Cairo - Shaimaa Mekkawi
During Ramadan, people sometimes get confused about what to prepare for their Iftaar meal (the sunset meal). Egyptian chef Amira Shanab, advises us on how to have a delicious, healthy and complete meal. Starting with beverages, the Egyptian chef said that she preferred traditional dates with milk, as it’s simple and healthy. For soup, Amira chose Artichoke Soup that requires the following: hearts of artichokes, butter, garlic, cream and salt to taste. For the method: Prepare the artichoke hearts. Slice the hearts or chop to a quarter inch thickness. Then melt the butter. Add the artichoke hearts, leek, garlic. Cook until tender, but not brown. Add the cream. Season with salt to taste and serve it hot. As for Salad, Amira chose grilled vegetable salad, which is simple especially in summer. Get various kinds of vegetables. Brush some oil on the grill pan. Put it on the preheated oven for about 20 minutes. Season with salt to taste and serve. For the main course, Amira chose chicken with béchamel sauce. The ingredients are as following: Homemade chicken stock, milk, butter, flour, Salt and pepper. Instructions: Preheat the oven, Heat the butter, Add flour, whisking constantly, cook for 2 minutes or until bubbling. Remove from heat. Slowly first add milk and then chicken stock, whisking constantly, until mixture is smooth, 1 to 2 minutes. Cook, stirring with a wooden spoon, for 13 to 15 minutes until the sauce thickens and comes to a boil. It should be silky enough to coat the back of a wooden spoon. Reduce the heat to low. Add in the chicken in the béchamel sauce and give it a quick stir until all chicken are coated with the sauce. Bake it in the oven for 30 minutes. Finally, Amira chose the most famous and traditional Egyptian warm dessert, Umm Ali. We need a packet of Umm Ali (readymade), milk, and cream, crushed almonds and hazelnut, and sugar. First preheat the oven then place milk and the cream in a pan over medium heat and add sugar, and let boil for 3 minutes. Grease the baking tray with butter and place layers of Umm Ali. Slowly pour the milk over and add some cream on the surface then place into the oven for about 10 minutes.