Tuesday March 19th, 2024
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Mummy's Cookbook: Cairo's New Home-Made Catering Service

Every now and then, we like to take a break from all the vegan, organic, gluten-free, vegetarian trends and indulge in some good old Egyptian dishes and that's where Mummy's Cookbook comes in.

Staff Writer

With authentic Egyptian cuisine being back in fashion over the last few years, we’re constantly on the lookout for the next Cairo Kitchen or Zooba. But we’re fast burning a hole in our pockets, so now we’re thinking: why not do it ourselves? It seems absurd that a young, hip 20-something year old would think of making molokheya for example, but now it’s very much a reality thanks to sisters Farida, Shahinaz, and Sherine Kholoussy – the founders of Mummy’s Cookbook; an online compilation of traditional Egyptian recipes straight from mama’s kitchen.

The online project is dedicated to Egyptian recipes, covering everything from Hawawshi, to Kahk bel Agameya, to Sawda Djej (Chicken livers with pomegranate molasses). In addition, it’s not just limited to Oriental dishes. Every other post offers a recipe for dishes like Chinese chicken stir fried noodles or shrimp curry. 

The idea was born as a way to honor their mother's memory and that's very much the beating heart of the project.

“My mother used to cook really well and she just did it with passion,” Farida reminisces fondly. “My dad on the other hand is a writer and she’d teasingly tell him his books will live on for generations and these would count as his blessings. She would always say that she wanted to secure her own blessings, too,” Farida continues.

After she mother passed away, the three sisters decided to give their mother the legacy she craved and embarked on the cookbook project. Initially, they wanted it to be an actual book, just like their mother had wanted. However, they decided to break into the online market first, make a name for themselves and get the momentum going; to establish a name before sending it to book shelves.

When asked about her favorite dish, Farida immediately mentions Hamam (stuffed pigion), because it takes so long to cook and reminds her of spending the whole day with her mum in the kitchen.

 “I used to hang around with her in the kitchen, helping her cook. Well not helping her, but watching her and taking notes. I love the kitchen!” exclaims Farida.

When it comes to Mummy’s Cookbook, she also claims the date cake to be her favourite dish on the platform so far, but promises that a chocolate date cake recipe will be coming out soon; a recipe she promises won’t be found anywhere else.

Stay tuned for that and much more on the Mummies Cookbook Instagram and Facebook.