I was looking forward to making this Shafoot for my Dad in Yemen early December, but he passed away Nov. 1st 2014. May Allah have mercy on him. We plan and Allah plans, and Allah is the best of planners. To Allah we belong and to Him we return. Please keep my Dad in your Duas. Jazakum Allah Khayr.
My Yemeni-American friend here in Montgomery / Al , Abeer, suggested this recipe for a quick shafoot. Shafoot in Yemen is served as an appetizer especially in Ramadan. For 4 servings you will need :
1) 2 cups of yogurt ( I used greek) or sour cream
2) 1/2 cup of milk
3) 1/4 tsp of cumin
4) 1/4 tsp of dry thyme
5) salt to taste
6) 2 pita bread cut into cubes
Place the pita bread that you have cut into cubes in a dish.
Then whip the yogurt , milk, cumin, thyme, and salt until it’s nice a smooth. Add the mixture to the pita break pieces and gently incorporate using a spatula. Leave aside or refrigerate while you make the following two additions:
Sahaweq(g):
1) 1 green chilly ( jalapeno pepper) — remove seeds if it’s too spice for you
2) 1 tomato
3) 1/4 bunch of cilantro
4) 1 clove of garlic
5) optional: splash of lime juice
6) salt to taste
Place all in liquidizer and process . It’s like a green chutney. I am sure mint would also go great with this, but that’s up to you.
Salad :
1) cubed cucumber
2) cubed tomatoes
3) finely chopped salad
4) cilantro or parsley coarsely chopped
5) red or yellow onion finely sliced
6) optional : cubed avocado
7) spash of lime juice
8) salt to taste
9) 1/2 tap of olive oil
Mix them all together .
Now it is time to assemble a plate of the shafoot. In a plate scoop some of the yogurt and pita shafoot. Top with some of the sahawaq ( green chutney) and the salad. See picture at the beginning of this post. It’s ready to serve and it’s delicious !
A Yemeniyah's Recipes 
أسأل الله وأدعو أن يتعمد والدك ورحمه ويريد مكانه في جناته وان يوسع عليه قبره وينه برحمته انه على كل شيء قدير.
Innaa lillaahi wa innaa ilayhi raaji’oon rahmatullaahi alaihi aameen. I’m really sorry to hear about your loss may Allaah forgive him and have mercy upon him and pardon him and widen his grave and illuminate it, and raise him with the pious ones and give him good in the afterlife and an easy account and protection from the fire and make it easy for you and your family aameen
Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi rajiun, Allah yarhamhu I will make dua for your father sister. May Allah swt grant him jannah and patience to you and your family until you meet again, ameen.
Innaa lillaahi wa innaa ilayhi raaji’oon…may Allah grant you and your family patience during this difficult time and may Allah pardon your father and grant him Jannah
please come back and write more recipes! I love them, I know nothing about Yemen but your posts taught me a lot! Making this recipe tonight and I’d love more of your wisdom!
Plan to :) Thank you for your sweet words. So much has been going on in my life. My dad passed away in November suddenly, I went to Yemen to visit my Mom and be with her during this difficult time in Dec and Jan, came back and then war broke out in Yemen in March. My Mom and Sister were displaced as a result; they had to leave their homes in Aden. The rest of my family are under fire and blockade in the rest of Aden. The whole of Yemen is suffering because of the war, and I feel I have no appetite for food these days as a result, knowing that the rest of the Yemen is hungry. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers. Hopefully happiness will return to our hearts, and kitchens soon. Thank you again :)
Lamya
إنا لله وإنا إليه راجعون
May Allah have mercy on his soul and grant him the highest level in Jannah.
I love your blog, and will be trying out some of the Yemeni recipes! I was looking for a motafaiya recipe and found all these other yummy recipes. So excited.
Ameen. Jazaki Allah Khayr. Share your experiences :)
لا حوله ولا قوه الا بلله
I am a American born Yemeni and also fell your pain for your father and our beautiful country. My mother passed away when I was fifteen Allah yarhamha and all Muslims . I have no family in Yemen at all but I feel so bad for all the poeple that have to endure the war and poverty and hardships that it has over whelmed my life. I would so much want to help them . Yemeni poee are so kind and tolerent and understanding they do not deserve what is happening to them. I wish that everyone remembers Yemen and all the Muslim countries in their prayers and Allah make what is right . Thank you lamya for being a proud yemeniyah and sharing your cooking with us .
What a beautiful comment. Jazaki Allah Khayr and Wa Iyaki. May the Yemeni people see years of security and happiness soon. In Sha’ Allah.
Dr. Lamya,
I’m heartbroken for your pain and loss. I pray that Allah SWT grants you peace of mind and the security of your family, ameen.
I understand that it is very difficult for you to post anything during this time. Yemen is in a state of conflict and her people are suffering. And yet it is so unknown still. For many people Yemen is still unknown territory.
Your blog helps to change that. There is no other firm authority on Yemeni food and culture on the web. I’ve searched my eyes out. I hope Allah grants you strength so you may continue to show people Yemeni food, culture and values. These are the few things which remain of a people, even when everything is lost to them; a home, security and family.
I hope you will continue. I hope you will continue to show the world how Allah has bestowed such natural beauty on Yemen, how its people have the best of hearts and how the Yemeni culture will live on no matter what.
I know there are more like me out there who feel the pain of Yemen and wish nothing more than for it to prosper once more. Until then, please keep showing us your Yemen.
with love and duas,
Noor
so sorry to hear of the situation for your family and country in this time of war in yemen. but sister Noor is right i hope and pray for peace in your beautiful country, and that once again you can continue to show and share with us all the beauty and memories of yemen through your wonderful blog. wishing you all the best , ziads wife.
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