The surge of celebrities exhibiting their culinary skills on the Internet is a lifeline during Ramadan, offering a diverse array of simple yet tasty recipes.
Rosyatimah Mohamad, 49, shared how cooking videos by celebrities and influencers had been invaluable in broadening the variety of dishes she prepared for her family as well as saved her the expenses of buying food.
“I can browse online whenever I need cooking ideas.
“If I don’t cook, I will end up spending over RM100 a day to feed seven people.
“By spending the money on fresh ingredients such as chicken or fish, I can prepare meals that last us for two or three days,” she told Bernama, adding that the cooking videos by actress Sheila Rusly were among those she often referred to.
Accountant Anas Basir A. Bakar, 31, looks to online personality Khairul Aming, well-known for his cookery videos, for new recipe ideas.
Anas Basir said the simple and easy recipes piqued his interest, even though he usually bought food from Ramadan bazaars for breaking of fast.
“I look forward to the videos by Khairul Aming.
“Besides featuring simple recipes, the ingredients he uses are readily available.
“I recently tried his paru goreng balado recipe, and it was delicious,” he said.
Student Arieq Shafi Nor Adnan, 20, said he felt motivated to try recipes after watching some cookery videos found online.
“I have zero cooking skills, but watching videos that teach easy cooking techniques makes me want to give it a try.
“I recently made bread pudding and it turned out well,” he added.
Universiti Selangor Social Science lecturer Associate Professor Datin Dr Asmah Ahmad said cooking at home not only saved money but could also ensure food was prepared and served in a hygienic way.
She said although people often spent more during Ramadan, it was important to remember that the upcoming Hari Raya Aidilfitri would require a bigger budget.
“Early planning is important to ensure prudent spending within our means.
“Also, we should be careful not to overspend.
“If celebrities’ cookery videos motivate us to cook at home and ultimately help us save money, they should be encouraged to keep producing them,” said Asmah.
