Aramco Expats

The Café Najjar Special Ramadan Treat

1. Lifestyles
2. Special Interest

Author: Britney B.
Released 21 November 2003

Outside Food Stalls
Photograph by Britney B.

This year during Ramadan things are a little different at the Dhahran Theater recreation area after dark where a lively social area has been created with tables, chairs and a children’s play area due to the Café Najjar expanding their operation to include outside stalls selling schwarmas and satar.

When a friend and I went along the other evening we enjoyed a couple of Irish coffees at the café before buying some very delicious schwarmas. The stall selling satar makes a chocolate one that I am determined to try out later this week as I was disappointingly far too full of schwarma to try it at the time.

Schwarma Chef
Photograph by Britney B.

The only recipe I’ve been able to find for schwarma consists of slicing and marinating the whole chunk of meat and necessitates having a proper schwarma cooker to grill it on. Because I really enjoy schwarmas, often fancy one and don’t know how to make a proper one, the only choices usually are to go down town to buy some or have an outside caterer deliver. So, if you are also a schwarmaholic and have a fairly easy recipe please send it into mailto:info@aramcoexpats.com so we can share it around. For the time being, as they freeze quite well I’m going to buy a supply of the delicious Café Najjar schwarmas so at least I’ll have some available over the next few weeks.

As this is a very special time of year for enjoying good food, here’s a very easy recipe for another delightful Middle Eastern dish, Um Ali. An Egyptian lady I used to work with gave this recipe to me and it’s very easy and very popular with dinner party guests: