Food
Humble 'panta bhat' now on MasterChef platter
Bangladeshi expat Kishwar Chowdhury, who has made it to this season's MasterChef Australia, has stunned everyone yet again -- this time by serving the humble and traditional 'panta bhat' and 'aloo bhorta' in the grand finale episode of the celebrated show.
Currently fighting for the top position of MasterChef Australia Season 13 alongside Justin Narayan and Pete Campbell in the finale, Kishwar presented the most iconic Bangladeshi dish 'panta bhat' (smoked rice water) with 'aloo bhorta' (mashed potato) and sardine before the judges as her ultimate dish in the competition.
Read:Kishwar Chowdhury: The woman who brought traditional Bangladeshi dishes in MasterChef Australia
Sharing her cuisine selection, the 38-year-old wrote on her official page on Monday: “Smoked Rice Water -- This is my final dish for MasterChef 2021. The extraordinary chefs and mentors I met on my journey here, inspired me to research ancient techniques and reimagine dishes that have been passed down from generation to generation.”
“Culinary genius @thehestonblumenthalteam had me thinking about the exciting concept of 'Smoked Water'. Meeting @scottpickettchef and finding out he has Charcoal Smoked Water on his menu, gave me the confidence to reach into my repertoire of dishes that people from my culture only serve at home. So here is my last and final homage to a dish that deserves this stage. As Jock Zonfrillo put it, this food belongs here," Kishwar wrote.
Read:Kishwar wins Australians hearts with her Bangladeshi recipe
Thanking the judges, she added, “It’s been an honour to be able to bring this food to the MasterChef Australia platform. Thank you @fooderati @andyallencooks and Jock Zonfrillo] for teaching me to unapologetically do so.”
The official Facebook page of MasterChef Australia also shared the presentation of Kishwar and her quintessential Bengali dishes before the judges, where she said, "This is a dish that you wouldn't see in a restaurant anywhere. So it is scary, but extremely rewarding to present this as a finale dish.”
Judges of Masterchef Australia Jock Zonfrillo, Melissa Leong and Andy Allen were extremely impressed with the dish, deeming it a "powerful dish with history and flavour".
Read:Macher Jhol in Melbourne: Transcending borders through food!
Netizens have since been sharing this amazing presentation of Kishwar all over social media platforms.
The results of the finale will be revealed on July 13.
Kishwar Chowdhury: The woman who brought traditional Bangladeshi dishes in MasterChef Australia
MasterChef is one of the culinary television reality shows in the universe. About 40 countries around the world have their own MasterChef program. 'MasterChef Australia' is at the top of the list in terms of popularity among the MasterChef events in the world. This is a game show of competitive cooking.
Recently a few cooking videos from MasterChef Australia that contain the most popular Bangladeshi dishes went viral on social media. Kishwar Chowdhury, a cook of Bangladeshi descent, got famous overnight by cooking traditional Bangladeshi dishes like Chicken Korma, smoked eggplant (Begun Vorta), Goat Rezala, Rangamati Barramundi curry, etc. Preparing delicious dishes one after another, Kishwar attracted the attention of the audience of different languages, including judges.
Country has no shortage of food, says Food Minister
Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder has trashed report of food shortage in the country saying that there is enough food stock and it’s increasing.
The minister said this on Thursday at an agreement signing ceremony of Barishal steel silo construction and online food stock monitoring system buying, at the ministry.
Read: The food minister irked by rising rice prices
He said bringing regional food offices, district offices, upazila offices and food storehouses under the online monitoring system will ensure more transparency and accountability in the activities of the food division, he said.
Steel made silos are being constructed to increase the food storage by 2025, said the food minister.
In these silos modern cooling systems will be used instead of pesticides keeping the food quality and nutrition intact for two years, he said.
Read: Boro procurement drive must be successful at any cost: Food Minister
Silos in Mymensingh, Madhupur and Ashuganj will be ready for handover by December this year while construction work of 5 more will kick off soon, said Minister Sadhan Chandra
Thirty of the 200 paddy silos construction projects across the country to ensure fair price for the farmers have already got approval.
Read:Govt will ensure fair price for the farmers: Food Minister
Paddies, even with 24% moisture can be taken from marginal farmers in these silos where technology will process them into quality rice, he said.
The minister urged the company to deliver quality work within project term mentioning no compromise will be tolerated in this regard.
World Food Safety Day today
The World Food Safety Day is being observed in the country on Monday as elsewhere in the globe with an aim to draw attention and inspire action to help prevent, detect and manage food borne risks and contributing to food security.
This year’s theme, ‘Safe food today for a healthy tomorrow’, stresses that production and consumption of safe food has immediate and long-term benefits for people, the planet and the economy, according to WHO.
Read: FAO lauds Hasina's leadership in attaining food security in Bangladesh
Recognizing the systemic connections between the health of people, animals, plants, the environment and the economy will help us meet the needs of the future.
Recognizing the global burden of foodborne diseases, which affect individuals of all ages, in particular children under-5 and persons living in low-income countries, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed in 2018 that every 7 June would be World Food Safety Day.
In 2020, the World Health Assembly further passed a resolution to strengthen global efforts for food safety to reduce the burden of food borne disease.
WHO and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) jointly facilitate the observance of World Food Safety Day, in collaboration with Member States and other relevant organizations.
Food safety is a shared responsibility between governments, producers and consumers. Everyone has a role to play from farm to table to ensure the food we consume is safe and healthy.
Read: Campaign on right to food, health launched
Through the World Food Safety Day, WHO works to mainstream food safety in the public agenda and reduce the burden of food borne diseases globally.
Marking World Food Safety Day, advocacy and research organization PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress) urged to immediately finalize and implement the regulations on limiting trans fats in food.
Industrially produced transfat is a toxic food element that increases risks of premature deaths from heart diseases.
Around 500,000 people die across the globe each year due to transfat-induced heart diseases.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has set the target to eliminate industrially produced transfat from the global food supply by 2023.
Read: UAE provides 50 mts humanitarian food aid to Bangladesh
The Bangladesh Food Safety Authority has prepared the draft “Regulations on Trans Fatty Acids Control in Foodstuffs, 2021”, but its finalization is still underway.
Underscoring World Food Safety Day, Executive Director of PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress) ABM Zubair has said, “There is no alternative to safe food for nurturing a healthy generation. Eliminating trans fat from food can save the lives of thousands and it is also a cost effective measure for the government. Trans fat must be eliminated from the food chain immediately for ensuring safe food for all.”
Intermittent Fasting: Health Benefits and Risks
At first, it may seem strange that abstaining from food could lead to healthier living. Since young, many were taught that the key to a healthy life revolves around exercise and nutritional meals. Although that is completely true, the fitness industry has started to get more creative with diets catered towards different goals and intermittent fasting promotes fat loss and even muscle definition! Although it occupies a niche and does it relatively well, this form of dieting has its fair share of risks that are associated with it. Here are the health benefits of intermittent fasting and possible risks to watch out for.
What Is Intermittent Fasting
The word “fasting” is straightforward enough, but “intermittent” can be a little misleading, and if done wrong, can lead to massive health consequences. Rather than an actual diet, Intermittent Fasting moderates the time you eat instead and that throws your body off its regular routine into something that can optimise its metabolism. The traditional fasting method is to abstain from food 16 hours a day, or even fasting a full day twice a week. This can sound extreme, but the logic lies in humans having the capacity to survive off food for a relatively long period of time.
Alternatively there is a strict calorie deficit rule that encourages to only consuming 500-600 calories on two separated days in a week. This is a moderated form of fasting that allows an easier transition for those who are new to this diet. The most common method of fasting is to go by the 16/8 method, which promotes sacrificing breakfast and only opening an eating window between 1pm to 9pm. This is the simplest method by far and does not require calorie counting, leaving a significantly smaller margin for error.
Read: Best Health Clubs and Gyms in Dhaka in 2021
Health Benefits of Intermittent Fasting
Alters Hormones and Genes
On a microscopic level, fasting makes a lot of alterations to the hormone and genetic components to the body, but not in a bad way. Insulin levels for example drop a fair bit which is good for the body to metabolise at a faster rate. Blood levels are also affected when fasting which does trigger natural growth hormones within the body to ensure muscle-building too.
Additionally, fasting doesn’t make any direct alterations to genetic material, but it does strengthen its protection from diseases and extend its longevity. These changes are rather detailed compared to other factors, but it is good to know how extensive the changes are just by conditioning your body.
Read Muscle Building Diet: Best Foods for Muscle Gains, Definition and Fat Reduction
Burn Fat
Naturally, this would be the primary reason why anyone would choose to go on this rigorous journey, but its popularity is warranted. It isn’t any surprise that abstaining from food frequently would equate to fewer calories and that in turn, increases norepinephrine which is a compound used to break fat.
The intervals of intermittent fasting are relatively short compared to other types of fasts and are meant to kickstart the body to burn the fats reserved since no new sources are coming in. This style of dieting is the epitome of bodily conditioning; in order to get the most out of it, being careful with the type of food you eat and enforcing regular exercise is still critical to ensure that your body is burning fat from reserves.
Read What is Protein Powder? Benefits of Taking Protein Supplements
Reduces Risk of Diabetes
When the body is “starved” off its regular eating routine, you will start to lose insulin and that has large implications to building a tolerance for certain diseases. With a reduction of insulin, blood sugar is automatically lowered and this is the primary factor that determines whether type 2 diabetes surfaces or not. There are many foods that also reduce blood sugar and would go wonderfully with intermittent fasting to reduce the risks to almost zero.
Reduces Oxidative Stress and Inflammation
Oxidative stress is the cause of chronic diseases that stem from aging. When your systems get older, protein, DNA will start to age and see the damage. It was previously implied that fasting can help strengthen our genes and cell’s lifespan - which does inject a little more vitality into our immunity than many other ways of fasting. By separating yourself from a regular intake of food (especially unhealthy ones), other forms of inflammation will start to reduce, which is the cause for many common illnesses that strike the elderly.
Read: Health Benefits of Chamomile Tea
Good for the Heart
By improving blood sugar levels, blood pressure, and inflammatory markers, it’s no surprise that the heart will see benefits from these results. A high intake of sugar and fat can damage your arteries, which is where avoiding food for more than half the day will do wonders to stabilize blood flow and improve circulation. Fasting alone will not lead to complete improvement; cardiovascular activities and static exercises are good ways to reduce these risks better.
Macher Jhol in Melbourne: Transcending borders through food!
The quintessential Bengali 'Macher Jhol’ or fish curry has now reached the table of Masterchef Australia. All thanks to 38-year-old Bangladeshi expat Kishwar Chowdhury who has made it to the celebrated show this season.
A mother of two, Chowdhury is pursuing her dream of becoming a cookbook author aiming to showcase recipes handed down by her mother Laila Chowdhury (recent one being the macher jhol or fish curry).
The homemaker made her way to MasterChef Australia Season 13 with her sardines in green mango broth, served with black lentils, beetroot and blood orange bhorta.
Read: Kishwar wins Australians hearts with her Bangladeshi recipe on Masterchef
Later, she cooked several drool-worthy Bengali cuisines on the show -- from Chingri Bhorta (mashed prawns) to the humble Maach Bhaja (fish fry).
She aims to put Bangladeshi cuisine on the global culinary map with her passion for cooking, bringing international recognition to homegrown flavours but with a twist.
“If I don’t do that this food recipe and flavor will fade with me, I really want to pass them to my children,” she said in an earlier interview.
“This is testament to the fact that simple food, you have nowhere to hide with it, can be the best and most triumphant in the world," one of the judges said about Kishwar’s dishes in the competition.
Read: Different forms of Vitamin D: Benefits, sources of Vitamin D1 vs D2 vs D3
MasterChef Australia is an Australian competitive cooking show based on the original British MasterChef.
Initial rounds consist of a large number of hopeful contestants from across Australia individually "auditioning" by presenting a food dish before the three judges in order to gain one of 50 semi-final places.
The semi-finalists then compete in several challenges that test their food knowledge and preparation skills.
The contestants will then be whittled down through a number of individual and team-based cooking challenges and weekly elimination rounds until a winning MasterChef is crowned.
Read Most creative ways to eat more fruits for the non-fruit eaters
The contestants of MasterChef Australia, play for a prize that includes chef training from leading professional chefs, the chance to have their own cookbook published, and $ 250,000 in cash.
Mouthwatering Healthy Snacks Ideas for Eid in Lockdown
We all are familiar with the afternoon snacks. However, we may forget this habit after fasting for one month and eating heavy Iftar in the evening. But we are going back to regular life from Eid day and will certainly need snacks. If there has been no lockdown, we wouldn’t have to think about making snacks as we could go out to eat sometime. However, it is not possible this 2021 Eid. You may argue that you can get the food delivered, but will that be safe during this COVID pandemic? So, there is no option left except to make healthy snacks at home. Let’s see some mouthwatering healthy snack ideas for this Eid in lockdown.
Pattice
Patties as a snack are very popular in our country. It is readily available at any bakery, but as we have mentioned that it would not be safe to buy from outside due to the coronavirus. If you wish, you can make your own bakery-flavored patties at home.
To make Pattice that can serve up to three to four-person you would need, Flour - 3 cups, Coarse Flour of wheat (Suzy) - 1/2 cup, Salt - like quantity, Orange or lemon juice - 2-3 tablespoons, Baking powder - 1 + 1/2 teaspoon, Water - like quantity, Oil - 1/2 cup half, Dalda / Vegetable / Vegetable Sorting - 1/2 cup half (melted).
Mix all the ingredients together and cover with a damp cloth for 3-4 hours. Beat dalda 1/2 cup + 1 tablespoon oil well and make foam. Next, add 2 loaves of bread, large and thin, and give dalda cream in the middle. Now fold it like paratha and leave it in the fridge for 20-30 minutes.
Take the big loaf out of the fridge and fold it in a circle with dalda in the middle. After 20 to 30 minutes, cut the sand into rounds and cut them into squares. Now keep these sheets in the fridge for 10-20 minutes. Next, Brush with egg yolk on top and bake at 180 degrees for 20-30 minutes.
Read: Delicious Homemade Dessert Ideas for Eid and Other Celebrations
Chatpati
It will be hard to find a single person who doesn’t like Chatpati. However, making Chatpati is easy nowadays with the availability of readymade Chatpati masala. But you will need to make the main ingredient first.
Ingredients Chatpati dal - 2 cups, Ginger + garlic paste - 1/2 teaspoon, Onion paste - 2 tablespoons, Cumin + coriander paste - a little less than 1/2 teaspoon, Cardamom + cinnamon paste - 1/2 teaspoon, Salt, Boiled potatoes - as needed, Oil - 1 tbsp, Bay leaves - 1-2, chopped Onion- 1 piece.
Soak the dal in hot water for 4-5 hours. Then, put oil and onion in a pot oven. Add all the spices except boiled potatoes with dal and boil it. Add some water if needed. You may use a pressure cooker for a quick boil. In the middle, add the slightly mashed boiled potatoes and mix them with the dal. Do not overcook the daal. Take it down while there is water in the dal. Now add the readymade Chatpati masala and chopped onions according to the needs, and it will be ready to serve.
To make the tamarind water, take tamarind and mash in the water; add some rock salt, Chatpati masala, and sugar.
Read Different forms of Vitamin D: Benefits, sources of Vitamin D1 vs D2 vs D3
Noodles Pakora
Although some people may not like to eat it after having oily fried food for the last 30 days. But crispy noodles pakora is getting popular among adults and kids. You may make it healthy by serving with some salad which would increase the nutrition value.
Ingredients you will need, Cocola Noodles 1 packet, Mashed potatoes - half a cup, Flour - 1 cup, Eggs – 2, Pepper powder - a quarter teaspoon, Onion sprouts - 1 cup, Raw pepper - 4 tbsp, Soy sauce - 1/4 teaspoon, Salt - to taste, Oil - for frying.
With these ingredients making noodles pakora is super easy. First, boil the noodles lightly and drain the water. Then take another bowl, mix well with Flour, eggs, black pepper, onion, green pepper, salt, mashed potatoes, and soy sauce, as well as the noodles. Now fry it in the shape of onion in brown oil.
Read Apple Cider Vinegar: Benefits and Risk of Regular Consumption
Chicken Noodles Soup
It can bring variation and change our taste. Soup noodles would be very healthy for all too. If you can add vegetables with that, it will increase the nutrition value. It is something that you can make without any extra effort.
Things you need Butter - 2 tablespoons, Carrots - 1 cup, Onion - half a cup, Cinnamon - 1 piece, Meat - cut into small pieces, Meat stock - 4 cups, Soy sauce - 1 teaspoon, Garlic powder - 1/2 teaspoon, Pepper powder - 1/2 teaspoon, Lemon juice - 1 tbsp, Raw chili powder - 1 tbsp, Boiled egg noodles - one cup, A little salt.
Wash the chicken bones and boil in a little ginger paste, garlic paste, and Salt, 1 bay leaf, and two liters of water. Later, when the water is half dry, take it down and strain it. So, chicken stock is ready. Season your chicken by applying salt and soy sauce for about 20 minutes. Then, heat the butter in a saucepan and fry the meat and carrots along with onion and garlic until it turns red. Now add the chicken stock that was prepared earlier with black pepper powder. When the soup boils, add noodles, stirring frequently. Finally, when it boils with soy sauce and vinegar, remove it.
Read Bangladesh Cloud Kitchen Business Heralds Improved Food Delivery Services
Biscuit cake made with eggs
This biscuit cake may not be familiar to today’s generation. But it goes well with tea in the afternoon or guest entertainment. It is mouthwatering and somewhat healthy as the egg is adding with that.
You will need Rice powder - 1.5 cups, Flour - 1/2 (half) cup, Eggs - 2 pieces, Sugar - a little less than 1 cup, Cardamom, cinnamon - 2 pieces, oil - 3 tbsp, and Salt - a little.
Add sugar, cardamom, cinnamon, Salt, and a little water and thicken for a while. After that, make rice dough with rice powder and Flour mixed with cardamom cinnamon. Take it down and mix it well with eggs and Oil. Cut 1/2” thick bread through round steel glasses or cookie cutters. You have to do everything in the same way. Now deep fry in Oil.
Read Pink Chai: Kashmiri Tea Health Benefits, Recipe
Egg Salad or Fruit Salad
Salad can be made instantly. You can make this delicious healthy food in many ways. Lightly boiled beets or carrots are fried and mixed with sour yogurt, chaat spices, salt and pepper. Egg salad can be made by mixing boiled eggs, cucumber, tomato, lettuce, salt-pepper-lemon juice. It would be nice to eat fried peanuts or boiled gram mixed with eggs. You can make a fruit salad with several kinds of fresh fruit pieces and a little spice.
Read Famous Traditional Sweets and Desserts in Bangladesh
Mini Beef Burgers
Who doesn’t like burgers! It can be an excellent treat for your child too. However, burgers are junk food; you can make it in a healthy way at home. The ingredients you will need for the patty: beef mince 300 g, onion paste 2 tablespoons, ginger-garlic paste 2 teaspoons, lemon juice 2 tablespoons, coriander powder 1 tablespoon, egg 1, kebab spice 2 teaspoons, cumin powder half a teaspoon, 1 tablespoon of raw chili powder, 1 tablespoon of tomato sauce, 1 tablespoon of chili sauce, half a teaspoon of hot spice powder, 3 tablespoons of cooking Oil. For the burgers: 4 burger buns, 4 lettuce leaves, 1 tomato, 1 cucumber, 4 tablespoons of mayonnaise.
Put all the ingredients of the patty together and marinate in the fridge for 2 hours. Then, remove from the fridge, heat the oil in a non-stick pan and make a flat kebab by hand, and put it in the oven. Cover on low heat and fry on both sides till brown. When all the patties are fried, cut the cucumber and tomato into slices. Heat the burger buns lightly in the oven. Now put mayonnaise and lettuce inside the bun. Then garnish with tomato, burger patty, and cucumber slices and serve with a fun beef burger.
Any of these 7 items can be your Eid day snacks in the evening. Furthermore, if you need a detailed step-by-step recipe, you may take the idea from this article and search on YouTube.
Read Fungus: Health Benefits, Nutritional Values and Precautions
Peasant cultures, chicken tormuz and Ammu
A week or so back I posted on Facebook that I wanted to cook chicken with ripe watermelon. It was after I had actually bought a tormuz and was planning to cook chicken. The main consumer is my daughter and dad-cooks like us work extra hard to please children, as they lack historical experience and hence confidence. That’s another matter.
Nevertheless as I waited for the chicken to unfreeze I posted asking how it would be. As a regular Facebooker I have some idea what is enjoyed by more people and which aren’t. This post I thought was a flaky sort, passing entertainment which would disappear into the digital black hole like so many others.
Not only did it not disappear, it went I suppose you could say viral, almost gathering as many comments as emojis. But the comments stood out. As I read and responded- bad habit- I realized that I wasn’t dealing with a typical response to a “silly” post/comment but probably getting a peep into the Bangali soul, the Bangladeshi heart that beats on with both pride and anxiety. Anything more?
Two other issues emerged. One was my staple favourite – deep-baked bread which to my FB friends is burnt bread or “Pora rooti.” The other part was even more interesting. Most said the pioneer of all this deviant cooking was 'Kekappa', or Keka Ferousi, the Channel I cooking show icon. She had introduced noodles to many of her traditional dishes and remains unforgiven till date.
I was very intrigued by the responses as they kept on coming for long. And I realized that a deep and insecure/iconic part of our soul had been shaken by this simple matter of an unusual recipe. But cultural history wise, what did they all mean?
Food/cooking as social icons
Food is what life sustenance is all about so it’s all consuming. Every aspect of human behavior is linked to it. It is not only about staying alive physically but socially as well. This applies to food gathering, preparation and distribution as well. Doing all this requires an entire social process in action, touching everyone.
It’s called in very simple terms the food chain and no society can survive by ignoring it. And when food choices are limited including due to supply, this is even more applicable.
A once-insecure society is now understandably deep into food culture. We didn’t produce intermediate items to be exchanged for food for a long period but basic ones which were directly consumed. Agro-societies are always about food and its iconization. If food is secure, we are safe and continue to survive. Hence disturbing the food chain including making puts entire societies into risk. So naturally we resist any change. It’s part of any peasant culture.
Until the Mughal era when Bengal’s agro-revolution began and shifting cultivation entirely disappeared from the plains, people had very little choice despite being a delta. Thus fish consuming was limited to those living near the rivers and maybe occasional fish which was indeed very difficult to obtain. Any food constrained society develops such practices. Middle Eastern societies, pastoral in nature, adopted finger licking, partly to ensure no food is wasted.
Given that scenario, food divisions are clear. Since people had little chance of having protein in Bengal – meat or fish but meat certainly- it’s usually cooked as a single item. Vegetables are cooked as a single item and often as the main item in peasant households. Putting vegetable and protein is done only when one can ensure both – festivals- or to avoid cooking a separate dish. Fried fish is a single item and not eaten with vegetables in the same platter with as it’s a standalone glorious culinary icon of ours.
Fruits, proteins and Ammu
So where do fruits come into this? Generally, fruits are finishers, eaten at the end in all cultures as desserts and peasants rarely have it. They can hardly afford to mix a desert with the already luxury protein item so putting ripe watermelons –delicious, sweet, etc- with chicken, a rarely eaten protein, would be wasteful and hence to be avoided. Anything that can be saved needs to be so adding both will be a luxury and peasants can’t afford that.
But another factor works here in a peasant economy. All such societies are based on the “dhatri” – reproducer- concept and as the settled agriculture hit Bharat, the gods and goddesses also changed status with the emergence of Durga as the prime deity. She is the fertility icon, the producer, the one who brings food to the table. And her human representation is of course the guardian of food – the Mother. Like all societies she is the preparer of food hence the guarantor of sustenance. To deviate from her worship is to risk survival.
Therefore how Ammu cooks becomes iconic /religious ritual. It’s not a matter of taste but a sense of security and the sacred. To do otherwise is to be profane and that is a sin. Ammu never used ripe watermelons in any cooking so when we are faced with that suggestion, we are shocked and hit where it matters most, our icons, our sense of security and our sacred space.
It’s not an accident that we are a mother –worshipping society where Ammu can do no wrong. And Ammu never cooked chicken this way.
More soon when we discuss Kekappa and burnt rooti, but the basic theme is the same. It’s not the ripe watermelon brother Bangus, it’s about your Ammu.
Iftar Items, Recipes for Ramadan in Bangladesh
After a long day of fasting, we tend to get more interest in delicious food in iftar. But iftar food should not only be tasty and nutritious, but it should also be healthy. Most of the iftar items sold in the market are adulterated, which are deadly harmful to our health. Hence, Proper and healthy iftar is a very important issue to maintain physical health during the month of Ramadan. Only a balanced and healthy iftar can meet the proper nutritional needs as well as keep the body healthy and active. The iftar menu should be arranged in such a way that it is suitable for everyone. Here will discuss popular and healthy iftar item you can make at home.
Popular Iftar Items
When it comes to popular iftar items, we understand the different fried items. Our iftar remains incomplete without the fried items such as Chop, Peyaju, Pakora, and other oily items. However, these iftar items are not healthy for our body, especially when we eat them for months. The continuous consumption of this item may cause issues with gastric ulcers, heartburn, and more. You may take them once in a while or a small amount every day during Ramadan.
Also read: Islamic Foundation releases Sehri, iftar timings
Here we have listed a few popular fried iftar Items.
Egg Chop
Many of us would like to have egg chop in our iftar. Especially children like this food very much. That's why many people tend to buy egg chops from outside or make this at home. However, making egg chop can be tricky for some people. For those who don't know the easiest recipe for egg chop, here we have explained briefly.
Ingredients you will need boiled eggs, boiled potatoes, chopped onions, chili, chili powder, salt, bread crumbs, beaten eggs, and oil.
Boil the eggs and potatoes and peel them off, and cut each egg in half (depends on individuals).
Mix the boiled potatoes with onion powder, raw chili powder, coriander leaf powder, chili powder, and salt very well. Now fill the whole boiled egg inside the potato mixture and make it in the shape of a chop. Beat 2 eggs with a little salt. Dip the chops in the egg yolks, wrap them in bread crumbs and keep them in the fridge for some time.
Also read:'No iftar gatherings, sehri in mosques during Ramadan'
Now take the chops out of the fridge and deep fry them in oil so that the brown color comes. When done, serve hot on the iftar table.
(we did not mention the amount of each ingredient as it varies on individual's taste the required quantity, you can use ingredients according to your needs)
Beguni
Beguni is one of the different foods in Iftar and adds an extra flavor to Iftar.
Required ingredients are thinly sliced eggplants, finely ground, 1 cup of gram lentils, 1 tablespoon of flour, 1/2 teaspoon of coriander powder, 1/3 teaspoon of cumin paste, 1/2 teaspoon of ginger paste, 1/2 teaspoon of garlic paste, 1/4 teaspoon of baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon of cornflour, 1/2 teaspoon of chili powder, 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric powder, amount of salt, amount of water, 1 egg, amount of oil for frying eggplant.
To make the Bason mixture, take the gram flour in a bowl and mix all the ingredients well except the eggplant, water, eggs, and oil.
After that, heat the taken oil in a saucepan to start frying. Then dip the thinly sliced eggplant in the besan mixture and fry it in deep oil till it turns brown. The fun item of Iftar became purple.
Piyaju
Piyaju is one of the main ingredients of Iftar and Iftar is not complete without it. However, Piyaju making procedure is simple, like a piece of cake.
Also read: Shops finally start selling Iftar delicacies on a limited scale
Ingredients you need, Lentil paste 1/2 cup, onion powder 1 cup, raw chili powder 1 teaspoon, coriander powder 1 tablespoon, ginger paste 1 teaspoon, garlic paste 1 teaspoon, mint leaf powder 1 tablespoon, salt and oil as required.
Mix all the ingredients with the lentil paste and fry in different sizes, from large to small, as per your choice. You can add any sauce or chaat masala if you want during the service.
Healthy Iftar Items
Healthy iftar items provide full nutrition and keep the body light. Following healthy food items should be your top priority during Ramadan to ensure a healthy life.
Chicken Salad
1 Cup of chicken salad and other ingredients can get you 508 calories. Required ingredients are 1 cup of boneless chicken, 2 tablespoons of flour, 1 teaspoon of onion powder (can also be made with onion), 1 teaspoon of garlic powder, 1 teaspoon of paprika powder/half teaspoon of red chili powder, 1 teaspoon of chili powder, Half a teaspoon of oregano (available in super shops), a little bit of dried chili powder, 1 tablespoon of tomato ketchup, salt to taste, 1 tablespoon of oil, cucumber slices, carrots, tomatoes, lettuce slices and lemon juice, a little olive oil.
Mix all the ingredients of the meat without oil and marinate for 10 minutes. One hour is better. First, heat the oil in a pan and cook the marinated meat on medium heat. When fried, take it down. Now add chopped cucumbers, carrots, tomatoes, lettuce to the salad with a little salt, fried crispy noodles, lemon juice, and a little olive oil.
Juice
It is very healthy to drink the juice of different fruits like orange, mango, apple, mixed fruit, etc. You can blend it if you want; you can also buy good quality juice. Eating cold juice also keeps your stomach cold and boosts up digestion. Also, it can relieve dehydration. Juice from one cup or 249 grams of fruit can get you roughly 136 calories.
Read Most creative ways to eat more fruits for the non-fruit eaters
Soup
Soup but very effective, is a healthy option for iftar. You can easily make soup with ingredients like mushrooms, tomatoes, garlic, prawns, chicken, vegetables, etc. Soup is high in protein, minerals, fiber, vitamins, low-calorie, and low-fat, which is 100% nutritious and delicious. Depending on the ingredients, one cup of soup can be a source of 50-140 calories.
Chira
Chira is an excellent item for iftar, and it can satisfy hunger by keeping the stomach cool by eliminating the lack of water. It can be made by soaking them in water or cooking chira in different ways. However, banana slices, yogurt, and soaked chira mix can retain your energy after fasting the whole day. Depending on the yogurt type, you can get approximately 200 calories from this iftar item.
Apart from these items, you can also easily make very tasty and healthy iftar items with eggs, flour, rice, potatoes, honey, etc. Besides, try to use a very little amount of oil if your fry something.
You can also easily make very tasty and healthy iftar items with eggs, flour, rice, potatoes, honey, etc. And try to oil the folds very little.
Read Pink Chai: Kashmiri Tea Health Benefits, Recipe.