How to get the most out of your meat this Eid-ul-Azha?

This year Eid-ul-Azha, may not be the same for many people. And despite the mood being grim, we must not forget that life is short & we should cherish every moment fully & spend it wisely. Let’s begin with celebrating Eid-ul-Azha with its true spirit. It means that we should not forget our relatives, friends & neighbors & share our happiness with those that deserve the most. Learn how to make the most out of Eid-ul-Azha and celebrate it in the best manner possible. Not only this but, we will also be providing you some unique tips & tricks to make the most out of your meat.

1- Don’t stock, distribute & rock!

We Pakistanis have lovingly named Eid-ul-Azha the meaty eid, and rightly so because of all the meat we get after sacrificing the animals. The true spirit of Eid-ul-Azha demands that we share our sacrifice with everyone & not just store everything away for our personal use. But many people have forgotten this & prefer to stock the meat they get after sacrificing the animals just so they can use it all year round.

Let’s resolve not to do this & share our happiness with our relatives, neighbors, friends, needy & poor. And the best way to do it is to make portions for everyone out of the meat; when it arrives after the sacrifice. One for the family members, one for the relatives & so on. You can even reach out to organizations that provide for poor & desolate families & send out a portion to them. This is the best way to earn Allah’s blessings & sawab on this auspicious occasion.

2- Divide & rule

This statement helped the English rule over the sub-continent for a long time. And it will definitely help you conquer the meat that weighs down on your nerves because of its sheer quantity & size. Check out these quick tips to divide the meat, & not let it overwhelm you:

1- After giving others’ share of the meat, segregate your portion into different cuts as per your needs & requirements. Separate the boneless & lean meat that can be used to make mince. Having a meat grinder at home will definitely save you the trouble of going out for mincing the meat. If you don’t have the meat grinder, don’t worry. You can use your food processor to get the perfect mince too.

2- Then divide the meat into smaller portions & labeling it; so that you can use it at a time. It will save you time and hassle when you plan on cooking the meat. This way, you know which packet of meat to lay your hands on when you wish to cook biryani, rather than playing a game of guess.

3- By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail!

We are sure that every household has its own set of prep routines carried out religiously before Eid-ul-Azha. But we would like to highlight some common trends that will surely be helpful if you’re not doing it already.

• Sharpening the knives; a ritual that you need to do as soon as the moon of Zil Hajj is sighted. Although the Qasai will bring his own knives for sacrificing the animals. But you will be responsible for making the meat into the desired cuts for later use. A blunt knife edge will not only sabotage the meat cut, but it is also prone to causing accidents.
• Making meat tenderizer pastes. Raw papaya works as an excellent meat tenderizer. Therefore, we recommend blending it into a smooth paste beforehand using a chopper and storing it away. 
• Garlic & ginger pastes are common condiments in all Pakistani households. Do not forget to add them to your list of essentials during Eid-ul-Azha. You can easily make a smooth paste of garlic & ginger at home if you have a food factory at home. The reason for our emphasis is the health benefits that this duo of garlic & ginger possesses. With all the meat consumption happening during Bakra Eid, you need ginger with its digestive powers to save your stomach from overloading. Garlic, on the other hand, keeps vampires & inflammation on the bay. Although vampires won’t stand a chance against the blistering sun in Karachi :p
• Make or get different kinds of masalas & marinades ready beforehand. They will make cooking so much easier & swifter, especially if you’re planning to host a feast or BBQ party at your place.

4- Grilling & Chilling

Eid-ul-Azha is incomplete without a BBQ. And whether you’re barbequing mutton or beef, chops or kebabs, the correct marination is the key to success. Chefs often instruct that the best way to marinate any food is to use your hands to knead the spices & marinades properly.

You need me to knead you!

Marinate the meat so that it tastes delicious, succulent & flavorful. Don’t forget to clean your BBQ Grill. You do not want to barbeque your beautifully marinated meat on racks having leftover burnt food & rust on them. Therefore, clean them up properly, set up the coals & get ready to BBQ.

4- Don’t forget your vegetables!

With all the meat overload, we suggest you stock up on vegetables too before Eid-ul-Azha. Incorporate them in meals in salads or make side dishes using vegetables. An ideal scenario would be to pair them with the meat like make Bhaji Aloo Gosht instead of just plain Gosht curry or use carrots and peas along with mince to make kebabs. There are tons of ways to mix vegetables in your meals. It will ensure that your stomach does not get upset due to meat overload & also provide you with all the necessary nutrients. 

PS: You can use your food processor to prep your vegetables quickly & without any hassle.

Conclusion:

Well that’s all for it today. Hope our tips help you in getting the most out of your meat during Eid-ul-Azha. Do let us know about your experiences and what you guys cooked during the Eid.