Eid Fitr or Hari Raya as the Malays in Malaysia call it is celebrated every year after a month of fasting, Ramadhan. Leading up to Raya, Malaysian Muslims go into great length to prepare for the celebrations; from house decors, new clothing as well as the yummy scrumptious food to be enjoyed during Raya.
In my family, the yummy food tradition has always been biryani rice and its condiments on the first day of Raya. When my late grandma was still alive, we would cook biryani her style, her recipe. However, after her passing, I have modified the recipe to my own suitability. I actually combine the ingredients between my grandma’s recipe and the Mughlai’s biryani (served in the olden days to Sultans) recipe. To ensure that we enjoy the biryani (without compromising the great taste) healthily, I have tweaked the ingredients around.
Ghee is a main ingredient in many biryani rice recipes. However, because I want to make mine healthy — with less fat and less cholesterol, I substitute it with extra virgin oil instead. As a matter of fact, my biryani rice tastes just as great, and even more fragrant, and more importantly healthier! I also use low fat yogurt to replace the normal yogurt. As for the rice, Basmathi rice is always my rice of choice as it is less starchy and lower in cholesterol.
To accompany my wonderfully cooked biryani, I usually make vegetable dhall (which I don’t use oil at all to fry. Just enough by adding all ingredients in a pot and simmer slowly on small flame) and grilled prawn with herbs and spices.
When all is ready, as a family we would sit together and enjoy the food! That’s my favorite Raya tradition!
This article is written by Fei’ziah Feisal,a Staff of Great Eastern Life Malaysia and is published with the author’s permission.
Fei’ziah was born and bred in Kuala Lumpur. Her interest in cooking dated back to her childhood. Her grandmother passed on when she was 9 years old, that was when the then young Fei’ziah started cooking for the family as her parents were both busy working. She enjoys cooking and shares that it is among her greatest blessings to find her soulmate in her husband who shares the same interest.
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- 1. Spirit of Raya – Todays News (sfluxe.com)
