Ramadan recipes: Hijazi-style foul with a smoky twist

Foul is served on Iftar and Suhoor meals across the Middle East during Ramadan. (Shutterstock)
Updated 04 June 2018
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Ramadan recipes: Hijazi-style foul with a smoky twist

  • Sounds like a mouthful? Well, after reading this recipe, you will be eager to try it yourself
  • The recipe is a firm favorite during the Holy Month of Ramadan

RIYADH: Foul is a staple on iftar and suhoor tables across the Middle East during Ramadan. The varieties are endless, each region and country has its own style, but in my household in Riyadh one recipe reigns supreme — my mother’s mystical Hijazi incense foul.

Sounds like a mouthful? Well, trust me, after reading this recipe you will be eager to try a mouthful for yourself. It’s smoky, spicy and imbued with a tinge of oriental flavors.

This recipe has been enjoyed in the Hijaz region of Saudi Arabia since time immemorial and it is a firm favorite during the Holy Month in my home, so whip it up for iftar this evening and enjoy.

Ingredients:
· 1 medium chopped onion.
· 2 medium chopped tomatoes.
· 1 small chili finely chopped (optional).
· Two teaspoons of salt, half-a-teaspoon of black pepper, one-and-a-half teaspoons of cumin, a quarter-of-a-teaspoon of cinnamon and half-a-teaspoon of dried coriander.
· One can of foul moudammas.
· A quarter-of-a-cup of olive oil.
· One lit charcoal pellet.

Method:

Drizzle the olive oil into a heated pan and add the onions. Cook the onions until they are soft and add the tomatoes, chili and the spices. Add the foul and smash it inside the pan until it is well mixed with the onions and tomatoes.

Add a quarter-of-a-cup of water, place a lid on the pan and cook for 20 minutes.

Check on the foul, if it’s a bit dry simply add some more water and stir the mixture.

Now for the fun part: Rip off a piece of aluminum paper and fold it in half. Place it directly on the foul. Drizzle a little olive oil in the middle and immediately place the burning charcoal on the aluminum paper and fold it up.

Replace the lid on the pan, let it rest for a minute or so and then remove the charcoal and aluminum paper.

Serve in a casserole dish, drizzle olive oil on top and enjoy the smoky, delicious flavor of this unmissable meal.


After Hamas rejection of hostage deal, US asked Qatar to expel the group

Updated 3 min 49 sec ago
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After Hamas rejection of hostage deal, US asked Qatar to expel the group

  • Negotiators from Israel’s Mossad spy agency have repeatedly met mediators in Doha over the last year and Qatari government officials have shuttled back-and-forth to Hamas leaders in the political office

WASHINGTON/DOHA: The US has told Qatar that the presence of Hamas in Doha is no longer acceptable in the weeks since the Palestinian militant group rejected the latest proposal to achieve a ceasefire and a hostage deal, a senior administration official told Reuters on Friday.
“After rejecting repeated proposals to release hostages, its leaders should no longer be welcome in the capitals of any American partner. We made that clear to Qatar following Hamas’s rejection weeks ago of another hostage release proposal,” the official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.
Qatar then made the demand to Hamas leaders about 10 days ago, the official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said. Washington has been in touch with Qatar over when to close the political office of Hamas, and it told Doha that now was the time following the group’s rejection of the recent proposal.
Three Hamas officials denied Qatar had told Hamas leaders they were no longer welcome in the country.
Qatar, alongside the US and Egypt, has played a major role in rounds of so-far fruitless talks to broker a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages the militant group is holding in the enclave.
The latest round of Doha talks in mid-October failed to reach a ceasefire, with Hamas rejecting a short-term ceasefire proposal.
The spokesperson for Qatar’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for confirmation or comment.
Last year, a senior US official said Qatar had told Washington it was open to
reconsidering the presence of Hamas
in the country once the Gaza war was over.
This came after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken
told leaders
in Qatar and elsewhere in the region that there could be “no more business as usual” with Hamas after the group led the Oct. 7 attacks on Southern Israel.
Qatar, an influential Gulf state designated as major non-NATO ally by Washington, has hosted Hamas’ political leaders since 2012 as part of an agreement with the US Doha has come under criticism from within the US and Israel over its ties to Hamas since Oct. 7.
Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani has said repeatedly over the last year that the Hamas office exists in Doha to allow negotiations with the group and that as long as the channel remained useful Qatar would allow the Hamas office to remain open.
Negotiators from Israel’s Mossad spy agency have repeatedly met mediators in Doha over the last year and Qatari government officials have shuttled back-and-forth to Hamas leaders in the political office.

 

 


Chad accuses Sudan of aiding rebel forces

Updated 9 min 54 sec ago
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Chad accuses Sudan of aiding rebel forces

LIBREVILLE: Chad on Friday accused Sudan of arming and financing rebel groups on Chadian territory with the aim of destabilising its neighbor.
Chad claims Sudan is aiding a rebellion by members of the Zaghawa ethnic group operating out of Sudan’s southwestern El Facher region.
“Sudan is financing and arming terrorist groups operating in the sub-region with the aim of destabilising Chad,” foreign affairs minister and government spokesman Abderaman Koulamallah said in a press release.
The Zaghawa rebels based in Sudan are led by Ousman Dillo, the younger brother of Chadian opposition leader Yaya Dillo Djerou, who was killed by Chadian military forces earlier this year.
In February 2008, a Zaghawa rebel group based in Sudan launched a lightning offensive in Chad along with other groups, forcing former president Idriss Deby Itno to take refuge in his presidential palace, before he was able to repel them with help from France.
In 2021, Idriss Deby Itno died fighting other rebel forces near the border with Libya and the army named his son Mahamat Idriss Deby as president.
Sudan’s government has accused Chad of meddling in its own civil war by helping to deliver weapons from the United Arab Emirates to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary forces, which Chad and the UAE have denied.
The Sudanese war, which pits the army against the RSF, broke out in April 2023 and has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced more than 11 million, including 3.1 million who are now sheltering beyond the country’s borders, monitors say.

Elon Musk joined Trump’s call with Ukraine’s Zelensky, media reports say

Updated 36 min 18 sec ago
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Elon Musk joined Trump’s call with Ukraine’s Zelensky, media reports say

  • Ukraine's President Zelensky called Trump on Wednesday to congratulate him on his election win, Axios reported
  • Trump reportedly said he would support Ukraine, without providing details, and Musk reportedly said he would continue supplying Starlink satellites

WASHINGTON: When Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called Donald Trump to congratulate him on his presidential election victory, Tesla CEO and Trump supporter Elon Musk joined the call, according to media reports on Friday. During the 25-minute call on Wednesday, the day after the election, Trump told Zelensky he would support Ukraine, without providing details, and Musk said he would continue supplying Starlink satellites, Axios reported, citing unidentified sources.
Musk owns SpaceX, which provides Starlink satellite communication services that are vital for Ukraine’s defense effort, but his statements have sometimes angered Kyiv since Russia invaded its neighbor in 2022.
Zelensky was telling Trump how important the satellites had been for Internet service during the war when Trump said Musk was with him and put the billionaire on the line, the Washington Post reported.
Trump and Musk were at Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s Palm Beach residence and club, when the call took place, according to the New York Times.
Musk gave millions of dollars to support Trump’s presidential campaign and made public appearances with him. Trump has said he would offer Musk, the world’s richest person, a role in his administration promoting government efficiency.
Musk did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Trump campaign said it did not comment on private meetings.
Zelensky was among the first leaders to congratulate Trump, who has been critical of US military and financial support for Ukraine in its war with Russia.
Zelensky said in a post on social media platform X on Wednesday that his conversations with Trump should continue.
“We agreed to maintain close dialogue and advance our cooperation. Strong and unwavering US leadership is vital for the world and for a just peace,” the Ukrainian president said.


What We Are Reading Today: ‘A Hunger Artist’

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Updated 09 November 2024
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What We Are Reading Today: ‘A Hunger Artist’

  • Kafka’s exploration of the artist’s suffering is a metaphor for the broader human experience — where the search for authenticity and recognition often leads to despair and isolation

Author: Franz Kafka

“A Hunger Artist” is a novella by Franz Kafka, which was published in 1922.

The narrative follows a professional hunger artist whose act is to fast for extended periods, presenting his art as a spectacle for an audience.  

Initially, his performances drew significant attention, and he became a celebrated figure, embodying the artist’s struggle against societal norms and expectations.

As the story progresses, the artist’s popularity wanes, and he becomes increasingly alienated.

The public’s fascination shifts to more modern forms of entertainment, and the hunger artist becomes a relic of a bygone era.

The hunger artist’s ultimate fate is tragic. Despite his dedication to his craft, he becomes a victim of societal indifference.

The book is a poignant 14-page short story that delves into themes of art, isolation, and the quest for meaning.

Kafka’s exploration of the artist’s suffering is a metaphor for the broader human experience — where the search for authenticity and recognition often leads to despair and isolation.

He masterfully captures the conflict between the artist’s inner world and external interpretations, demonstrating the need to understand and appreciate real creative expression.

The story culminates in the realization that true artistry is frequently unrecognized and undervalued.

In “A Hunger Artist,” Kafka crafts a powerful commentary on the complexities of identity, the ephemeral nature of fame, and the often lonely path of the artist, making it a compelling and thought-provoking work that resonates with anyone grappling with the meaning of creativity and existence.

His prose is spare yet evocative, employing a surreal tone that enhances the existential themes.

The story challenges readers to consider the nature of art, the role of the audience, and the sacrifices artists make for their craft.

Kafka is renowned for his surreal and existential narratives that still resonate with readers more than a century later. His best-known works include “The Metamorphosis,” “The Trial,” and “The Castle.”

 

 


US defense chief holds first call with new Israeli counterpart

Updated 09 November 2024
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US defense chief holds first call with new Israeli counterpart

  • Katz was sworn in before parliament the previous day
  • The US defense chief also discussed “the need to improve the dire humanitarian conditions in Gaza“

WASHINGTON: US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin discussed Lebanon and Gaza on Friday in his first call with his new Israeli counterpart Israel Katz, the Pentagon said.
Katz was sworn in before parliament the previous day, after his predecessor’s shock dismissal by the prime minister over a breakdown in trust during the war in Gaza — a conflict that began with a devastating Hamas attack against Israel on October 7, 2023.
Austin “held an introductory call today with the new Israeli minister of defense, Israel Katz, and congratulated him on his recent appointment,” Pentagon spokesman Major General Pat Ryder said in a statement.
He told Katz that Washington is committed to a deal that allows Lebanese and Israeli citizens displaced by more than a year of cross-border violence to return to their homes, as well as to the return of hostages seized by Palestinian militant group Hamas, Ryder said.
The US defense chief also discussed “the need to improve the dire humanitarian conditions in Gaza,” after he and Secretary of State Antony Blinken told Israel in a letter earlier this month that it needed to allow more aid into the small war-wracked coastal territory.