When it comes to Ramadan prep, it’s only natural to want the best for your loved ones. From getting your home ready with festive lanterns, carefully steaming your favorite Dara’aa, artfully decorating the children’s Gergea’an bags ahead of time, to setting your Ramadan table with the perfect feast for the whole family. With so many Iftars, Suhoors and Ghabqas to host during the Holy month, the task of consistently finding the best ingredients for your Ramadan meals can be daunting! Enter Makani and Talabia by Alyasra Foods—purveyors of the freshest, most delicious ingredients from all around the world.
Whether you opt to shop at the Makani store in Shuwaikh or prefer speedy delivery service with Talabia by Alyasra Foods, you can rest assured that both concepts will supply you with the freshest, most delicious ingredients and Ramadan must- have pantry staples. Besides, who wants to be caught up in the Ramadan traffic when you’re simply looking to pick up an organic chicken to roast for Iftar? Not this bazaar editor! I would simply pick up the phone, call the Talabia hotline and let the experts handle the rest while I dream about that tamarind marinade recipe that I’ve been dying to try out. Problem solved!
We all know that by the time the sun sets and it’s finally time to eat, it’s pretty normal to feel quite parched during these hot climes. Stock up on your favorite Laban drinks from Activia in various flavors like tropical Mango and Kiwi to ensure that you break your fast on a delicious note! bazaar tip: chug a bottle of plain Activia Laban during suhoor and we guarantee that you won’t feel as thirsty when you wake up the next day. Next to our favorite Laban is usually a selection of delicious, natural, preservative free juices from Only Organic juices. These are always crowd pleasers, and with flavors like apricot, pomegranate and cherry, all of your Ramadan guests will find a taste that they would surely enjoy at your dining table. Another Ramadan table must-have is a selection of juices from Only Organic Juices. Exclusive to Alyasra Foods, Only Organic Juices are prepared with natural sugars, and this allows you to control your sugar intake during Iftar time. Let’s face it, we all crave that something sweet, so why not indulge in a healthier alternative? Only Organic Juices do not contain any added artificial sugars or harmful preservatives, so you would also be ensuring the healthiest option for your loved ones during Ramadan when dessert consumption hits an all-time high.
Now that the table is set with a selection of delectable drinks, the next step is to make sure that nibbles for Iftar are aplenty! This is the only type of food that would keep hungry diners at bay while the final touches on your main courses are being done. While many people choose the traditional fatayer and sambousa route, why not try something different from Lamb Weston? We absolutely love their camembert bites and potato cubes, and like to use the perfectly breaded, golden bites as an indulgent topping to a massive arugula salad tossed in a balsamic vinaigrette. Whether you choose to serve these up as a side to your main course, to whet your guests’ culinary palates, or as clever salad toppings, you can’t go wrong with Lamb Weston products from Alyasra Foods. You also can’t go wrong with a classic offering of Shish Barak, or as we like to call them, Middle Eastern dumplings, prepared with classic Safi yoghurt. You can find all of these classic ingredients at Makani store or order them via the Talabia service to make sure your freezer and fridge are both stocked up for the season.
For the main event during Ramadan, it’s always about the protein! You will surely impress your guests with a sumptuous T-bone steak or a succulently roasted, organic roast chicken. As Alyasra Foods are an authorized distributor of CAB (Certified Angus Beef) in Kuwait, and you will be spoiled for choice with options like USDA Prime, Choice and Select grades. It doesn’t just end there, as you can choose from Australian, South African and Brazilian beef, it’s simply a matter of your preference, and you can rest assured that you will find it all at Makani. If chicken makes a frequent appearance on your Ramadan menu rotation, then look no further than Only Organic chicken! You’ll be getting your money’s worth with these free range chickens, as they are not only large enough to feed the entire family, but they also make for the tastiest chicken broth for all of those Ramadan soups that you will be cooking. When it comes down to it, simply having the knowledge that you’re feeding your family one happy, healthy chicken that is hormone free is so important, especially with the long fasting hours, you’ll want to guarantee that your family is feasting on the finest quality of fresh chicken.
We were also so excited to learn that Alyasra Foods also carries Only Organic Eggs, because what’s an organic chicken without some organic offspring? Perfect for suhoor nights, you can make yummy quiches, classic shakshoukas or a straight up classic omelet. If, like this bazaar editor, you like to have breakfast for Iftar at some point during Ramadan (because who doesn’t miss pancakes for breakfast?!), then you can’t go wrong with packing in more nutrition by frying up some Only Organic Eggs next to those fluffy pancakes.
Speaking of breakfast, another quick suhoor option is a healthful bowl of classic Kellogg’s cereal. Make sure you’re getting all the fiber that you will need this Ramadan and integrate Kellogg’s All-Bran flakes into your routine. You can even get creative and use the bran flakes in a delicious yoghurt parfait. We actually love pairing a classic yoghurt with Kellogg’s Muesli with nuts and dried fruits, and when we’re feeling a little naughty, the chocolate version.
Feeling a touch of Italian flair this Ramadan season? Let’s face it, we all get bored with the traditional dishes after week one, and you will want a welcome break from overdosing on loads of rice and stew-based dishes. This is when you let your inventiveness take the lead with delicious Italian-inspired creations! Create the smoothest cream sauce for your pasta dishes with Oldenburger cooking cream, and don’t forget to load up on Parmesan for additional creaminess.
It’s difficult to deny that dessert is essentially everyone’s favorite thing about Ramadan. Sure, it’s an excuse to pamper your taste buds, but dessert after a long day of fasting is such a rewarding experience, that you wouldn’t want to mess it up! This is where German brand Erlenbacher’s selection of frozen desserts comes into play. Take all the hassle out of your Ramadan dessert menu prep and stock up on their selections of frozen cheesecakes with different toppings to wow your guests at your next Iftar. With no added colorants, artificial flavors, nor preservatives, Erlenbacher uses real fruit offering you and your diners an absolutely natural and delicious dessert experience. For the little ones, we’re sure that icy cold Oreo Ice Cream sandwiches will do the trick and satisfy their sweet tooth cravings.
One visit to Makani will save you so much time and money when preparing for Ramadan, and if you are too busy to leave the house, then simply call the Talabia hotline to arrange for everything that you might need with their home delivery service that is even more of a life-saver when it comes to allowing you to prioritize your responsibilities during the hectic month.
Makani is located in Shuwaikh Industrial, 68th Street. Follow Makani on Instagram for updates @makanikw. For home delivery call the Talabia Delivery Service Hotline 1809 090, available 7 days a week from 07:00 AM – 10:00 PM. Follow Talabia’s latest updates on Instagram @talabiakw to see Alyasra Food’s latest product offerings.
Special thanks to local lifestyle concept Ecru @Ecruonline for lending us their beautiful tableware and accessories. Photography by Caroline Ericson, @PixbyCaroline on Instagram.
