Stay evergreen with Sunnah cuisine

I decided to whip up a little something using mainly Sunnah ingredients. A pudding made from Talbeenah (Barley, flour and milk), dates, and honey, sprinkled with raisins, cinnamon, honey and black seeds. Very nutritious, and yummy- eaten warm for breakfast; but even yummier refrigerated overnight!

Health Benefits of Sunnah food (in the light of Ahadeeth)

Talbeenah

‘Aisha (rta) used to say that I heard the Messenger of Allah (sa) saying: “The Talbeenah gives rest to the heart of the patient and makes it active and relieves some of his sorrow and grief.” (Bukhari)

The Messenger (sa) said: “I encourage you to use that which is disliked, but beneficial (Talbeenah)- for by the One whose hand Muhammad’s (sa) soul is in, it cleans the stomach of one of you just as dirt is cleaned from the face with water.” (Mustadrak of Hakim, Dhahabi)

Milk

Allah (swt) says, “And in the cattle there is a lesson for you. We give you to drink of that which is in their bellies, in them you have many benefits, and of them you eat.” (Al-Mu’minun 23:21)

Dates

The Prophet (sa) said: “Whoever starts his day by eating seven ‘Ajwah dates, he will not be harmed by any poison or magic on that day.”  (Bukhari, Muslim)

Honey

Allah (swt) says, “There comes forth from their (bees’) bellies, a drink of varying colour wherein is healing for men.”(An-Nahl 16:69)

Raisins

Raisins have many benefits- among which is strengthening the memory. Ibn Al-Qayyim said in “The Prophetic Medicine” that Az-Zuhri said: “Whoever wants to memorize the Hadeeth, let him eat raisins.”

Black seed

Abu Hurairah (rta) said that he heard the Messenger of Allah (sa) say concerning the black seed: “In it there is healing for every disease, except Death.” (Bukhari, Muslim)

Recipe for Talbeenah

Ingredients:

• 1 litre milk
• 8 tbsp barley flour
• 7 dates, seeds removed and soaked in water overnight
• Honey to taste
• 5 cardamom pods (optional)
• A splash of rose water and orange blossom water (optional)

Method:

• In a pot, whisk flour into milk until there are no more lumps.
• Add in the cardamom pods.
• Turn on stove, and bring to a boil on medium-low heat- make sure you stir continuously with a wooden spoon, so the milk doesn’t stick/burn.
• Once it boils and thickens, add in the soaked dates and water, honey, and rose/orange blossom water, stir to combine.
• Taste and adjust sweetness with the honey to your liking. Let it cook for a further 10-15mins until the dates melt into the milk mixture.
• Pour into individual bowls once warmed. It can be eaten warm, or refrigerated overnight.
• Then garnish with drizzle of honey, raisins, sprinkle of cinnamon and black seeds before eating. Silvered almonds/pistachios, and shredded coconut also go nicely with it.