Women in Ramadan: cooking is priority No 1

For many women in the Algerian society, the fasting month of Ramadan is an opportunity to show their cooking skills and to make their families enjoy meals which have special taste in this month. On the other hand, working women find themselves in race with time to complete the total menu of the day in order to satisfy their families.

• As they wake up in the morning, women start thinking about what to prepare for post-fast meal (iftar). They try to vary their meals from day to day and do their best to come up with delicious food.
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• “Each time, I try to prepare delicious meals. We do not eat all day long. So, it is good to find various meals at iftar,” said Safia, a 24-year-old student.
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• Ramadan is also an opportunity for young girls to learn the right cooking to be a good householder in future.
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• “Every Ramadan, I teach my daughters how to cook meals. They like that as they discover new recipes,” said Zohra, a 45-year-old housewife.
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• Traditional meals have the lion’s share in the Algerian menu in Ramadan. Chorba is served as an appetiser to break the fast. It is followed by a second meal and various types of salads.
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• Working women are the most tired in this month. They have to accomplish their duties at work and deal with cooking when they come back home. They have to prepare the Chorba and the other meals in a short time. Some of them prepare food the night before and do just few things when they return from work.
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• “It is very difficult to work and prepare meals in Ramadan. We have to be quick and intelligent,” said Souad, a nurse in a hospital in Algiers.
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• Ramadan remains a month of delicious food for all the categories of people including men, woman, children and the elderly. Everyone waits for Maghrib Athan to enjoy food.