Eid-ul-Adha 2021: Eid dishes from around the world that you must give a try

Eid-ul-Adha, Bakrid or also called the 'Festival of Sacrifice', is around the corner and preparations for the same have already begun. It is one of the most celebrated festivals of Muslims along with Eid-ul-Fitr, which is celebrated after the holy month of Ramadan. Eid-ul-Adha is celebrated to conclude the Hajj pilgrimage which is performed by devotees on an annual basis. Eid-ul-Adha involves the sacrifice of a goat, sheep or camel and the meat is distributed within the person sacrificing it and his friends and family. A big feast is also one of the most beautiful things of this festival. From savoury dishes to beverages and desserts, a lavish spread is laid out. Not only in India but Muslims around the world celebrate this grand festival with their loved ones by sharing warmth and happiness. Here are some of the dishes from around the world that are popular and are prepared during Eid.

Baklava is a dessert made from filo pastry and is filled with nuts and sweet syrup. It is a celebrated dessert in Turkey and is often prepared on festivals and important occasions like weddings, Eid-ul-Adha, Eid-ul-Fitr and birthdays etc. The beauty of this dessert is that it is made with layers of dough which are spread on large pans or baking trays. Between the layers are chopped walnuts, pistachios or hazelnuts and sweet syrup like honey or rosewater. This sweet syrup is poured over the baklava which it soaks and thus, gives us a crunchy and sweet flavour at the same time. Different countries have variations in the ways they prepare it. The Baklava filling in Greece is made from walnuts and cinnamon whereas in Armenian cuisine cloves are also added along with cinnamon. This is a perfect dessert to eat after a tasty spread on Eid and enjoy the little moments with our loved ones.

Lapis Legit or ‘Spekkoek’ is a layered cake from Indonesia which is a version adapted from the spit cake, a cake prepared from layers of dough in Europe. This cake often consists of spices such as cardamom, cloves and cinnamon which give it a nice flavour and aroma. This dessert is enjoyed in Christmas and Eid in Indonesia among the people. This layered cake requires a lot of patience as each layer of cake is baked separately before a new layer of cake batter is poured on top of it to form another layer. This colourful cake surely lightens up the mood of people during celebrations because of its beautiful appearance and luscious taste.

Manti is a dish made from dumplings in countries like Turkey, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran and many others. Manti, whose consumption is also seen in Russia, are steamed, boiled or baked. In Turkey, they are served along with yoghurt, garlic and butter. Manti is a dish which is cooked on Eid both in Turkey as well as Russia to celebrate the occasion with friends and family. The dumplings are filled with meat of any type but preferably lamb. Some other variations of this delicious dish are steamed ‘Manti-Kazan’, ‘Monta’ and ‘Kayseri Mantisi’. Kayseri Mantis is a dish which is said to be prepared by an engaged bride when the mother of the groom comes to visit her house. These dumplings, which are prepared by the bride for her would being mother-in-law must be very small in size so that 40 of them fit together in a spoon.

Bolani is a flat-bread which is filled with a filling made from spinach, potatoes, leeks or lentils. This flat-bread originated in Afghanistan and is a popular bread of the Afghani cuisine. This bread is served either with plain yogurt, flavoured yogurt or ‘Doogh’ drink. Bolani is made usually on special occasions such as engagement parties, holidays and festivals such as Eid. Bolani bread is said to be loved by children and thus, is prepared on the festival of Eid in Afghanistan, where the choices of children are kept in mind during the celebration and cooking of meals. Bolani flat-bread is usually fried and has a crispy texture but some of them can and are also baked. Baking this bread can helps us to get a thick crust which goes well with the filling.

This dish, which is popularly known as ‘Tajine' or ‘Tagine’, finds it origin in countries like Morocco, Libya and Algeria etc. The word ‘Tajin’ is derived from the Berber language which means “a shallow earthen pot”. This traditional Moroccan dish is cooked in a pot that is made from clay. The pottery is sometimes painted, glazed or even left unglazed. The pot has a base and a cone shaped cover that covers the base of the pot. This dish is prepared from carrots, potatoes, tomatoes, onions, dried apricots and meat. It is prepared in Morocco on the special occasion of Eid using the earthen pot and is eaten together to celebrate the occasion.

Maamoul are butter cookies that are prepared using semolina flour and the filling is made from dried fruits such as pistachios, walnuts, dates or almonds. They are prepared for holidays such as Easter and Eid. These cookies are prepared few days before Eid so that they can be served to the guests who arrive on the Eid festival, along with tea and coffee. These cookies are quite popular in the Arab cuisine and can be made in shapes like small balls or curved domes. These cookies are also consumed for Iftar during the period of Ramadan. Another rich variation of Maamoul cookies is the ‘Karabij’, which is prepared by stacking the cookies to form a pyramid and then covered with ‘Naatiffe’. Naatiffe is a white sweet cream that is prepared from Sopanaria, egg whites and sugar syrup.

These sweet candies which are also known as ‘Lokum', is made using starch and sugar. These candies can also consist of dried fruits like hazelnuts and pistachios. Turkish Delight’s are often flavoured using rosewater, orange or lemon. These confections are small and are cut in square shapes. These sweet candies are enjoyed by both children and adults on the occasion of Eid as snacks as well as dessert. In Greece, Turkish Delight is known as ‘Loukoumi' which is usually served along with tea. Turkish Delight is also found in Brazil, where they are known as ‘Manjar Turco’. These sweet Turkish Delights were also seen in one episode of ‘Mickey Mouse’ where Mickey Mouse; Donald and Goofy were seen selling Turkish Delight in Turkey.

Cambaabur is bread which is cooked on the special festival of Eid in Somalia, where the bread is fried and then sprinkled with powdered sugar. On Eid, these crepes like bread are enjoyed in the breakfast along with yogurt. Cambaabur is prepared by mixing different types of flour such as all purpose flour, wheat flour and millet flour. Different spices are also added while preparing this bread and the choice of spices may differ from region to region. Some common spices that are added are fennel seeds, turmeric powder and cumin seeds. This bread has a unique flavour because even though it is savoury bread with sometimes a slight sour taste, it is garnished with sugar and ghee.

Rendang is a dish popular in the Indonesian cuisine and also in its neighbouring countries such as Singapore, Malaysia and Philippines. This is a beef dish that is prepared by slow cooking the meat which is seasoned with coconut milk, herbs and spices. The meat is cooked until the water evaporates and the meat becomes brown in colour. This slow cooked method gives the meat a caramelised texture and a flavourful taste. Minangkabau, which is a ethnic group belonging to Indonesia, prepares this delicious dish during weddings, birth ceremonies, Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid ul-Adha. Rendang is considered to be one of the National dishes of Indonesia because of its rich taste and amazing slow cooked meat.

This vermicelli pudding is prepared in India and Pakistan during the festival of Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha. Sheer Khurma, which will often be a part of the Eid spread in India and Pakistan, is prepared using vermicelli, dry fruits, milk, sugar and rose water. This sweet dish is served as breakfast on the morning of Eid after the prayer has been done. It is also prepared and served to the guests on Eid throughout the day. The vermicelli is fried in butter and then cooked in milk. After it thickens, sugar and dry fruits are added to it. This creamy dessert is the perfect dish to eat after a rich Eid spread because we can always make room for desserts especially when it’s Sheer Khurma.

Biryani is an Indian rice dish that is made delicately using spices, herbs, rice and meat. It is a dish which has originated from the Indian subcontinent but is also quite popular in various parts of Asia. Biryani can be prepared using chicken, fish, mutton, lamb, boiled eggs, beef, prawns or just vegetables. This is a rich dish which is prepared in India on the festival of Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha and is also distributed as a sign of love amongst our closed ones. The basic preparation of Biryani is such that layers of semi-cooked rice, spices and meat are placed in a vessel or a pot and then cooked on low flame for 10-15 minutes which lets the flavours combine with each other very well. Different cooking styles are used in different regions to prepare Biryani such as the Mughlai cuisine has its own way of preparing it and so does the Awadhi cuisine and Hyderabadi cuisine.