Ramadan mubarak!

Whether or not you celebrate and observe Ramadan, I’d like to wish you a joyful month. As an agnostic chef and educator, I take deep inspiration from the holy time of religious fasting celebrated by more than two billion Muslim people around the world. This time of reflection, contemplation, and (of course) celebration around meals reminds me just how powerful a connector food is! In the Northern hemisphere, this month brings the first glimpses of spring and this year, the first night of Ramadan coincided with the date of the Lunar New Year! I have been reflecting on this synchronicity and gleefully eating my way through this season of new beginnings. Here are just a few of my reflections inspired by the traditions of Ramadan:

Patience can be delicious

Here at Culinary Artistas, our afterschool programs are a weekly opportunity to learn about culture through food. This season, we are spending a few weeks making food from the Middle East and North Africa, taking time to make dishes that could appear on an iftar table. After we chop, season, stir, and taste, we all count down and say, “CHEERS!” together, marking the moment when we are all invited to share the meal. Then, best of all, we tuck into new flavors and have a moment to take pride in our hard work! This is my favorite part of our classes. It’s particularly special to share this moment of patience and reward during Ramadan, because I see my students exercising self-control, respect, and discipline as they wait to try their food, and in a small way, this moment mirrors the task of fasting. Their smiles tell me that patience is a secret ingredient in making a meal even more delicious!

Food nourishes every part of us

In our hectic lives, it’s easy for mealtimes to feel like obstacles. I love cooking. I’m a former restaurant chef and I work with beautiful ingredients every day; even so, meals can feel like a box to tick on the way to my next task or chore. Food gives us the energy we need to get through our to-do lists, but it also fuels our thoughts and feelings. This Ramadan, I’m making an effort to slow down and put dinner center stage. When I spend time planning for, cooking, and savoring my meals, I’m investing in nourishing my whole self. I find myself more able to listen to my body and more able to treat myself and others with thoughtfulness and empathy. Life is still busy, not every meal can be a meditation, but sometimes savoring the obstacles gives us a chance to be nourished along the way.

Need something to break your fast?

Whether it’s sundown or just snack time, here’s a recipe that takes inspiration from the Quranic tradition of breaking fast by eating dates!

Sunbutter Stuffed Dates

• 3 pitted Medjool dates
• 3 Tablespoons sunbutter (or nutbutter of your choice)
• 3 Tablespoons chocolate chips
• 1 Tablespoon coconut oil
• Flaky sea salt (optional)

1. In a bowl, combine the chocolate chips and coconut oil. Microwave it gently until the mixture is melted and stir to combine it. Set aside and allow to cool slightly.
2. Place your dates on a small plate. Using a spoon, carefully stuff the sunbutter in the cavity of the dates where the pit used to be.
3. Using a spoon, drizzle the chocolate over the dates and sunbutter.
4. If using, sprinkle the flaky sea salt on top of the chocolate.
5. Chill the dates in the refrigerator for 10-15 minutes to allow the chocolate to set.
6. Enjoy!

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