Sweet vermicelli to enliven Idul Fitri

Mehru Jaffer, Contributor, Jakarta

Toward the end of Ramadhan, Muslims in Pakistan brim with a sense of goodness about themselves and the world around them.

Having fulfilled an important obligation by fasting for an entire month they feel that they have taken ample advantage of the holy month when the doors of heaven are said to remain wide open, all prayers are answered and God is especially forgiving.

The 27th day of Ramadhan is observed as the special day when the Prophet first received revelations from God. On the following night of the 28th Muslims try to spot the silver outline of the new moon. Once sighted, hectic preparations are made to celebrate Idul Fitri, which falls on the next day.

The days of fasting are officially declared over then and it is time to feast on a hundred and one exotic delicacies, especially the king of all deserts known as "sheer korma" (dates) or sweet vermicelli.

Ingredients: 100 grams thin vermicelli 1500 ml milk 250 grams sugar 50 grams almonds 50 grams raisins six cardamom pods powdered 4 teaspoons clarified butter (also known as ghee) 250 ml water one sheet of beaten silver paper

How to prepare:

Chop the dried fruit into tiny pieces and fry in one teaspoon of clarified butter and keep aside. Make syrup from mixing water and sugar on slow heat.

Boil milk and fry vermicelli in remaining clarified butter gently on slow heat till golden brown. Add vermicelli to the milk, stirring all the time so that lumps do not form. Add sugar syrup and turn off the heat.

Stir in cardamom powder and garnish with fried dry fruit.

Cover with the sheet of paper of beaten silver. Serve warm or chilled.