Alkhushaf (الخشاف) is another traditional recipe associated with the month of Ramadan. It is very easy to prepare, and it is very high in nutrients which is very good after fasting all day long. Alkhushaf is made with dried fruits, mainly
dried dates (التمر)
raisins (الزبيب)
dried prunes (القراصيا)
dried apricots (المشمشية)
dried figs (التين)
You can also add various nuts if you like, however I never add nuts to it myself.
To prepare alkhushaf, all you have to do is to cut the amount you like of all fruits and soak them in water for about 4 hours. By then, the water will taste sweet and the flavours of all the fruits have mixed together. You can add milk to the water to make it less sugary and more smooth. I love it with milk! The video below shows one way of preparing it!
Then, you serve it in cups or small plates. All you have to do is to put the desired amount of fruits and sugary syrup around it in the cup and add some milk as desired. Some people add rose water to enhance the flavor. Some others like to remove the soaking water and add fruit juice instead, and some prefer to add ice cream or dairy cream on top of their khushaf! It is lovely in every way you try it!
Khushaf is usually the first thing I eat after breaking the fast and the last thing I eat before fasting another day!
How do you eat it? I mean with spoons?? Or how?
I am not an Arab and have never seen or heard of it before.
Can you tell the quantity of water to be added? Like do have to start with the exact amount of water you are going to serve. Or you can start with small ammount and when about to serve you can add more water or milk whatever you like?
Like I have my ingredients in half a glass of water. Of course the ingredients are going to need much more water than this? So pls help. ANY guidlines will be helpful.
Jazakillaah!
And how much of it can one person eat? Like ppl here consider dry fruits ‘hot’, if you understand that term. And we live in a hot country. I guess Middle East is mostly desert too. Putting it another way How much of this dish can a person tolerate in hot countries like Middle East and others?
Assalaam u alaikum wa rahmatullaah!
aziza:
@Muslimah Assalamu 3alaykum Muslimah,
I put enough water to cover the dried fruits because the idea is to get them soaked in the water until they get soft. You have to wash them very well before soaking!
I get rid of all or most of the water around the fruits and replace it with milk, and I have it with a spoon to have both fruits and milk at the same time. You can have it with a fork though if you like to eat the fruits only. Some people have the water in which the fruits are soaked as well as the fruits, but it tastes too sweet for me!
I serve it in a small dessert or soup bowl or in a cup! It is up to you really how you like to have it and in which way!
You can decorate it with fresh fruits, nuts, or even ice cream if you like. Be brave and creative! Nothing can go wrong with this reciple and it does not have set amounts of anything! Just add what you like in any amount you like!
I hope this helps!
Salaam,
Aziza
Comments:
Muslimah:
Assalaam u alaikum w.r.wb
How do you eat it? I mean with spoons?? Or how?
I am not an Arab and have never seen or heard of it before.
Can you tell the quantity of water to be added? Like do have to start with the exact amount of water you are going to serve. Or you can start with small ammount and when about to serve you can add more water or milk whatever you like?
Like I have my ingredients in half a glass of water. Of course the ingredients are going to need much more water than this? So pls help. ANY guidlines will be helpful.
Jazakillaah!
And how much of it can one person eat? Like ppl here consider dry fruits ‘hot’, if you understand that term. And we live in a hot country. I guess Middle East is mostly desert too. Putting it another way How much of this dish can a person tolerate in hot countries like Middle East and others?
Assalaam u alaikum wa rahmatullaah!
aziza:
@Muslimah Assalamu 3alaykum Muslimah,
I put enough water to cover the dried fruits because the idea is to get them soaked in the water until they get soft. You have to wash them very well before soaking!
I get rid of all or most of the water around the fruits and replace it with milk, and I have it with a spoon to have both fruits and milk at the same time. You can have it with a fork though if you like to eat the fruits only. Some people have the water in which the fruits are soaked as well as the fruits, but it tastes too sweet for me!
I serve it in a small dessert or soup bowl or in a cup! It is up to you really how you like to have it and in which way!
You can decorate it with fresh fruits, nuts, or even ice cream if you like. Be brave and creative! Nothing can go wrong with this reciple and it does not have set amounts of anything! Just add what you like in any amount you like!
I hope this helps!
Salaam,
Aziza