Boeka EATS
RAMADAN
“The sighting of the new crescent moon signifies the end of the month of Sha’ban (the eighth month of the Islamic lunar calendar) and the start of the holy month of Ramadan. It is also during Ramadan that the Quran was revealed. This is why most fasting Muslims use this month to read or recite the Quran, to understand it, to find tranquillity and calm, and ultimately to seek God’s mercy in absolution of our sins.
Ramadan is one of the most auspicious times in the Islamic calendar and a time for spiritual rejuvenation. Fasting Muslims abstain from eating and drinking from sunrise to sunset. In addition, our intention also is to refrain from anything deemed sinful during this time.
Ramadan treats or koekies are used to break our fast and to be shared with neighbours and loved ones. These koekies are the ones we adore like traditional daltjies, pancakes, koe’sisters, bollas, half moons, samoosas, sausage rolls and cocktail pizzas. Even more traditional are the koekies that I grew up with in the Bo-Kaap such as pampoen en warmwater-and-aartappelkoekies. The batter is shallow-fried in oil until golden and crispy, served warm with a good sprinkling of cinnamon sugar.
However, even though our tables are graced with an array of goodies including the very popular falooda, our fast is traditionally broken with a date and/or water – this was the practice of our Prophet (peace be upon him). He is quoted as saying: ‘When one of you is fasting, he should break his fast with dates; but if he/she cannot get any, then (he/she should break his fast) with water, for water is purifying.”
Therefore, no matter where you find yourself in the world, if you are sitting at a Ramadan table for iftar or boeka (breaking the fast), chances are you’ll be offered a sweet and sticky date to break your fast with. I’ve been exceptionally blessed to have an abundance of dates available to me in Dubai. The plump and juicy Medjool dates are perfect also for making smoothies and sticky toffee pudding. They are gloriously sweet and fleshy, and provide the instant energy that I crave after long hours of fasting.
In Cape Malay circles we still refer to fasting as ‘pwasa’, a word inherited by our Javanese forebears. Similarly words like boeka, the meal had at sunset to break one’s fast. In Indonesia they use the term as a singular phrase: ‘boeka-pwasa’.
I wish you a Ramadan Kareem (blessed Ramadan). To all our loved ones, friends and family scattered across the globe and even those whom we have lost – may you find your peace in prayer, your salvation in God and your love for humanity in the kindness of sharing.”
– Cariema Isaacs
“Those who grew up in and around Cape Town commonly refer to ‘Iftar’ as ‘boeka’