DAY 3 - Sitana and Amal's Gima

Refugee Action Big Night In project: Sitana and her assistant chef, Amal in the kitchen today to share their Sudanese Gima recipe with the Spicery team   Day 3 in the kitchen with our guest refugee chefs to create a very special spice box for the Refugee Action Big Night In on the 2nd May! Today we welcomed Sitana and Amal into the Spicery kitchen to show us a recipe from their homeland, Sudan - join us for the voting next Thursday 26th Feb to help pick the dish you'd like to see in the final menu! We're supporting Refugee Action as we've always been aware how much we've benefitted as a business and as a country from the contribution refugees have made - find out more about our charity partnership HERE.   DAY 3 - Sitana and Amal's Gima recipe The finished Sudanese Gima served with bread   Thursday's guest refugee chef was Sitana joined by her assistant chef and close friend Amal. Her recipe – for the Sudanese dish gima – includes lots of familiar ingredients like carrots and minced lamb - but you’ll be surprised how the final dish comes together!   Here're some pictorial highlights: Sitana's Story: Sitana grew up with four sisters, five brothers and her parents in Sudan’s capital city, Khartoum. She learned to cook by copying her mum.  Soon her family were saying she was just as good. Sitana recalls, “It made me proud because my mum, she’s a good cook!” Sitana studied statistics and population studies at university. But as a student, she got caught up in political controversy. She fled to Egypt with her brother. Life as a refugee in Egypt wasn’t safe for Sitana.  Eventually the UN resettled her to the UK, through a scheme that helps a small number of refugees make a new start in a safe country each year.  “I noted when I came here, everyone is equal,” she says. "I can express my opinion. It makes me feel happy and comfortable.” Happy to find Sudanese food ingredients easily in the UK, Sitana regularly cooks for her brother and friends. Her recipe – for the Sudanese dish gima – includes lots of British ingredients, but you’ll be surprised how differently they taste! Sitana enjoyed cooking at The Spicery.  “James, he’s very kind and also the staff with him. They are respectful... welcoming us,” she says To those buying the Refugee Action Big Night In pack, Sitana says, “Enjoy the meal and that it helps refugees.”  Take part in the Refugee Action Big Night In on the 2nd May 2015 and help to raise vital funds to support people like Sharon who have fled conflict and persecution. *** Join us for the voting next Thursday 26th Feb if you'd like to see Sitana's tasty Gima in the final menu! Sign-up for your Refugee Action Big Night In box HERE