Mahashi

Mahashi dishes are associated with Sundays and holidays because they can be prepared the day before. After the family got back from church all my mother had to do was leave the prepared dish to cook while the rest of the family gathered for long drinks and appetisers. Their preparation is elaborate and time-consuming, a minor consideration in large families where many women can help. Now that the extended family has gradually given way to the nuclear family and more women are joining the workforce, these dishes have still managed to survive, thanks to the assistance of a mother, mother-in-law or generous neighbour, always eager to give a hand.