Eid is more than a celebration – it’s a tapestry of flavours, traditions and love woven around the table. For our team, the meals prepared and shared are not only about taste, but about the stories and memories they carry. Here, they share some of their favourite dishes to feast on, and the meaning behind them. 

Hannah Forbes, Designer 

My favourite Eid dish is the dessert Gulab Jamun. It’s such a simple dessert, but it means the world to me. My gran’s sister used to make it just for me, all year round. She even went so far as to hide it away from the other relatives so I could take it home. Whenever I visited, we’d sit together with tea and Gulab Jamun, bonding over family stories. That’s why it will always be my favourite Eid treat. It’s so much more than something sweet – to me, it’s love. It represents time, effort and care. Even though I don’t eat Gulab Jamun unless it’s made by her, twice a year, it remains a beautiful reminder of how much love can be poured into something so small. 

Kauthar Adams, Copy Editor 

Since I can remember, my mom has made chicken pie for Eid morning. It’s a tradition my family looks forward to every year – having pie for breakfast. It almost feels like a treat for fasting the whole month. There’s always enough left over for lunch and supper (along with all the other food), because our tummies still have to get used to all the daytime eating. If we’re lucky, there’s even enough left for school or work the next day. 

Taahirah Wallie, Advertising Sales Co-Ordinator 

Eid is a special occasion that we get to enjoy with friends and family. For me, it represents gratitude, togetherness, and celebration. The house is filled with laughter, stories and the comforting aroma of home-cooked food.  

On our Eid table, you’ll find traditional meals such as fragrant biryani, seafood dishes like crayfish curry and prawns, and tender corned beef. And of course, we can’t forget the sweet taste of dessert that follows.  

It’s not just about the food, but the feeling that comes with it. These meals carry our Cape Malay traditions, recipes passed down through generations, and the love that goes into preparing each dish. 

Malika Johnson, Managing Editor 

Growing up, Eid was such a special time in our home. I remember the excitement I felt seeing all the delicious treats laid out on the table for visitors who came to greet us. Those treats were meant for our guests, but as a child I was forever sneaking back for little nibbles throughout the day.  

My mum would cook up a storm every Eid, filling the house with the most incredible aromas. Everything she made was delicious, but the dish that always stood out for me was her crayfish curry. It quickly became my absolute favourite and something I looked forward to year after year. 

Now that I have my own family, I’ve carried on that tradition by making crayfish curry for them on Eid. It’s a dish that brings back so many fond memories of my childhood and reminds me of the warmth, generosity and togetherness that makes Eid so special. 

Aneeqah Emeran, Digital Editor 

My favourite Eid tradition is a breakfast spread for our family and friends. Every year, my mom makes a large steak pie in a sheet pan that’s cut into squares and shared around the table, along with homemade bread served with corned beef and corned tongue. Throughout the morning, there’s tea brewing and juices being poured as family and friends stop by to celebrate. It’s not part of our main Eid lunch, but it’s one of the most special parts of the day for me – sitting together, sharing simple but delicious food and welcoming everyone who pops in. 

Photography: Freepik

The post Eid: Why these are our team’s favourite dishes to feast on appeared first on MyKitchen.

From peppermint tarts and trifles and a yearly tradition of caramel in a can, read on to see what quirky traditions our food-fluencers indulge in. 

Editor Chad January sits down with some of our favourite foodies to get a taste of what their festive traditions are, and how they’ll be spending it with their loved ones. 

Sinoyolo Sifo

“Each year, my siblings and I travel back home to my father’s house in Mthatha,” shares foodie and cookbook author Sinoyolo Sifo, also known as ‘The Cooking Husband’. It’s something both he and his wife look forward to, since he doesn’t get the chance to see extended family during the year. “I love being able to cook for my family, show off my culinary skills and get a chance to catch up and reflect”, he says.

For this meat and braai-loving family, Christmas Day won’t be complete without some kind of fire cooking. “One of our biggest family traditions is having my father slaughter a cow or sheep, which we then prepare into the most fantastic feast with aromas that fill the air,” says Sinoyolo. And this year? He just can’t wait to be home again. 

Mmule Setati

With a cookbook named Feed My Tribe, it’s no surprise that time with family means a lot to Mmule Setati. She and her husband both come from large families, so they alternate visiting different branches each year.

“Christmas Day always starts off with a light breakfast that we enjoy leisurely, before tackling the preparations for the festive feast. A typical menu would consist of gammon, crispy roast chicken, lamb and prawn curry (the family favourite). On the side, there’s some coconut rice, summer salads, charred and wilted greens and, of course, the crispiest roast potatoes. To end it off with something sweet, I prefer a simple ice cream or a good glass of champagne as opposed to the traditional trifle, which is not a favourite of mine,” laughs Mmule.

This year, she’s simply grateful for the privilege of being surrounded by the ones she loves and cares about. 

Sebastian Newman

Chef Sebastian Newman has been in charge of Christmas dessert from a very young age. Known for his stellar bakes on social media, the aspiring chef would whip up everything from peppermint tart and trifle to his favourite bake – Cremora tart.   

“Every celebration with my family is always accompanied by copious amounts of delicious food. Christmas Day is, of course, no different!” he laughs.  

He remembers waking up to the sound of Boney M. and the aroma of roasting gammon and potatoes every Christmas morning. But first, coffee and koesisters! “It always started with that tradition, followed by frantic cooking! My dad loves fishing, so our starter would always be seafood.  

Christmas has looked a little different in recent years because we’ve lost some loved ones, but keeping their memory alive by keeping our traditions, sharing food and celebrating with one another is what keeps us going.” 

Caro Alberts

If you’ve tuned into SABC 2 and watched the show Koskaskenades, then you would’ve seen the friendly face of host Caro Alberts – a well-known SA foodie and brilliant food stylist who works with a number of local as well as international brands.  

“Christmas, for me, is mainly about being surrounded by the people that I hold closest to my heart and celebrating our faith together” she shares. Her family gets together on Christmas every year and everyone is involved in the cooking.  

“I’m not that traditional when it comes to festive meals, so I love to try new and exciting flavours and cooking methods. My mom, on the other hand, keeps it simple and loves a good gammon, tongue with sticky mustard sauce and a classic trifle. There’s always a variety of flavours and our table looks completely different each year,” Caro says.  

The whole family loves to braai, so expect anything from a smoked chicken or pork belly to roosterkoek and charred veggies. “Every year my mom makes a can of caramel or Dulce de leche, if you’re feeling fancy.  

She simmers a can of condensed milk in a pot of water for 3 to 4 hours. She makes one can for each family member, but we still fight over those half-eaten cans,” she laughs. 

Words by: Chad January
Photographs: Supplied 

Also read: 5 festive roasts to feast on

The post Your fave local foodies share their festive traditions appeared first on MyKitchen.