# What do I cook for Eid? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 5, 2004, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-cook-for-eid/273143 "2004-11-05T05:30:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![GilaB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8e7dd6/32.png) [@GilaB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GilaB)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2004, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-cook-for-eid/273143/1 "2004-11-05T05:30:46Z")
I just found out that a Muslim friend was planning on staying in his apartment and studying all day on Eid-al-Fitr, which (he tells me) is a week from Sunday. I’m horrified by this, because I don’t think anybody should spend a major holiday alone slaving over journal articles on angiogenesis, so I told him that he should come over for dinner. What do Lebanese people usually eat on Eid? Anybody have any good recipes? Is there anything else special that I should try to have around? I keep kosher, so I know my meat is acceptably hallal, and I know not to cook with wine, but I’m otherwise pretty clueless, Orthodox Jews not being prone to making or eating Eid meals ;j ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2004, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-cook-for-eid/273143/2 "2004-11-05T07:55:14Z")
You should just go to McDonald’s for their all-new Eid-al-Fitr Meal! It comes with a toy surprise! ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2004, 9:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-cook-for-eid/273143/3 "2004-11-05T09:07:38Z")
No clue, but that’s so considerate of you! It sucks to spend holidays alone. ---
**Author:** ![Angua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8baadc/32.png) [@Angua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angua)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2004, 10:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-cook-for-eid/273143/4 "2004-11-05T10:04:44Z")
Kudos to you for being such a great friend! Generally, Eid will be a feast day. Its not Eid-al-Adha, where the traditional meal would be lamb of some description, but Eid-al Fitr, which is the end of Ramadhan. In our house we generally have samosas/kebabs of some description, followed by a spicy roast chicken, or tandoori chicken, with salad, pillau rice, potato-ey things, and pitta bread, followed with a desert of kulfi (Indian ice-cream), or gulab jambu (rose flavoured sweet bread balls smothered in syrup). Lots of Indian sweets, and hot chai. But we are Indian Muslim, so YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2004, 10:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-cook-for-eid/273143/5 "2004-11-05T10:13:14Z")
Well it’s not official, but while I was at UM I had several Muslim friends from Dearborn, so I’m pretty sure the words for the end of Ramadan translate to “the day in which wolfman’s muslim friend’s families create vast quantities of food and have a celebration in which wolfman attempts to eat his own weight in home cooked yummies.” ---
**Author:** ![ShockingAlberto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ea924/32.png) [@ShockingAlberto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShockingAlberto)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2004, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-cook-for-eid/273143/6 "2004-11-05T10:41:56Z")
My family’s Bengali, so YMMV, but this is our traditional Eid food. [Stuffed Dalpuri](http://flavoursofindia.tripod.com/dalpuri.html) Shingara (can’t find a link on me, but it’s on the net somewhere) Steamed rice Ramen noodles mixed with shrip, spices, and beef. Like I said, family’s Bengali. I have no idea if this is an “across the board” sorta thing. ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2004, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-cook-for-eid/273143/7 "2004-11-05T14:27:51Z")
Well, here’s a site that describes what that holiday in Lebanon is like: > **[Where can I find information about festivals and cultural attractions?](https://settlement.org/ontario/community/arts-and-culture/festivals-and-programs/where-can-i-find-information-about-festivals-and-cultural-attractions/)** > > Look for festivals and arts and culture attractions in your local newspaper, at a community centre or ask a neighbour. There’s a sidebar that talks about a special pastry called maamul, which is served on feast days. And here’s one that talks about traditional Lebanese food: > **[AME Info: Middle East & Gulf News](https://www.ameinfo.com)** > > Find the latest business, economic & real estate news. Check AMEInfo for current information on Energy & Power Updates. Also, explore our travel guide. ---
**Author:** ![IrreverentTone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@IrreverentTone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IrreverentTone)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2004, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-cook-for-eid/273143/8 "2004-11-05T15:33:39Z")
**GilaB** , I have in my hands a Lebanese cookbook from 1959. Alas, the writer was a Lebanese Christian, so it doesn’t specifically mention Eid-al-Fitr recipes. They do seem to be classic Lebanese recipes though. One lovely looking menu consists of tabbouleh, farareej mashwieh (roasted garlic lemon chicken), garlic paste, maamul, fruit and coffee. If you would like recipes email me and I’ll be happy to type some out tonight. It’s a classic cookbook, with some of everything so if the above isn’t appealing to you there are lots more recipes, too. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2004, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-cook-for-eid/273143/9 "2004-11-05T15:47:24Z")
> [@GilaB](#): > > Orthodox Jews not being prone to making or eating Eid meals ;j Whip up a big juicy pork loin roast, with creamy buttery mashed potatoes on the side…maybe with grilled shrimp as a starter. Then you can _both_ sit and stare at it morosely before heading over to McDonald’s for the all-new Eid-al-Fitr Meal. ---
**Author:** ![GilaB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8e7dd6/32.png) [@GilaB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GilaB)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2004, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-cook-for-eid/273143/10 "2004-11-05T16:19:54Z")
**Ike** , I love how your suggestions are always so helpful and constructive 😃 **Irreverent Tone** , thanks so much! I’ve just emailed you - that menu sounds really great, and like something I’d be capable of cooking. Are there any other traditions I should know about? My own googling indicates that people eat a lot of candy - is that true for adults also, or just for little kids? Should I be timing this for Sunday dinner, lunch, what? ---
**Author:** ![IrreverentTone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@IrreverentTone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IrreverentTone)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2004, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-cook-for-eid/273143/11 "2004-11-05T21:00:07Z")
The whole cookbook I mentioned earlier (Food From the Arab World by Marie Karam Khayat and Margaret Clark Keating) has been posted online. If anyone wants the link just email me. ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2004, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-cook-for-eid/273143/12 "2004-11-05T22:57:15Z")
Just a note. Halal is much less restrictive than Kosher. And all my Muslim friends have said they are happy to eat any Kosher food so long as it does not contain alcohol. The prohibition on alcohol in halal food is sometimes extended to prohibit wine vinegar and soy sauce (which is naturally fermented and has an extremely low alcohol content). ---
**Author:** ![Angua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8baadc/32.png) [@Angua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angua)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2004, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-cook-for-eid/273143/13 "2004-11-05T23:56:21Z")
> [@GilaB](#): > > Are there any other traditions I should know about? My own googling indicates that people eat a lot of candy - is that true for adults also, or just for little kids? Should I be timing this for Sunday dinner, lunch, what? Lots of sweets. For everyone! 😃 The main feast would probably be at lunchtime. The Eid prayer is said around 10:30am, and then there’d be food about 1-ish. Hope that’s helpful. ---
**Author:** ![IrreverentTone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@IrreverentTone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IrreverentTone)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2004, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-cook-for-eid/273143/14 "2004-11-15T23:25:19Z")
How did dinner turn out, **GilaB**?