Om Ali

Traditional Egyptian dessert

Traditional Egyptian dessert, Umm Ali

Om Ali, Omali, Umm Ali, or Oumm Ali (Egyptian Arabic: أم على), meaning "Mother of Ali", is a traditional Egyptian dessert, and is a national dessert of Egypt.[1] There are numerous variations with different composition.[2][3] The dish, which is traced back to as far as Medieval Egypt, it is named after the wife of the Sultan of Egypt, who, according to folklore, asked all Egypt's cooks and women to compete and come up with the most delicious dessert that they could create as a form of celebration. The chosen recipe was later distributed throughout the country to celebrate, and it is a national dish of Egypt and a traditional Egyptian dessert till this day.[4] It is commonly eaten during Ramadan as part of the iftar or sunset feast.

Om Ali as served at the Khan el Khalili Restaurant and Naguib Mahfouz Café (est. 1989), Cairo

## History[edit]

The Egyptian dessert is said to have originated as a celebration of the death of Shajar al-Durr, who had been married to Egypt's final Sultan from the Ayyubid dynasty, As-Salih, and subsequently to the first of Egypt's Mamluk Sultans, Izz al-Din Aybak. Shajar al-Durr plotted the murder of Aybak, after which she became ruler of Egypt.[5][6] Ultimately, she was herself killed in retribution, whereafter Aybak's first wife, who was known as Om Ali, asked to have a dessert prepared in celebration. The dessert was popularised throughout the country, and was named after Om Ali.[7][8]

## Recipe[edit]

Typically, pastry (bread, pastry or puff pastry) is divided into pieces and blended with pistachios, coconut flakes, raisins and plenty of sugar. Milk, sometimes with cream, is poured over the mixture, which is then sprinkled with cinnamon. Finally, the mixture is baked in the oven until the surface is golden brown.[3]

It may be eaten hot or cold.[8]

There are another Jordanian and Iraqi different variants known as "khumaiaa".[9]

The dish may be compared to bread and butter pudding, albeit that the latter also includes eggs.

## References[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Umm Ali.

1. ^ Traditional Egyptian dessert, Umm Ali, "Umm Ali is a delicious traditional Egyptian dessert equivalent to North America's bread pudding. You can serve it warm with a scoop of French vanilla ice cream."
2. ^ Girgis, Nancy. "Om Ali". All Recipes.
3. ^ a b "Best Ever Om Ali (Egyptian Bread Pudding)". July 4, 2015. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
4. ^ Knelly, Clarice (2023-01-02). "Egyptian Dessert Om Ali Has A Dark Origin Story". Tasting Table. Retrieved 2024-04-08.
5. ^ "From Slave to Sultana: The Story of Shajar al-Durr". CSA Reviving Community. Retrieved 2024-04-08.
6. ^ Levanoni, Amalia (February 2010). "Shajar al-Durr: A Case of Female Sultanate in Medieval Islam". World History Connected. 7 (1).
7. ^ "شجر الدر نے ایک صلیبی فوج کو مشکل میں ڈال دیا: ایک کنیز کی تخت نشینی اور قتل کی کہانی". BBC News اردو (in Urdu). Retrieved 2020-11-04.
8. ^ a b Hankir, Zahra (September 25, 2018). "The Legend of Om Ali | Egypt's Resilient National Dessert". Amuse. Vice Media. Archived from the original on February 7, 2020. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
9. ^ "7 Traditional Ramadan Delicacies You Must Try". NaTakallam. 2022-04-13. Retrieved 2023-02-13.

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