Delicious as an accompaniment to curries or stews, Nunor Bora is often served during Eid. Essentially, they are savoury rice flour snacks, making a simple yet tasty addition to your meal. To make Nunor Bora, simply peel, chop and blend 2 large onions and a large stem of ginger, before adding the mixture to a pan of boiling water with 2tsp salt and 1tsp of turmeric powder. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes before adding 2 cups of rice flour and 1 cup of ground rice, stirring, and cooking for an additional 15 minutes.

Once the dough is fully cooked, knead the mixture into a ball and then roll it out to a thickness of 4mm. Cut it out into individual shapes using a cookie cutter – this is the part where you can freeze any additional Nunor Bora you make to enjoy at a later date. To cook, simply add oil to a wok and fry until golden and crispy, then serve immediately.

Chicken BBQ Biryani

This wonderful dish is packed full of rich flavours and fragrant spices – what better way to celebrate Eid? To cook the dish from scratch, add the following ingredients to a bowl and mix well: chicken, 1tbsp garlic paste, 2tbsp lemon juice, 1stp turmeric powder, 1tbsp chilli powder, 2tbsp natural yoghurt, 1tsp masala powder, 1tsp cumin, 1tsp coriander, 1tsp ground pepper, 2tbsp olive oil and a pinch of salt.

Allow the mixture to cool in the fridge for an hour while soaking your rice in water for 20 minutes, then boil the rice with a pinch of salt and a dash of olive oil. Grill the chicken before adding to a pan containing 2tbsp ginger, tomato puree, 1tbsp chilli powder, 1tsp cumin, 1tsp masala powder, 1tsp coriander and a pinch of salt – cook for 10-15 minutes. Add the rice and half a cup of chicken stock, simmer for a further 10 minutes and serve piping hot.

Coconut Samosas

For a delightful twist on a classic nibble, why not give coconut samosas a try in place of more traditional savoury snacks? To make your own coconut samosas for Eid, simply mix 300g plain flour and 200ml water and a pinch of salt into a dough consistency. Roll out the dough and use a cookie cutter to form circular shapes.

Meanwhile, simmer 200g shredded coconut, 15g ghee and 2tsp fennel seeds for 5 minutes, before allowing to cool. Add the coconut mixture to the dough, folding it over to contain the coconut and crimping the edges to keep it secure. Freeze any extra samosas at this point. To cook, add the samosas to a hot pan or deep fat fryer, frying until golden brown. Serve, and enjoy!

Do any of these dishes take your fancy? In 2019, Eid-ul-Fitr is expected to begin in the evening of Tuesday 4th June, once the day’s fast is complete. However, as the Islamic calendar is based on the lunar cycle, the date of Eid may change depending on the sighting of the moon. If you will be celebrating, it’s best to check closer to the time for confirmation of the exact dates.

Anna Jones
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