Eid

Eid al-Fitr

Today is Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan, and to celebrate, RCK will be cooking jewelled rice as well as a traditional dessert called ‘Sheer Kurma’ for the refugee community in Calais.

Sheer kurma is a popular dessert in many Muslim countries, especially during Eid celebrations. It is a creamy and sweet vermicelli pudding made with milk, sugar, and vermicelli noodles, and it is often garnished with nuts, raisins, and cardamom. Sheer kurma is usually served after the Eid prayers as a way of breaking the fast.

Jewelled rice is a dish that is traditionally enjoyed during Eid in many parts of the Muslim world. It is a fragrant and colourful rice dish, made with a blend of spices, nuts, and dried fruits, and it is often served alongside meat dishes.

RCK are preparing 500 servings, which we will distribute to refugees and asylum seekers across Calais and Dunkirk. By cooking jewelled rice and sheer kurma for Eid, RCK is not only providing a delicious meal for those in need but also helping to bring a sense of community and celebration to the refugee community. In a time of uncertainty and hardship, gestures like this can make a world of difference and remind people that they are not alone.

We ask anybody who is able to show their support for refugees this Eid al-Fitr by making a donation to the Refugee Community Kitchen. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of those who need it most. Your donations will help to purchase food, equipment, and supplies needed to prepare and serve meals to refugees. No donation is too small, every bit makes a difference and we can ensure that thousands of refugees will have a hot meals to celebrate Eid and other such festivals for years to come.

Thank you for your generosity and compassion.

BLAISE VASSEUR’S EID STICKY RAISIN LAMB

Eid.jpg

Tomorrow is Eid, and we say Eid Mubarak to everyone celebrating around the world from Refugee Community Kitchen! To mark the occasion we're sharing with you Blaise Vasseur's delicious recipe for Eid Sticky Raisin Lamb. We hope you enjoy -

While our food is normally 99% plant based, we make exceptions during special occasions like Eid & Easter because we do our best to help people stay connected to their culture and beliefs while living in very difficult conditions.

What you’ll need:

600 grams of diced lamb

1 ltr of water

2 large onions sliced

4 cloves garlic

100 grams raisins

Pinch of turmeric powder

Pinch of cinnamon powder

Pinch of cumin powder

5 star anise

120 grams basmati rice

What to do:

Follow normal rice instructions using lamb stock. Gently boil lamb pieces with spices and 1ltr of water until cooked and tender. Cool then strain of the water and put aside. Put onion and garlic and another pinch of all spices together in a heavy pan and sweat until soft. Add raisins. Add 200ml of lamb stock and cook till raisins are plump and melting. Pour raisin sauce over the lamb and reheat. Place reheated lamb and raisin sauce on top of cooked rice, sprinkle with toasted almonds and chopped parsley.

Enjoy.

Serves 4-5

GROUND UPDATE

Dunkirk Refugees

There are up to 700 people, including many families, living rough in Dunkirk. We've encountered at least 70 children under the age of 10.

WE NEED YOUR HELP! We are feeling a lot of financial pressure as we are currently serving over 1300 meals a day. We're supporting those 700 people, plus 300 more in Calais as well as providing food to over 100 people living in unofficial camps in the region. And more people are arriving daily!

From brutal heat to pouring rain, and almost constant evictions/clearances by the authorities, this summer has been miserable. Tensions are high as large groups of people try to live together in a very limited amount of tents (hundreds were confiscated last week) or survive under shared pieces of plastic tarpaulin. Despite these horrible conditions people continue to show resilience.

We are so grateful for our volunteers and our sister groups Help RefugeesL'Auberge des MigrantsDunkirk / Dunkerque Refugee Women's CentreRefugee Info Bus حافلة المعلومات للاجئين مسیر راهنمای پناهندگانUtopia 56Refugee Youth ServiceMobile Refugee Support and everyone else who is tirelessly providing support and solidarity through these deplorable conditions.

Besides increasing numbers, Eid is next week and we'd like to make it special, so right now we need funds more than anything.

Please spread the word and donate what you can!