Ramadan Futoor
I was invited to a friend’s for Iftar the other day. We played, and as the day lengthened, she napped while I read. Her husband came down yelling “get up! get up! It’s almost time!” and had the radio on so we could hear the sound of the cannon, announcing the end of the day’s fasting.
We had water and dates, and then soup. Because these are dear friends, and because they love me, we also had Kuwaiti fish!
It was stuffed with parsley, onions and garlic, oh WOW. It was delicious.
As we ate, they were telling me about the thin thin pancakes you can buy at this time of the year to make a special stew. They are made on a dome shaped pan, with a very liquid dough, and evidently you can buy them at the co-op or along the side of the road (I have got to find one of these women!) because the thin pancake you can get during Ramadan is very close, I think, to the brik skin that you use for the Tuna Tunisienne which, hmmmmmm, could also be made with just about any leftover fish.
You have to be quick, because the dough is so fragile. While the photo shows all the ends tucked in, I was never that good, and neither are most Tunisiens – most of the brik I ate in Tunisia were all just folded over and fried in olive oil. So you have to have the oil hot before you put the brik in, and it sizzles, but it can’t be too hot because it has to cook long enough to cook the egg (if you add egg) or to heat the tuna through. Ohhhh, yummmm!
I was also asking about Swair’s Ramadan Soft Dumplings / Lgaimat and they were laughing and telling me how hard they are to make well, and that you have to eat them all the same day they are made, they are so fragile.
Later in the meal, as they were showing me low to roll the rice and fish into a ball together and pop it into your mouth in the old gulf way, my host mentioned the act of making that ball is called “ligma” and – – – ta da! it is the same root as Swair’s lgaimat!
I don’t know about you, but making a connection like that is like having a big light go on in my head. I love it. I can’t always remember words correctly unless I write them down, but this one – making balls to pop in your mouth/ making sweet dumplings balls – don’tcha just love it when things come together like that?
(I am posting this early in the day because you won’t feel hungry for fish this early if you are fasting – I hope – and it might give you a good idea for tonight’s Futoor!) Ramadan kareem!
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hehehe that looks like so much fun ;D
and yes, “Lgaimat” does come from “ligma”, cos usually an lgaimat ball is enough to eat in one bite… or one ligma π
As a general rule in our family (sometimes broken) we do not have fish during Ramadan as it tends to make one thirsty.
We turn into red-meat-eating carnivores during this month. But fish is always a delight on the Iftaar table for fish lovers.
π As Jewaira said, fish during Ramadan is out for our family bas am glad you enjoyed it π
That fish reminds me of a James Bond Movie, or was it an Austin Powers, or hmm, you will figure it out ;p
Swair – I was thinking of you! So “Ligma” is like a ball-sized bite? I thought it was like making a ball? Ahh. . . I think another light is going on. . . the at on the end makes it plural, like abayaat? duraraaat?
Jewaira – I didn’t know that. I bet they did it just for me. They know how much I like fish. Those sweethearts. π
Chikapappi – do you eat fish when it isn’t Ramadan?
Purg – One time our son ran an Austin Powers movie where the bad guy was holding a white Persian cat and there is a split second where the cat gets this wild look and starts to leap just before the scene is cut. You can see it if it runs in frame-by-frame. Total hoot.
π¦
Donβt get me wrong!! I’m glad you’re enjoying the Ramadan there! But really some of your posts just make feel so bad because I might never enjoy that again in my life!
Oh sweetie, Noracassandra, I am sorry! So few of my friends and family will ever see Kuwait; I try to show them a little through my eyes what my life is like here, and I especially love showing them the happy times. I am so sorry if it causes you pain. And you really NEVER know, you may be back sometime. And you sound like you love living in Greece – do you have dual citizenship or tri-citizenship? π
π one of my favorite Damascus lunch places is called “al-luqma al-shahiyya” – “the appetizing morsel”. (It goes by “Spicy” on its English-language sign.)
Aha! Morsel! What a great word, bite sized, delicious . . .all in one word. Thank you, little diamond!
Iβm a Finn! I gave up the Kuwaiti one when left Kuwait long time a go!
I love the posts and pictures girl so donβt stop! But you have one of the fewest blogs that makes me remember the good times! And Iβll always miss them!