It’s been eleven years since Nahida al-Nimir, also known as Umm Mohammed, opened up her small seasonal business of selling qatayef, an Arab dessert commonly served during the month of Ramadan, a sort of sweet dumpling filled with cream or nuts.
Her stall is located in Gaza’s Tel al-Hawa neighborhood, where her homemade sweets have become popular during Ramadan, Islam’s holy month of fasting.
“I expected to sell less during this year’s Ramadan due to the coronavirus crisis, but it hasn’t been that much different. Gazans are still roaming the streets and markets normally,” al-Nimir told Asharq Al-Awsat.
Her qatayef stall is one of hundreds of kiosks that open seasonally in Gaza in observance of Ramadan.
“My husband taught me how to make qatayef and I have taken it upon myself to work on a seasonal basis to support my family in overcoming the burdens of life, especially in the years following the imposition of the blockade on Gaza, which brought about very difficult social and economic conditions,” al-Nimir said, asserting that she, in turn, had taught her children, who now help her in making the dessert.
Al-Nimir is a trailblazer for women in the qatayef selling business, which was previously exclusively run by men.
Much like a pancake, the pieces of qatayef are first prepared with flour which is turned into a wet batter that is poured over a hot surface.
After cooking, al-Nimir, with the help of her children, packages the ready-for-sale product in plastic bags and plates. Buyers then stuff the qatayef at home with nuts, cream, cheese, dates or dried fruits.
Al-Nimir stresses that she has regular customers with whom she nurtured a strong relationship and personal bonds.
Qatayef date back to the Mamluk era, when one of the Mamluk kings gathered dessert makers and asked them to come up with a treat no one had made before.
