Islam and Chicken Marsala

[Jenn! 918]

This thread keeps popping up and I can't stop thinking about food all day...Thank a lot!!! It's lunch time here and I have been so good eating my healthy lunches and now all I can think about is Italian food...*drooling*

That's why I'm here.

[ridasgirl 1]

I was watching Food Detectives on the Food Network the other day....it turns out that the alcohol does not "cook" out or "evaporate" out....the only way that the alcohol burns off is if it is flambe. My very limited knowledge says even if the alcohol is cooked out it's still not Halal.

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

I hear ya ummsqueakster. I have a nepali/indian tounge and love making their foods especially curries. I should have brought those spices here so I could cook curries for him and see what he thinks. I kick myself for it at least once weekly for not doing that as I miss it so much. I did find two Indian food resturants here in Hurghada but the prices are outrageous for Egyptians to pay in the 150 L.E. range for a dish so I'm having no luck getting Waleed to agree to go to one of them.

[Nothing1234 2]

I was watching Food Detectives on the Food Network the other day....it turns out that the alcohol does not "cook" out or "evaporate" out....the only way that the alcohol burns off is if it is flambe. My very limited knowledge says even if the alcohol is cooked out it's still not Halal.

Yep...

http://www.ochef.com/165.htm They actually have a chart for remaining alcohol left...alcohol flamed seems to NOT work as I would have thought. Weird.

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

I mean just check out these dishes: http://www.hurghadamarina.com/restaurants.html

I've got to find the marina in Hurghada and get me some of that delicious looking Indian food. *drools*

le sigh - It's hard living like a local in a famous tourist town especially when you're looking like foreigner but married to an Egyptian.

[Sandrila 1]

I feel funny admitting that my husband, though born and raised Muslim, does not sound like the rest of the practicing Muslims here. He displays alot of the common beliefs and values but does not practice in the regard that he does drink.

So alcohol in food has never been a question.

The only stipulations with him in regards to his beliefs are during mostly during Ramadan and no pork.

He doesn't pray 5x a day or go to a mosque. I would, however difficult it may seem to me to adapt, be very mindful to what he could eat and not eat based on these beliefs. I feel glad that I don't have to worry about the very small ingredients in foods and I do make sure there is never any pork.

Halal....we haven't had much luck with it here. I have to search more but it is more expensive.

I do like the quality of the meat better. We found one restaurant since he has been here that offers all halal and guess what nationality they are? Pakistanis.

He loves it! And I am so glad because I love love love Indian food. So I think he will enjoy that as well, once he tries more of it.

Olivia I can relate to having a responsibility now to cook for my husband.

Before it was all about my children and that didn't seem like a task to me because I knew what they liked and they didn't comment on how it was made or how much time it took to make it. As I have said before my husband doesn't see all foods as a sufficient meal...me I will use anything as a meal. Whatever is available. In the past if I want to cook I cook and I enjoyed doing it now cooking becomes such work and wondering what to make for dinner is such a task. I know he wants me to cook Moroccan dishes and I can and I have BUT I am not a stay at home wife/mother. I work too, on top of everything else, and I just don't have the time to sit around and sift through my cook books just to keep it "interesting in the kitchen"...rather save all that spice and energy for the bedroom.

Edited June 18, 2009 by Sandrila

[UmmSqueakster 54]

I hear ya ummsqueakster. I have a nepali/indian tounge and love making their foods especially curries. I should have brought those spices here so I could cook curries for him and see what he thinks. I kick myself for it at least once weekly for not doing that as I miss it so much. I did find two Indian food resturants here in Hurghada but the prices are outrageous for Egyptians to pay in the 150 L.E. range for a dish so I'm having no luck getting Waleed to agree to go to one of them.

I remember seeing something about indian spices on an expat blog *digs around* here it is - http://whazzupegypt.blogspot.com/2007/09/b...s-in-egypt.html

I think if you went to the spice markets in Cairo, you'd be able to find a lot of stuff for creating your own curry powders and garam masala.

[UmmSqueakster 54]

I mean just check out these dishes: http://www.hurghadamarina.com/restaurants.html

I've got to find the marina in Hurghada and get me some of that delicious looking Indian food. *drools*

le sigh - It's hard living like a local in a famous tourist town especially when you're looking like foreigner but married to an Egyptian.

Mmmmmmm. My favorite non egyptian restuarant in egypt is the Peking Chain in Cairo. The first time I went to Egypt, AbuS suprised me by taking me there, since he knew I liked chinese food. Totally concur that it's not doable for the average egyptian. I felt so bad that he spent half a month's salary on a single meal.

[Sandrila 1]

Olivia couldn't someone mail you your spices at some point?

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

That's become his reasoning for me cooking the meals now. That I'm the stay at home wife and he's the husband that works 12 hours everyday. He even wants me to go out and buy the food telling me take care of the food when I don't know what the foods are. I'm barely learning arabic and he just taught me how to write my 0-9 today. LOLZ! Nevermind saying them. The laundry guy next to our apartment tried to talk to me yesterday and I was so embarassed that I didn't understand him so I just smiled and ran away fast. Someone could mail my spices but that means getting into my storage when the storage is in Moscow and the keys are eight hours away in Boise with my family.

Thanks for the suggestion ummsqueakster. Before coming I didn't bring my spices because I read Cairo is the spice capitol so I was hoping to find what I need here. I found turmeric in Hurghada and I brought corriander still need cummin seed and a few other things like a grinder. I noticed we have an old medicine bowl grinder in the kitchen but I could also use our plastic ####### Egyptian blender.

It would have been so much easier if I'd just packed them like my intuition told me too.

[Nothing1234 2]

That's become his reasoning for me cooking the meals now. That I'm the stay at home wife and he's the husband that works 12 hours everyday. He even wants me to go out and buy the food telling me take care of the food when I don't know what the foods are. I'm barely learning arabic and he just taught me how to write my 0-9 today. LOLZ! Nevermind saying them. The laundry guy next to our apartment tried to talk to me yesterday and I was so embarassed that I didn't understand him so I just smiled and ran away fast. Someone could mail my spices but that means getting into my storage when the storage is in Moscow and the keys are eight hours away in Boise with my family.

Thanks for the suggestion ummsqueakster. Before coming I didn't bring my spices because I read Cairo is the spice capitol so I was hoping to find what I need here. I found turmeric in Hurghada and I brought corriander still need cummin seed and a few other things like a grinder. I noticed we have an old medicine bowl grinder in the kitchen but I could also use our plastic ####### Egyptian blender.

It would have been so much easier if I'd just packed them like my intuition told me too.

Nah...I say eat out. Everything delivers there. JK

[HLM 1]

to the OP- I'm sorry if non practicing muslims have confused you I hope all the advice given to you here would be helpful for you both.

Nawal-I MISSSSSSS delivery there so much!! Hubby was so surprised about that LOL I say we egyptians loooooooooooooooove food

[sandinista! 1,816]

not all madhabs view alcohol as filth.

and why would someone avoid cooking with wine vinegars? all vinegars have an alcohol source, whether it's wine, champagne, or apples. (the only exception being true, authentic, and very expensive balsamic. which is amazing on strawberries, i recently learned.)

the alcohol content is not higher in wine vinegars than non wine vinegars.

"What I see is that if wine changes into vinegar, it becomes pure and lawful as it has changed from its original state and this requires a new ruling as is the case with all other converted impurities regardless of whether this occurs naturally or by human interference. Wine itself is a pure substance as it was made from grapes. After becoming an intoxicant, it becomes prohibited. Once it changes and lacks the intoxicating characteristic, it regains its original ruling.

The view of the Hanafi scholars and those who follow them in this respect seems to be strong. They say that treating wine is similar to its natural change into vinegar as both involve the removal of the reason of prohibition, which is intoxication, as well as the attainment of its benefit of nourishment and medicinal purposes.

In addition, the reason for declaring it impure (i.e., intoxication) no longer stands. It is well known that a ruling is attached to its reason in terms of existence or otherwise.

-http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?pagename=IslamOnline-English-Ask_Scholar/FatwaE/FatwaE&cid=1119503544262

i've read also that vinegar was one of the prophet's favorite condiments. what would be the source of the vinegar he used, if not wine?

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

How come fast food joints can deliever around here but the post man can't find your house?

[doodlebugg 10]

I hear ya ummsqueakster. I have a nepali/indian tounge and love making their foods especially curries. I should have brought those spices here so I could cook curries for him and see what he thinks. I kick myself for it at least once weekly for not doing that as I miss it so much. I did find two Indian food resturants here in Hurghada but the prices are outrageous for Egyptians to pay in the 150 L.E. range for a dish so I'm having no luck getting Waleed to agree to go to one of them.

Honestly I had to basically give up most Italian food once my husband came here. I"m not one that minds the alcohol in my food since it's not like I'm getting drunk off of it but he is strict in that regard. Tiramasu, chicken marsala, chicken piccata, just about any italian dish including a lot of sauces all contain alcohol. (also beware of the frozen premade meatballs at the stores since a lot contain pork!)

What we did was replace Italian with Indian and now it's all good.

I hear ya ummsqueakster. I have a nepali/indian tounge and love making their foods especially curries. I should have brought those spices here so I could cook curries for him and see what he thinks. I kick myself for it at least once weekly for not doing that as I miss it so much. I did find two Indian food resturants here in Hurghada but the prices are outrageous for Egyptians to pay in the 150 L.E. range for a dish so I'm having no luck getting Waleed to agree to go to one of them.

I remember seeing something about indian spices on an expat blog *digs around* here it is - http://whazzupegypt.blogspot.com/2007/09/b...s-in-egypt.html

I think if you went to the spice markets in Cairo, you'd be able to find a lot of stuff for creating your own curry powders and garam masala.

Ok I quoted Olivia before seeing UmmSqueakster's post. I was going to say go to khan el khali and go crazy getting da spices!!!! Seriously there has to be a place in hurghada that has spices, you just haven't found it yet. If you want I can post the question on egyptsearch for you and let you know the answer. I make a kickin' chicken masala and although you can make the masala by combining cumin, paprika and a few other spices you can actually get the masala spice at the market if you look for it. Yum now I want some!!!!!! Maybe we'll celebrate tonight by going out to my favorite Indian restaurant!