Ramadan 2020: Fatafeat lines up new programming to encourage cooking at home during the holy month

The Arabic-language food network has a feast in store for home chefs

Chef Manal Alalem, Queen of the Arabian Kitchen, stars in 'Matbakh Manal Alalem'. Courtesy Fatafeat
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The Middle Eastern food and lifestyle TV channel Fatafeat will launch a range of programmes designed to encourage home cooking this Ramadan.

This includes new seasons of favourites such as Matbakh Manal Alalem, Shu Biyheb Al Orf and Bil Afya Maa Hayat, shows that are popular during the holy month.

Here’s the lowdown on three of the programmes you can watch, as chefs cook up a storm while staying at home.

'Matbakh Manal Alalem'

Chef Manal Alalem is known as the Queen of the Arabian Kitchen and this year each of her new episodes will showcase a four-course set menu that’s perfect for iftar or suhoor. She’ll demonstrate how to make a different appetiser, main course, dessert and drink in each instalment, and will even whip out a few of her own recipe creations.

Matbakh Manal Alalem will air daily during Ramadan at 1pm UAE time

'Shu Biyheb Al Orf'

Chef Mohammad Orfali is inviting viewers into his home kitchen, where he'll be crafting three recipes in each new episode of Shu Biyheb Al Orf.

Chef Mohammad Orfali is whipping up a storm in his home kitchen for the new season of 'Shu Bihib El Orf'. Courtesy Fatafeat
Chef Mohammad Orfali is whipping up a storm in his home kitchen for the new season of 'Shu Bihib El Orf'. Courtesy Fatafeat

He takes influence from a range of cuisines around the world, and shares personal anecdotes behind the recipes.

Shu Biyheb Al Orf will air on Mondays and Wednesdays during Ramadan at 1.55pm UAE time

'Bil Afya Maa Hayat'

Emirati chef Hayat Al Shaibani takes inspiration from the flavours of the Khaleej and beyond, adding her own take on recipes. Each episode of her show, Bil Afya Maa Hayat, will feature a new four-course menu, with demonstrations on how to make light appetisers, hearty main courses, sweet desserts and a beverage to wash it all down with.

'Bil Afya Maa Hayat' will feature new four-course menus in each episode. Courtesy Fatafeat
'Bil Afya Maa Hayat' will feature new four-course menus in each episode. Courtesy Fatafeat

Every menu incorporates traditional Gulf dishes or cooking techniques, but these are also given an international spin.

Bil Afya Maa Hayat will air Tuesday to Thursdays and Saturdays during Ramadan at 2.50pm UAE time