MEET LAMA, DUBAI BASED FOOD BLOGGER
Lama Gharaibeh
Food Blogger and Recipe Developer
A conversation with Lama
Tell us something about you! Where are you from, how long have you been living in Dubai…
I’m Lama Gharaibeh, I’m from Jordan and have been living in Dubai since 2015.
I have a bachelor degree in Nutrition and Food Technology.
When did you realize to be passionate about cooking?
My passion for cooking started relatively late: I’d never been interested in cooking during my childhood or even when I got married, but later on I suddenly started to see cooking and baking from a whole different perspective .
How did Dubai influence your job and your creativity?
Dubai is definitely one of the most exciting places in the world and it’s an open space for creativity, offering a wide range of culinary experiences and workshops which really helped me a lot.
In addition to that the market is plenty with fresh ingredients that always inspires me with my cooking and baking.
Tell us more about your project: how this idea came about?
My project wasn’t planned at all!
As my passion for cooking and baking started, and I was hesitant to share it with anyone. It happened as coincidence: my first post on Instagram was meant to be for close friends and family, but I found out that my page was public and I received likes and comments from people whom I didn’t know.
I started to post more often sharing my experiences in the kitchen and I found great encouragement!
What made you decide to share your passion for cooking on socials like Instagram?
I just wanted to share my passion! It’s my hobby which I’m really proud of and happy with.
I figured out that there are so many people who can be interested in these humble kitchen adventures and benefit from them.
They say “food tastes better on a nice plate”: can you give us some advice about how to display the food and make it look even yummier?
It goes without saying that Instagram is a visually-oriented social media platform, and you can’t attract an audience without showcasing gorgeous imagery.
So Plating is an integral part of this journey.
I try to be creative when it comes to plates and backdrops I use for my pictures but most importantly is the food! For a nice picture the food should be absolutely delicious!
Good Manners and Etiquette are very important for Muslims especially during Ramadan.
Do and Don’ts:
Ramadan is a month of mercy and bonding,Muslims all over the world help one another, spreading happiness all around. This month is a shining example of the unity that can be achieved among all classes of people in any society. So always be helpful, feel with others and definitely be mindful with what you cook and eat.
To me Good Manners means being thoughtful and respectful: If you are respectful to others then you are more likely to be treated with respect by them.
Ramadan is about to end, can you tell us what does it mean to you?
Ramadan for me is about slowing down a little bit and spending more time with the family!
It’s amazing that you can sit around the table every day at the same time for almost a whole month.
Why fasting?
Ramadan is the most sacred month in Islamic culture. It has a unique spiritual experience which I really enjoy! It definitely cleans the body and soul.
Mental clarity and high levels of energy is possibly the best advantages of fasting.
What is your forte when hosting an Iftar?
Advance planning will help you achieve a more flawless and fun-filled Iftar gathering and choosing dishes carefully and trying to have some different food categories that will enrich the experience.
We felt in love with your Qatayef, can you share your recipe with us?
Yes sure ! Qatayef is an Arabic dessert, almost exclusively, served during the holy month of Ramadan.
Qatayef:
Ingredients:
- 3 cups warm water
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1/2 cup fine semolina
- 2 Tablespoons sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 Tablespoon rose water
Procedure:
In a blend starting with water then all the remaining ingredients,blend well for 4-5 minutes scraping the sides occasionally.
Let the batter rest for 30 minutes.
Heat a skillet on medium heat and start to pour sufficient amounts of the batter ( the quantity depends on the desired size of the Qatayef ) let it cook until the surface is completely dried out ( DON’T FLIP).
Let the qatayef cool down on a clean kitchen towel then stuff them with either cheese , qishta ( Arabic thick cream ) or nuts.
Deep fry until golden brown , dip in the sugar syrup and serve .
Thank you Lama for being our guest!
If you want to know more about her and take a look at her incredible recipes,
go and follow @lama_gharaibeh
