The Murder of Egypt's Forgotten Queen - Shajar al-Durr & Om Ali

Summary

In this episode of Tasting History, the host explores the story and recipe of Om Ali, Egypt's national dessert, believed to be named after the mother of Sultan Al-Mansur Ali. The script delves into the 13th-century tale of Shajar al-Durr, Egypt's only female sultan, and her rise and fall. The dessert's preparation involves making a traditional unleavened bread, roasting nuts, and a milk mixture infused with spices and rose water, reflecting medieval culinary practices.

Takeaways

• 🍞 Om Ali is the national dessert of Egypt, traditionally made with a bread called roqaq.
• 📚 The dish's name is believed to have originated in the 13th century, but similar bread puddings have been documented in Egyptian cookbooks since the 10th century.
• 📖 The original recipe from the Kitab al-Tabikh includes soaking bread in milk, adding sugar, and cooking it over slow heat.
• 🍰 Modern versions of Om Ali often use croissants instead of the traditional roqaq bread.
• 🍯 The medieval recipes for Om Ali included ingredients like cinnamon, almonds, pistachios, and rose water, but also some unusual ones like camphor and chicken.
• 👩‍🍳 The video's host chose to make the roqaq bread from scratch, involving a process of mixing, kneading, resting, and baking.
• 🔪 The bread is rolled out thin and baked until crispy, then crumbled for the dessert.
• 🥛 For the milk mixture, the host used whole milk and cream, sweetened with sugar, and flavored with cinnamon, cardamom, and rose water.
• 📜 The story of Om Ali is tied to the historical figure Shajar al-Durr, the only female sultan of Egypt, involving a tale of intrigue, power, and tragedy.
• 🏰 Shajar al-Durr rose from being a concubine to becoming a sultan, facing political challenges and eventually meeting a tragic end.
• 🍽 The dessert is served warm, and the host found the flavors to be great, though the texture was a bit unusual due to the use of the traditional bread.

Q & A

What is the national dessert of Egypt called and what is its significance?

The national dessert of Egypt is called Om Ali. It is significant due to its historical connection to the story of Shajar al-Durr, Egypt's only female sultan, involving themes of deceit, murder, and power.

What is the origin of the dessert's name 'Om Ali'?

The name 'Om Ali' is derived from 'Ali's mother' in Arabic, named after the mother of Al-Mansur Ali, who ordered the dessert to be made to celebrate after the assassination of Shajar al-Durr.

How old is the recipe for Om Ali?

The recipe for Om Ali is said to have received its name in the 13th century, but bread puddings similar to the modern version have been documented in cookbooks from Egypt and the region dating back to at least the 10th century.

What is the traditional bread used in making Om Ali and how is it made?

The traditional bread used in Om Ali is a flat, unleavened bread called roqaq. It is made by mixing salt into flour, adding water to form a dough, kneading it until smooth, resting it to allow the gluten to relax, and then rolling it out thin before baking until crisp.

Why did the presenter decide to avoid using chicken in the recipe?

The presenter decided to avoid using chicken in the recipe because, while it was an ingredient in some medieval recipes, it is not commonly found in the dish today.

What ingredients are used to flavor the milk in the Om Ali recipe presented in the script?

The ingredients used to flavor the milk in the presented recipe include cinnamon, cardamom, and rose water, which are whisked into the warm milk along with sugar.

What historical figure is central to the story of Om Ali and why?

Shajar al-Durr is the central historical figure in the story of Om Ali. She was an enslaved girl who became the wife of the Egyptian sultan, Al-Salih Ayyub, and later Egypt's only female sultan after a series of political maneuvers and assassinations.

How did Shajar al-Durr handle the death of her husband, Al-Salih Ayyub, and the threat of the Seventh Crusade?

Shajar al-Durr handled the death of her husband by pretending he was still alive to maintain order and stability. She secretly managed the state affairs and sent for her stepson, Turanshah, to return and eventually defeated the Seventh Crusade led by King Louis IX.

What was the role of the Mamluks in the story of Shajar al-Durr and the succession of power in Egypt?

The Mamluks were enslaved mercenaries who had come to hold significant power in Egypt. After the death of Turanshah, they supported Shajar al-Durr's ascension to the throne as the sultan, marking a significant moment in history as she became the only female sultan of Egypt.

How did Shajar al-Durr's reign as sultan end and what was her fate?

Shajar al-Durr's reign ended when she was betrayed by her husband Izz al-Din Aybak, whom she had plotted to kill. She was arrested after his murder was revealed and was eventually beaten to death and thrown from a tower by the mother and son of Aybak.

What is the modern version of Om Ali made with and how does it differ from the traditional recipe?

The modern version of Om Ali is often made with croissants instead of the traditional roqaq bread. Additionally, condensed milk is commonly used instead of the combination of milk, cream, and sugar used in historical recipes. This results in a different texture and possibly sweetness level compared to the traditional version.