Life in Islamabad Eid-ul-Fitr

Box of traditional Pakistani sweets

Eid-ul-Fitr

Eid-ul-Fitr is the first day of the Islamic month of Shawwal.  It marks the end of Ramadan, the month of fasting and prayer.  Shawwal begins, and Ramadan ends, after a confirmed sighting of the new moon.  

At Eid-ul-Fitr there are communal prayers and the giving of ‘zaka al-fitr’ or charity.  It is also a festive time, to visit family and friends, give presents, to buy new clothes and prepare special meals.  

Eid-ul-Fitr is also known as ‘Meethi Eid’ or sweet Eid in Pakistan.  Celebrations have to include sweets.  Traditional desserts are made like Sawaiyan and gift baskets of sweets are sent to friends and family.  

There are two types of Sawaiyan – Sheer Khurma and Kimami Sawaiyan.  Sheer Khurma is a milk pudding made with special vermicelli noodles that are cooked in thickened milk.  Dates, fried lotus seeds, raisins, nuts and spices such as ‘elaichi’ or green cardamom are added to the milk.  I have added a recipe for you to try.  

To all who are celebrating, I want to wish you ‘Eid Mubarak’, a blessed Eid.  

Sheer Khurma Recipe

Ingredients:

·      Milk – 1 litre

·      sweetened condensed milk – 200g

·      Ghee – 2 tbsp

·      Dates – 10 (dry)

·      Green Cardamon pods – 3 – slightly crushed

·      Vermicelli – I cup 

·      Sugar – ¼ cup

·      Saffron – 1 pinch

·      Nuts – ½ cup (you can use a mix and you can chop and/or keep whole)

·      Raisins – ½ cup

Method:

1.     Soak dates in warm water overnight.  Remove seeds and chop finely.

2.     Boil the dates in 1 cup of milk, the dates will absorb all the milk and become very soft.

3.     Take 1 tbsp of milk and add the saffron threads.  

4.     Take the remaining milk and bring to a boil, reduce heat and cook and keep stirring for around 30 minutes or until thickened.  Add the condensed milk.

5.     In a separate pan add the ghee, cardamom and vermicelli and cook until a light golden brown.

6.     Add the cooked vermicelli mix to the milk and cook for a further 10 minutes.

7.     Add additional sugar to taste and cook until dissolved.  

8.     Add the saffron milk, half the dried fruit and softened dates.  Stir to combine.

9.     Garnish with remaining dried fruit and dates.  Serve warm or cold.

Sheer Khurma

A gift basket we received with wonderful treats

My favourite sweet - Multani Sohan Halwa. See my blog on this traditional and delicious sweet.

Almond biscuits called Khatai - wonderful with chai

Another favourite of mine, Revri, made from sesame seeds.

Barfi, with silver leaf to make them extra special

Covered in sesame seeds and fried - yum!

Motichoor ke ladoo - made with almonds, ghee and sugar

All sorts of different pastries are also given as gifts.