Gatherings are to Ramadan like bread is to sandwiches, absolutely essential. We all anxiously wait for Ramadan to host iftar parties or suhoor gatherings at home, and every hostess lovingly panics when it’s her turn to host. We’ve put together some tips for a smooth, panic-free Ramadan ouzouma.
Deep-clean your house
You already know that your house reflects your image, especially when you’re hosting an iftar party with tons of people coming over. To guarantee your pristine image stays intact, always deep-clean your house beforehand. Whether you choose to do so yourself, and we don’t recommend doing so because you’re going to have a lot on your plate, or hire help, cleaning your house is up for no negotiation. You can check with maid service providers in your area and book a date 1 or 2 days before your ouzouma, to start your gathering on the right foot.
Find out dietary requirements
There are tons of people with dietary restrictions, be it allergies, a diet, or simply a food they don’t enjoy. Your job as a hostess is to ask ahead of time about those dietary restrictions and prepare accordingly. For example, if one of your friends is allergic to nuts, I would avoid nuts or seeds of any kind for their safety and wellbeing. With that being said, you don’t have to cook several meals according to your guests’ dietary needs, plan your meal to satisfy everyone’s taste without going overboard.
Prepare in advance
For the smoothest iftar ouzouma, always plan ahead. Plan your meals, decide on the theme you’re going for. Make a to-do list with every single item you have in mind for your ouzouma, and tick the list as you go. Add even the littlest of things. Keep it simple, though. Don’t prepare a feast if you’re inviting 3 people. With your guests’ dietary restrictions in mind, as well as how many they are, plan your menu beforehand.
Make sure you have everything for your menu
No one wants to find out they’re out of cooking oil midway through frying some chicken. With your menu planned, write out every single ingredient you will need and, again, tick as you go. First, check to see what you already have from the prepared list of ingredients. If you have everything, then great you’re all set! If not, head to the supermarket and buy whatever else you need.
Pre-order or have desserts ready from the night before
Desserts are a given in any Ramadan ouzouma, and yours is no exception. However, a smart hostess knows when to start, as well as when to stop. Meaning, if you make your desserts the night before, or even the morning of, you’ll have more time to perfect them and ensure they come out looking exactly like what you have in your mind. Now, this a secret so don’t tell anyone, but pre-ordering Ramadan desserts for your ouzouma will leave you with even more room to prepare everything else. There is no shortage of desserts on the market every Ramadan, so order as many as you want and focus on the bigger things.
Stop trying to make everything from scratch
Women every Ramadan wreck their brains trying to play all the roles at their iftar parties, and every year they try to make everything from scratch. Be it a pie, wara’ ‘enab, or anything else, know what to outsource. No one is going to be able to tell the difference between a pre-rolled pot of wara’ ‘enab and one you rolled yourself. Same goes for any other food type, there are tons of catering companies out there that are ready with a list you can choose from. We know you have your specialties, or family recipes, that you’re known for and are quintessential to your iftar ouzouma, absolutely go for it but leave some room for you to breathe.
Have a snacks and drinks station
Since you’re hosting a Ramadan ouzouma, you already know you have to prepare food and drinks for your guests to break their fast. To save you the time and effort of going around serving everyone, set up a snacks and drinks station somewhere around your dinner table. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy, you just have to have dates, finger food, and Ramadan drinks ready to go. Choose your finger food carefully, don’t forget they still have the rest of the food to indulge in.
Refrain from spending the entire time in the kitchen
Hosting a ouzouma is a lot of work, we know, but if you spend the entire time in the kitchen, you won’t have any fun, eat or really see how much your guests enjoy your ouzouma. You could clean the dishes as you go to avoid spending hours over the sink, and for the dishwasher safe dishes, just remove any grease from the dishes and put your mind to rest. You will enjoy your time more if you didn’t spend it all in the kitchen while everyone else is enjoying the ouzouma you planned elsewhere.
Set the ambience
Would it even be a Ramadan ouzouma if the home decor didn’t say so? There are tons of Ramadan decor options out there, but there’s always a line between stylish and tacky. Don’t overdo the decor, putting a lantern on every table. Do everything tactfully. You could buy a table runner with placemats in the colours that match your house. You could also add a touch of gold to your dinner table, maybe you could add a gold-coloured napkin holder. The world is your oyster, but don’t overdo it.
Finishing touches
Now, here comes the fun part. How your house looks for your Ramadan ouzouma doesn’t have to overshine you. You are the star of the ouzouma. Plan your outfit, and it’s okay to be a little overdressed, after all, you’re the hostess. Have your outfit dry cleaned and ready to go. Keep in mind that you’ll be cooking a lot of the time, so leave some time before your guests arrive to change into your perfect outfit.
When in doubt, hire help
It doesn’t make you any less of a perfect hostess if you hire help. Au contraire. A smart hostess knows when to delegate. Not everything needs your attention, and hosting an iftar ouzouma means you’re probably having a huge amount of people over at your house. That means more dishes, more pots and pans, and less time for you. Don’t try to overdo everything, your wellbeing is more important.
Go easy on yourself
It’s easy to start panicking about your ouzouma from the moment you decide on hosting it. You don’t have to be a superhero. No one will be able to tell the speck of oil found on one of the plates served. No one will even consider the vanilla candle you lit should have been lavender. Your mental health is important. You’re important. Don’t overthink the little things, and enjoy your day.
Hosting a Ramadan ouzouma is sometimes nerve wracking, but with the right tips yours is a guaranteed success. Consider outsourcing some of the food or hiring help for the dishes to make your ouzouma more enjoyable to you. Don’t forget to enjoy yourself, because we’re sure your guests will be.
