RIYADH: As Muslims around the world mark the holy month of Ramadan with fasting, prayer, and reflection, they are also celebrating it with cooking, feasting and constant snacking between sunset and sunrise.
Arab News asked Saudi chefs to share their favorite Ramadan dishes, as well as tips on how to prepare them.
Khulood Olaqi, Saudi chef and entrepreneur and owner of Oishii Sushi, said no Ramadan spread was complete without shorbat habb, a traditional Saudi soup made with boiled grain and chunks of lamb meat in a red broth.
“To me, the quintessential Ramadan dish is shorbat habb, especially on the first day. I don’t think I ever get tired of it. It has been a symbol of Ramadan for me ever since I was a child,” she said.
Saudi pastry chef and “Top Chef” competitor Abdul Aziz Al-Humedan said his post-fasting essential was a pot of Arabic coffee before anything else, accompanied by dessert. “I have to finish the whole dallah (traditional Arabic coffee pot) myself, along with dates and a traditional Ramadan dessert,” he added.
He takes his coffee with knafeh, aish as-saraya (a Levantine dessert of breadcrumbs soaked in simple syrup and topped with cream and ground pistachio), or luqaimat (small balls of fried dough traditionally soaked in syrup). “My table and my breaking fast are not complete without at least one of those,” he said.
Faisal Abdul Rahman, an aspiring Saudi chef and passionate home cook, told Arab News that his idea of the perfect Ramadan food was sambousa. Also known as sambousak, and similar to the Indian samosa, it is made of fried pockets of dough filled with ground beef or cheese and is a staple in Saudi cuisine.
“What’s better than meat-filled fried dough? It exists in every culture for a reason. And during Ramadan, after a long day of fasting, I like to say that while we will be rewarded for our efforts in the afterlife, biting into the crisp exterior of a sambousa is our reward in this life,” Abdul Rahman said.
He pointed out that making sambousa dough was not as hard as people might think. “It’s flour, water, oil and salt. With this (COVID-19) pandemic going on, not only is it hard to get groceries and especially those high in demand, it’s also a fantastic time to pick up a new skill. Go on YouTube, find your favorite recipe and get into it,” he added.
Those looking to familiarize themselves with old favorites, or even learn new recipes, can follow Olaqi on Snapchat or Instagram at @khuloodolaqi, or Al-Humedan at @azizusa.
For Saudi recipes, look for Eman Gazzaz on YouTube, whose bilingual Saudi cooking channel “Saudi Food With Eman” has more than 129,000 subscribers.
Saudi chefs share Ramadan food favorites, iftar essentials
https://arab.news/zx3my
Saudi chefs share Ramadan food favorites, iftar essentials
- With this (COVID-19) pandemic going on, not only is it hard to get groceries and especially those high in demand, it’s also a fantastic time to pick up a new skill
Historic market in Madinah fuels local economy
RIYADH: Madinah’s central market is a key shopping destination, supplying thousands of stores and acting as a logistics hub with hundreds of trucks delivering local and imported goods.
This vibrant hub continues Madinah’s long-standing commercial heritage, dating back to the time of Prophet Muhammad, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Madinah has historically been a thriving commercial center, hosting famous markets offering textiles, gold, dates, and other goods for residents, pilgrims, and Umrah performers.
Covering 160,000 square meters, the market meets the city’s growing needs, housing more than 1,100 shops, storage yards for agricultural products, cold storage spaces, and areas for displaying fruits and vegetables.
It also includes parking for refrigerator trucks, ensuring efficient handling and display of fresh produce, SPA reported.
This infrastructure allows the central market to circulate large quantities of fruits and vegetables, maintaining competitive prices under the Madinah municipality’s supervision.
New technology to purify drinking water will be expanded in Saudi Arabia
- Stockholm Water Technology has signed an agreement with Saudi company DRC-ChemTec to implement the technology over the next four years
RIYADH: New technology to purify drinking water using an electrical charge will be expanded in Saudi Arabia after an agreement to increase its use over the next four years.
The capacitive deionization technology will be used to treat around 3,500 cubic meters of water per day and provide clean drinking water.
Stockholm Water Technology has signed an agreement with Saudi company DRC-ChemTec to implement the technology over the next four years.
The Swedish company has also put forward a proposal to use the technology to treat wastewater in the Kingdom so that it can be used for agriculture.
The company said in a statement that this proposal includes a plan to remove micropollutants such as pesticides, pharmaceuticals and other chemicals from treated wastewater.
By passing an electrical current through water, the technology removes contaminants without the need for membrane filters or chemical treatment.
Currently, Saudi Arabia primarily uses two forms of desalination to provide clean drinking water: thermal desalination and reverse osmosis.
Thermal desalination uses fossil fuels to heat and evaporate seawater and collect the clean condensation, while reverse osmosis passes water through a filter-like membrane to remove contaminants.
Capacitive deionization has the potential to minimize waste and reduce energy consumption in water purification.
“Saudi Arabia’s water treatment market is at the forefront of sustainable practices, driven by the urgent need for clean, safe water across industries and a growing focus on water recycling and reuse,” said Karthik Laxman, CEO of Stockholm Water Technology, in a statement.
Husam Aljarba, strategic business development director at DRC-ChemTec, added: “DRC foresees strong growth in the residential and industrial segments, where the flexibility of SWT water treatment systems will provide unique value to customers.”
The Swedish company will supply 1,750 of its systems and will initially focus on providing drinking water. It will then expand into industrial and municipal wastewater treatment.
DRC-ChemTec will install and service the technology and manufacture associated parts, strengthening local production capacity.
Desalination accounts for around 75 percent of Saudi Arabia’s water supply, with the Kingdom producing more than 13.2 million cubic meters per day.
‘Makkah Greets Us’ 3rd edition launched to celebrate Eid Al-Fitr
- Activities focus on Islamic culture and historical landmarks
MAKKAH: A wide range of activities await both local people and visitors to the Hira cultural district of Makkah.
“Makkah Greets Us” takes place from March 31 to April 5 — the second day of Eid Al-Fitr until the seventh of the month of Shawwal.
Organized by the Royal Commission for Makkah City and Holy Sites, the event features a diverse range of recreational, cultural, and heritage activities suitable for people of all ages.
It aims to “strengthen community bonds, highlight the historical and cultural significance of Makkah, and provide a unique entertainment environment for families and children,” reported the Saudi Press Agency.
“Makkah Greets Us” will include cultural and entertainment activities with a focus on Islamic culture and historical landmarks, along with traditional folklore performances, and will be presented in 26 languages.
The event is open to the public and is free of charge.
Trump’s Saudi visit planned for mid-May: Axios sources
- The Kingdom would be the US President’s first international destination since taking office in January
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump is planning to visit Saudi Arabia in mid-May on his first foreign trip of his second term, Axios reported on Sunday, citing two US officials and a source with knowledge of the president's travel.
Saudi Arabia has been taking a more prominent role in US foreign policy. The country has hosted talks between the US and Russia and Ukraine as Trump seeks a ceasefire to the war and the White House has singled out the country as a possible participant in the Abraham Accords.
Trump said earlier this month he would likely make his first trip abroad to Saudi Arabia. He said on March 6 he would probably travel there in the next month and a half. He noted the first overseas trip of his first term was to Riyadh in 2017.
One source said April 28 was discussed as a potential date for the visit but was postponed, while an official and a source familiar said the current plan is for Trump to travel to Saudi Arabia in mid-May, according to Axios.
The White House did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment, while no official announcement or confirmation was made from the Saudi side regarding the potential dates of the visit.
Saudi interior minister praises success of security, military plans
- The minister expressed the leadership’s appreciation for all security sectors for their exceptional efforts and dedication
MAKKAH: Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif conveyed the greetings of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to employees of the ministry on the occasion of Eid Al-Fitr.
The minister expressed the leadership’s appreciation for all security sectors for their exceptional efforts and dedication, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.
In a meeting with senior ministry officials and security sector commanders in Makkah, Prince Abdulaziz emphasized that the support and continuous guidance from the leadership played a major role in the successful execution of security and military plans, ensuring a safe and comfortable environment for Umrah performers and worshippers.
