The Eid al-Fitr holiday is a worldwide phenomenon as it is celebrated by billions of Muslims in the world. In Europe, especially the eastern part of the continent, there are quite big Muslim communities. As a result, you can also enjoy several Eid al-Fitr delicacies from Europe.
Most of the big Muslim countries in Europe are influenced by the Ottoman Empire. They do, however, have different national foods. Here are some of the most famous Eid al-Fitr delicacies from Europe.
Manti
It is basically a type of dumpling, very popular in Central Asia, especially those former Uni Soviet countries. The dumpling usually has spiced meat fillings (ground beef or lamb). The dough wrapper with the filling then boiled or steamed. Each region might make different size of Manti. This delicacy is very popular in Russia, especially the southern part of the country.
Ruzice
This one is a very pretty cake from Bosnia. Ruzice is basically a dry pastry that looks somewhat wet and gooey. Despite its complicated look, ruzice is actually a quite simple pastry. You need to prepare a thin sheet of pastry dough, spread the filling on top of it, roll the sheet, and bake. After it’s cooked, you then cut the roll. The result is an intricate-looking cake with many layers that looks like a rosebud.
Tufahija
The name tufahije or tufahija comes from Arabic word tuffaha which means ‘apple’. Indeed, the main ingredient of this delicacy is an apple. Making Tufahije is very easy. Peel an apple and create a hole in the middle then stew it in sugar water. After it’s soft, you need to stuff it with honey and walnut. On top of that, you add whipped cream as a finishing touch. Lastly, Tufahije is commonly served in a big glass.
Baklava
It can be said that Baklava is the inspiration behind ruzice. Baklava’s origin was during the Ottoman Empire. It is a dessert pastry made of many layers of very thin unleavened dough called filo. The fillings are mostly chopped nuts, held together by sweet syrup or honey. This was initially a ceremonial dish in Topkapi Palace in the Ottoman Empire.
Ashure
Noah’s pudding is the other name of this dish. Basically, Ashure is a porridge made from grains, fruits, nuts, and dried fruits. Traditionally, Ashure is made in large quantities to serve many people like friends, neighbors, relatives, colleagues, and many more. This dish is also the remnant of the Ottoman Empire and is still very popular in Albania.
European countries, especially those which was influenced by the Ottoman Empire have interesting culinary delights. During the festive period, you can enjoy Eid al-Fitr delicacies from Europe to see the big celebration in the Blue Continent.
