لحم بقري مجفف
- English
- Jerky-Style Beef Cubes
- Soomaali
- Oodkac / Muqmad
- Français
- Cubes de Boeuf Façon Viande Séchée
بقلم ليلى وعبدالله · ·
لم تُترجم بعد إلى العربية. تُعرض بـالإنجليزية.
Oodkac or Muqmad is what Somalis prepare whenever they want to preserve meat. During times of plenty, that is the rainy days, the nomads save for a dry day. Rainy days bring abundance (barwaaqo), when the milk from the herd is flowing and meat becomes available.
The preserved meat was sometimes the only food available to the nomads whenever they wanted to “raid the fridge.” Oodkac was also contingency food that could be served to a hungry husband who would often arrive late at night, unannounced, after bringing the herd back from the watering hole. Letting him sleep hungry, could result in the woman having to make room for a second wife. A wife that could better cater to him.
Oodkac has many other uses. It is prepared when going on a long journey (saffar). For example, Somalis take it with them when going for pilgrimage (Xajka). It is also prepared for wedding ceremonies, and for the new groom and bride (arooska iyo aroosadda).
Oodkac can be prepared from different types of meat, but it is traditionally prepared from camel meat. While an extended family can eat a goat in one day, the size of a camel makes it a necessity that some of its meat be preserved. The meat would be cut into long, thin strips that are left to dry in the sun, and it is then cut into tiny pieces. This process is known as dareeris (hilibka waa la-dareershay).
Some Somalis have a wonderful tradition of preparing Xeedho as part of the wedding ceremonies. The Xeedho is a decorated vessel that contains oodkac and dates. It is secured with a rope that has intricate knots and it requires some ingenuity to untie. The Xeedho, which represents the bride, is made by the bride’s family and is presented to the groom’s family who are then challenged to open it. There are rules to opening the Xeedho (xeedho-fur), and these are well-explained on the blog Incoherent Thoughts. Do not be fooled by the title of the blog as the writer is very, very coherent.
Fouwzia Haji Hussein prepared the Xeedho for us. We would like to thank her on behalf of all our readers and viewers. We told her not to tie any complicated knots, since nowadays there are already enough knots in life.
شاهد
المقادير
1 cup = 237 mL · 1 Tbsp = 15 mL · 1 tsp = 5 mL. All are level measurements.
Dates (for the Xeedho)
طريقة التحضير
اضغط على الخطوة لتعليمها كمنجزة.
Preparing the meat Place the meat in a pot set on medium heat.
When the meat releases its moisture (about 5 minutes), discard the water.
Add the oil.
Add the salt.
Fry for 11 minutes, stirring continuously.
Drain the oil (you can use this oil for cooking).
Preparing the butter & oil Melt the butter and brown it.
Add the oil when the foam starts to subside.
Add the cardamom.
Different types of dates The traditional method of preparing the dates Remove the pits from the dates and place them in a bowl.
Make a fist and mash the dates till they turn into a paste.
Add the black pepper and mix well.
التعليقات
55 تعليقشكرًا! سيظهر تعليقك بعد مراجعته.
حدث خطأ. يُرجى المحاولة مرة أخرى.
Asc. I prefer my oodkac to be softer rather than crunchy. To get these results would I reduce the frying time from 11 minutes to about 8 or 9? Jazakumalahul Khairun.
Thank you so much for posting this. This is something that every Somali women should know how to do. It’s our tradition that mothers and mother inlaws send this whenever a new family is made or a baby is born. I always worried who will do this for my daughters and sons when my mother is no longer there.
Thank you very much for your kind words. It is appreciated.
I loved the recipe (planning to try it soon), but I have to say I wasn’t too thrilled with the glorification of the old times when women were mere beings whose sole purpose was to have children, stay home, and cook for the man. I don’t think that is a world to uphold as “the good old times”. We can be proud of our history and culture without romanticizing destructive habits.
walAALO WAXAAD NOO SOO GALISAAN CAKE SIDA LOO SAMEEYO CAKE SOOMAALI, IYO SUUGADA, THAN YOU
Doolsho Soomaali iyo Suugo mar hore ayaan soo gelinay. Linkiga doolshaha waakan xawaash.com/?s=cakes. Midkaanna waa suugada /recipes/somali-pasta-sauce/.
Salamu aleykum layla and Abdillahi’
What an amazing recipe for ” Muqmad”, by the way I never heard about the other word for it which is ” Oodkac” ,,may be they use it in the southern sides of Somali. I love you both and wish you all the best in life and Jannat al furdos in judgment day. I am learning from you guys things that I have never learned from my mum who I loved her the most. My allah reward my parents and you both all the best . Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Wacalaykum Assalaam Waraxmatullaahi Wabarakaatuh.
Thank you very much for your great comment and for your special prayer. It is appreciated! We wish you succes in your life, God bless you.