Sharjah : Popular Egyptian dishes – Basbousa, a sweet, syrup-soaked semolina cake, and
Mahalabya, a sweet milk pudding – received a healthy twist under the deft hands of healthy
nutrition and cooking expert Sally Fouad at the Cookery Corner at the 41 st Sharjah
International Book Fair.
The dedicated cooking station was abuzz with palpable curiosity as a lively crowd of
mothers, fathers, children and grandparents gathered to watch Chef Sally Fouad, also a
certified nutritionist, in action.
Fouad’s simple tricks include substituting sugar with stevia, and milk for coconut milk, to
keep the dishes low on sugar as well as irresistibly tasty. “This makes the dishes light and
irresistible to anyone with a sweet tooth! I have only sprinkled a few pistachios and roses on
top.”
As with any cooking, proof of the pudding is always in the eating! The Cookery Corner
audiences gleefully spooned up the last bites of Basbousa and Mahalabya, with many
children and adults reaching out for a second helping.
“I specifically chose these recipes because people usually ask for healthy recipes. I try to
teach people how to lose weight in a healthy way,” said Fouad, author of four cookbooks.
A major attraction at Sharjah International Book Fair every year, the Cookery Corner has
been growing in popularity exponentially as experts from various corners of the world
demonstrate live cooking sessions of the top dishes of their cultures.