Eid flavours: Traditional cuisine or modern, what do you prefer?

Heightened excitement, friends and family, dinner tables and trolleys laden with our favorite food, echoing greetings and endless chatter! Yes that certainly makes me think of Eid and it is right here.

Eid really is the happiest of times, celebrated throughout the Muslim world post Ramazan, it is the most wonderful time of the year.

Along with family get-togethers, delicious, decadent food is a most loved Eid tradition in Pakistan, which certainly explains us calling it meethi eid and what an apt title.

While we stand by our much loved traditions, Eid food certainly has evolved over the decades and and yes appalling as it may be some people actually prefer a red velvet over the sawayian we serve first thing in the morning.

Let’s have a look at our most loved classics and the newbies on the ‘Eid trolly’:

The oldie, the prevalent, the grand: Sheer Khurma

PHOTO: WHISKAFFAIR

Don’t we just love sheer khurma? The sight of it just speaks ‘Eid’ to me, the rich creamy sauce that makes the base topped with the vermicelli and the dried fruit and the memories that resonate with it. If you haven’t made your own yet, here’s a recipe to try.

Gulab Jaman

PHOTO: PANKHAJBHADOURIA

Gulab Jamun really should be throned the king of Mithai, because I don’t know anyone who doesn’t love these little dense milk dough balls sitting in sweet, aromatic sheera, and yes these keep reappearing in our homes, not just on Eid but many a festive occasions.

Zarda sawayian

PHOTO: CUKZY

We all love sawayian, an while there are a variety of ways to prepare them, I love the drier version of the variety; the zarda sawayian infused with saffron are absolutely delicious.

Halwa

PHOTO: WHATSCOOKINGMOM

Yes, Halwas may not be as popular as the sawiyan, sheer kurma and gulab jamans on Eid but it certainly has a permanent place on our Eid trollies. Now whether you prefer the good old Gajar ka halwa, channay ki daal ka halwa or the more common Suji that’s totally up to you.

Kheer

PHOTO: VEGBUYER

Kheer; the delicious rice pudding sure is a staple in most households and some can’t even imagine Eid without it.

Now lets have a look at some of the more contemporary Eid meethas.

Cake

PHOTO: MCCORMICK

Who can say no to cake? Exactly! While cakes are not a novelty but they certainly have become an Eid staple. Whether its the great Red velvet, a rich dark chocolate or a cheesecake, a whole one or cup cakes, they make a wonderful addition to the Eid trolley and are most welcome.

Pies, tarts and pastries

PHOTO: ANGERBURGER

Would you replace your Sheer khurma with an apple pie? or perhaps the Italian Tiramisu? Well it's certainly a thought. The more modern pies and tarts can be a wonderful break from the norm and diversity in flavor is always a win on that Eid trolley. Here are a few lovely recipes to try.

Middle Eastern 

PHOTO: CUPEGRAF

Baklava has been gaining popularity in sweets among locals and for good reason. The opulent Turkish dessert comprises dry fruits and layers of filo pastry sheets bound together with honey or syrup and is crispy, moist, rich and absolutely yummy. Another Middle Eastern sweet to try which greatly resembles the Gulab Jamun is ‘Sekerpare’. You can try a Sekerpare recipe here.

All in all, whether you opt for a pie or you go for the zarda sawayian, what matters most is that it is enjoyed amid love, laughter and togetherness.