fayzeh
Fayzeh is a young, vibrant, determined and passionate woman who uses her lived experience as a displaced person to empower and motivate her to work hard and advocate for others. She is committed to her part in changing the narrative that surrounds refugees, desiring that they are seen and appreciated as hardworking, talented and capable people with marketable and desirable skills, but just happen to be displaced.
Two years ago she moved to London from the second most populous Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon, located on the Mediterranean coast. Deciding to leave her family to pursue her career in the UK opened doors and opportunities for Fayzeh that she would not have had access to if she remained in Lebanon. Although she admits it was a hard decision to leave her family and move to a new country to build a life away from everything that is familiar, she did so with the hope of a sustainable future in mind.
Okra stew is a traditional Palestinian dish of stewed tomatoes with beef or lamb. It can be eaten alone or served with rice. The okra is fried and the meat is boiled with herbs and spices to absorb the flavours.
Although it is a traditional recipe, many people add their own twist, such as Fayzeh’s mother who cooked it regularly while she was a child. She grew up in the kitchen watching her mother cook for her family and this recipe is one she saw being made many times. When asked why she chose this particular recipe to share, she said it was one of her childhood favourites and a recipe that reminded her of being at home with her family.
“It’s important to be able to preserve and connect to our culture and cook the food that makes me feel connected to that.”
