Eid lunch - for the love of family and food

Eid will always remind me of my childhood and growing up in Pakistan. I have a clear sensory memory of awakening to aromas of cloves and cardamom wafting from the kitchen into my bedroom. This is a day that revolves around family togetherness and a celebration of food, after a month of abstinence and contemplation.Though a global Muslim festival, Eid is celebrated differently in each country, highlighting the fact this is not just a religious day but a time to rejoice our culture and identity. But, the one unifying similarity is that Eid is a celebration of food, authentic flavour and family togetherness.As a child I would eagerly await Eid, as children we would receive money called ‘Eiddee’ in tiny colourful envelopes from older family and friends and I would always look forward to collecting my ‘kings ransom’ from my father, who would promise me this only if I woke up early, changed into my pretty new clothes and glass bangles!Food took centre stage – from breakfast of seviyan, hot cardamom chai and jalebis (fried sweet sugar syrup doughnuts) and dahi baras (lentil fritters with yoghurt) made by my mother, followed by ‘elvensies’ of sheer khurma (hot sweet vermicelli saffron milk drink) at my Nani’s (maternal grandmother). Before lunch we would distribute food from our homes to the needy, this is a big part of the Eid culture in Pakistan, feeding those who may not be able to afford it themselves. Our lunch would always be at my Dadi’s (paternal grandmothers), which always promised to be a lavish spread of biryani, shami kebabs, koftas, always ending with mithai (sweet meats) and her version of seviyan. A day of family visits, sitting together, being force feed an obscene amount of food, laughing and cherishing what is on our tables is how I would describe Eid in Pakistan.To me, Eid is a moment of thankfulness – for the food we receive, for those who need is more than us and the loved ones in our lives. These recipes to me are the flavour of Eid lunch in Pakistan and ones I have adapted but still cook in the UK today.(This article was commissioned by and published on Great British Chefs website at http://www.greatbritishchefs.com/features/eid-lunch-sumayya-usmani) Bavette Shami Kebabs with black cardamom, black cumin and cinnamon Shami kebabs are usually melt in the mouth pureed spiced meat and channa daal based kebabs found in nearly all homes in Pakistan, with a history as far back as the Mughal Empire. Often a labourious task, I have adapted a traditional recipe and used bavette steak which is cheap and just beautiful, and instead of purred mince beef, as traditional, I have left the meat to cook slowly until it pulls apart together with spices and channa daal. When bone dry, cool add fresh herbs and ginger and mould together into burger patties shapes, dip lightly in egg and shallow fry. Perfect Eid guest treats with some spiced tamarind chutney. Makes 6- 8 kebabsCooking time: 2-3 hours 400 g bavette steak50 g channa daal (soaked for about 30 minutes to overnight before cooking)1 cinnamon stick2 black cardamom1 tsp black cumin (or regular cumin if not available)1 tsp coriander seeds2 star anise2-3 dried red chillis1 tsp black peppercorn8-10 cloves½ inch piece ginger, chopped into tiny pieces½ bunch coriander, chopped finely20 mint leaves, chopped finely2 green chillis, chopped finely1 egg, beatenVegetable oil to shallow fry Method: 

1. Add the first 10 ingredients in a heavy based saucepan and add 1 ½ pint water. Bring to a boil and then return to a simmer, cover and leave to cook for about 3 hours on a low heat, keep checking to make sure the meat doesn’t stick at the bottom, ensure that you stir it occasionally. Do not add anymore water.
2. After about 2 hours or so check to see if all the moisture and gone, the meat is tender and falling apart and the lentil is mush.
3. Break and pull apart the meat, add the finely chopped ginger, chopped mint, coriander and green chillis. Mix until combined with the meat.
4. Take about 2 tbsp of the meat mixture and using your hand, form flat burger patties shapes to make the shami kebabs. Dip each into egg and set aside on a plate.
5. Heat vegetable oil in a shallow frying pan, once hot add about 3-4 shami kebabs in the pan, fry for about 1 minute each side, until medium brown on either side.
6. Serve hot with any a hot sauce or ketchup.

   Pakistani festive beef biryani    This recipe is a labour of love, as is the Eid lunch- Cooking for those you love deserves such dedication.  Cooking time: 1 hourServes: 8-10 people  350 grams basmati rice, washed, soaked for 30 minutes, parboiled and drained5 tbsp vegetable oil½ tbsp ghee1 stick cinnamon2 star anise1 tsp black cumin10 cloves1 tsp coriander seeds2 black cardamom5 green cardamom8 cloves1 bay leaf1 small piece mace2 red onions, chopped finely1 tsp each of grated ginger and crushed garlic4 tomatoes, chopped roughly1 tsp turmeric½ tsp red chilli powder400 grams braising steak or beef chuck pieces200 grams Greek yoghurt½ tsp saffron, seeped in 2 tbsp hot boiling water for 15 minutes10 mint leaves½ lemon, sliced2 tsp rose water or kewra essence½ tbsp melted ghee2 green chillis1 tbsp pistachios10 edible dried rose buds or 1 tbsp edible dried rose petals  Method: 

1. Begin by par boiling the soaked rice, drain and set aside. It should be firm but not entirely raw.

2. Heat a heavy based saucepan medium low, add the oil and ghee, when hot add all the whole spices and cook for 30 seconds, or until you can smell the oil aromatized by the spices.

3. Turn heat to medium heat, add the red onions and fry until light golden, next add the ginger and garlic. Cook for 30 seconds, until you can smell that the garlic no longer smells raw. Add tomatoes, cook until the moisture of the tomatoes is gone, add about 1-2 tbsp for water if the tomatoes burn, the result should be a thick, rich sauce with no hard tomato bits and oil rising to the surface of the sauce. Add the turmeric and red chilli powder.

4. Next add the beef and stir fry until sealed. About 2-3 minutes. Add the Greek yogurt and continue to stir fry until the moisture of the yoghurt evaporates and you are left with a sauce. Cover the pan and turn the heat to low.

5. Allow to cook until the sauce is thick reddish brown sauce with , oil rising to the top. This will take a patient 15-20 of cooking, you may need to add a little water if the meat isn’t cook through now and cook covered for a few more minutes until the sauce is thick again.

6. Once the meat is cooked through, it’s time to layer the rice on top and infuse the aromatics of saffron, lemon, mint, green chilli and rose water or kewra. Layer the rice evenly on top of the meat.

7. Poke the aromatics into the rice, pour over the saffron and rose water or kewra and then using a piece of foil cover the entire surface of the saucepan and place the lid firmly over to create a seal, so the steam does not escape the pan. Turn the heat to it’s lowest setting and steam cook for 10 minutes. Once done, remove the foil and let the steam escape.

8. Mix the rice and meat with sauce gently using a dessert spoon so as to not break the rice.

9. Serve hot in a serving dish and scatter is pistachios and rose petals or buds.

   My Nani’s Muzaffar Seviyan served with clotted cream – Sweet vermicelli with saffron and cardamom  There are many ways to make the quintessential Eid dessert called Seviyan. This is a sweet roasted vermicelli which can be made in either milk or water and sugar. The flavour is one that always reminds me of Eid and the excitement it brings. This is my maternal grandmother’s recipe, traditionally served with khoya (milk solids), but I also think clotted cream works equally well, giving it a British touch! Serves: 6-8 peoplePreparation time: 10 minutesCooking time: 10-15 minutes Ingredients:2 tbsp ghee (clarified butter)½ cup chopped pistachios4-5 green cardamom seeds (discard husks)1 ½ cup fine wheat vermicelli, crushed into small pieces½ pint boiling hot water½ tsp saffron, seeped in 1 tbsp boiling water for about 5 minutes60 grams caster sugarSilver leaf to decorate (optional)2 tbsp desiccated coconut to garnish1 tbsp each of sultanas, slivered almonds and pistachios to garnish100 grams clotted cream   Method: 

1. Heat the ghee in a wok style pan over medium heat and melt until hot. Add the chopped pistachios and cardamom seeds and stir-fry for 30 seconds. The cardamom should be fragrant and the pistachios very lightly brown. Turn the heat to medium low.
2. Add the crushed vermicelli and stir-fry until evenly light brown, takes about 3-4 minutes of constant stir frying. The vermicelli will now smell toasted and the colour should be a medium brown.
3. Add the boiling water to the vermicelli together with the seeped saffron, mix until combined and cook until the vermicelli is tender and all the water is absorbed. (about 3-4 minutes).
4. Next sprinkle over the caster sugar, stir until dissolved (about 1-2 minutes).
5. Turn heat off, place in a serving dish. Decorate with silver leaf (optional), serve warm topped with nuts, sultanas, coconut and clotted cream.

(Keeps on it’s own for about 3-4 days covered, in a cool dry place)