With few more days for the arrival of Eid Al-Fitr, people are getting ready to celebrate and share in the joy of the festive occasion. Besides buying new clothes to wear during the three days of Eid according to tradition, giving gifts to family and friends and donations to the poor, people also begin preparing Eid sweets. Although chocolates and other western desserts have become popular recently, there are certain traditional sweets that are associated with Eid and it wouldn’t be the same without them.
Dibiyaza
A role of qamaraldien (apricot rollups)
1/4 kilo dried apricots
1 qiladah (type of dates drawn on a string)
1/4 kilo dried figs
2 cups sugar
1/4 kilo almonds
1/4 kilo raisins
1 tablespoon whole cardamoms
1 cup ghee or vegetable oil
1. Cut the qamaraldien in small pieces and cover it with water and leave it until it melts.
2. Boil the almonds, drain them from water and peel them.
3. Place the qiladah in water to soften, then wash and drain.
4. Place the raisins in water, wash and drain.
5. Put the oil in a pan and heat it. Add the almonds, then the qiladah, dried figs, dried apricots, and the raisins and stir everything for 15 minutes.
6. Pour the qamaraldien over the mixture, add the sugar and cardamom. Lower the heat and continue stirring until it thickens. Remove from heat and serve either hot or cold.
Maamool
6 cups white flour
1 1/2 cup whole wheat flour.
1/4 cup powder milk
2 cups ghee
1 cup vegetable oil
2 tablespoons mixture of ground maamool spices
(fennel, aniseed, black cumin, cardamom)
1/2 tablespoons instant yeast
1 1/2 cup water
1/2 cup powder sugar for decoration
Filling
1 kilo soft dates
1/4 cup ghee
1/2 cup powder milk
1/4 cup roasted sesame seeds
1/2 tablespoon ground cardamom
1. Remove the seeds from the dates and grind the dates. Place the dates in a pan over heat and stir for 2 to 3 minutes. Lift from heat and let cool, then add the ground cardamom and mix.
2. Add the powder milk and knead the mixture with your hands.
3. Sprinkle it with the sesame seeds and mix.
4. Grease your hands with a little oil and make small balls of the mixture and leave aside.
5. Sift the white and whole wheat flour together in a big bowl and add the spices, powder milk and yeast. Mix together and then make a hole in the middle.
6. Heat the ghee and oil together until the smoke arises from it and then pour it inside the hole and mix everything with a spoon.
7. Let the dough cool and then knead in the water and leave for 10 minutes.
8. Divide the dough in small balls. Take each ball and roll it in a circle and place a dates’ ball in the center. Pull the sides of the dough over the dates’ ball and close firmly.
9. Put the dough in a mold with the closed edges on the outside. Press lightly until the dough takes the shape of the mold. Flip it in a baking pan. Repeat with the other dough balls.
10. Put the pan in a preheated oven until the maamool turn golden brown.
11. Remove from the oven. Let cool and then sprinkle with powder sugar.