Throughout this holiday season we are sharing stories of Small Gatherings, Big Moments that would not be possible without an LG QuadWash™ Dishwasher with TrueSteam® because sparkling clean plates are the anchor of any beautifully set table.

Today we are thrilled to introduce you to the sauce boss, Hawa Hassan and share her Small Gathering, Big Celebration. And a celebration indeed — as Hawa just released her very first cookbook, In Bibi’s Kitchen, which features recipes from grandmothers from the 8 African countries that touch the Indian Ocean.

She is celebrating the moment by gathering around a beautifully set table with her brother and sister. Of course, none of this (the book or the brunch!) would be possible without her LG QuadWash™ Dishwasher with TrueSteam® — her partner in the kitchen for stylish entertaining, cooking, and spotless cleanup.

Here a few tips from Hawa about how she preps when having guests over!

1. Set the Table

We have been preaching this for years and Hawa agrees, “pick out all of your serving platters, bowls, and utensils in advance. I pre-set the table with clean dishes straight out of my LG QuadWash™ Dishwasher with TrueSteam®, so I’m not stressed when guests are arriving.” Not to mention when guests see a set table they feel taken care of. 

2. Run the Dishwasher

It might seem counterintuitive but Hawa insists to do a load of dishes before your guests even arrive! “To make my small, but mighty kitchen work for me, having sparkling clean dishes in between prep and entertaining is a life-saver (thanks to LG QuadWash™ Dishwasher with TrueSteam®’s speedy Express Cycle feature!).”

3. Keep it Simple

You might remember this same tip from Mike Solomonov and Hawa couldn’t agree more, “Always make recipes you know well and can make ahead of time. Your guests will love whatever you make, what they really want is to spend time with you!”

With that we also wanted to provide a fun little recipe from Hawa, in partnership with LG Dishwashers, to encourage everyone to gather and celebrate this upcoming holiday season.

Hawa Hassan’s Bariis in partnership with LG Dishwashers with TrueSteam®

Bariis is a rice pilaf that Somalis often serve with cooked meat like Somali Beef Stew or stewed chicken. The mix of savory and sweet, more specifically the combination of cooked onions, warm spices, and sweet raisins, is very typical of Somali food. Bariis even makes for a wonderful breakfast with a fried or soft-boiled egg on top!

The Ingredients (serves 4):

• 1 cup basmati rice
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive or canola oil
• 1 small red onion, thinly sliced into half-moons
• One 2-inch piece cinnamon stick
• 2 whole cloves
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• Pinch of ground cardamom
• 1 small tomato, finely chopped
• Kosher salt
• 3 tablespoons golden raisins or regular raisins
• 1 tablespoon Xawaash Spice Mix
• 1 ½ cups boiling water

The Directions:

1. Place the rice in a fine-mesh sieve and rinse with cold tap water, stirring the rice gently with your hands, until the water runs clear. Place the rinsed rice in a bowl, cover with cold water, and let it soak for at least 10 minutes and up to 30 minutes.
2. Warm the oil in a medium saucepan set over medium heat.
3. Once the oil is hot, add the onion and cook, stirring, until it begins to soften, about 5 minutes. Add the cinnamon and cloves and cook, stirring, until the mixture smells very fragrant, about 5 minutes. 
4. Stir in the garlic and cardamom and cook, stirring, until they’re also quite fragrant, about 30 seconds. 
5. Add the tomato and a large pinch of salt, then increase the heat to high. 
6. Cook, stirring, until the juice from the tomato has evaporated and the mixture is like a thick paste, about 2 minutes. 
7. Drain the rice and add it to the pot, along with another large pinch of salt. 
8. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook, stirring, until the mixture is quite dry and the rice smells nutty and is opaque, about 5 minutes.
9. Stir in the raisins, spice mix, and boiling water. 
10. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook until the rice has absorbed the liquid and is tender, about 15 minutes. 
11. Turn off the heat and let the rice sit, covered, for at least 10 minutes before fluffing with a spoon or fork. 
12. If you can find the cinnamon stick and cloves, fish them out and discard them (otherwise, just warn your guests to avoid eating these). 
13. Serve the rice immediately, while hot. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator and rewarmed in a 300 F oven or in a skillet over low heat.

Enjoy bariis at your own Small Gathering, Big Celebration!