Muslims hungrily anticipate the festival of Eid-ul-Fitr which marks the end of Ramadan, the holy month when the faithful fast for 30 days during daylight hours. In Britain, Eid, which is celebrated on October 1 this year, is usually a private affair with a feast for friends and family.

A typical lunch may feature a lamb biryani rice dish studded with onions, sultanas and almonds and topped with hard boiled eggs, a lamb or beef stew, vegetable samosas, honey pastries and sheer korma – a sweet milky vermicelli pudding with cardamom, saffron, nuts, raisins and rose water.

In keeping with Eid practice, a small farm in Somerset specialises in ethically slaughtered organic meat to guarantee that it is genuine halal - ie. that it is slaughtered in a prayerful way to minimise pain and drain the blood.

Muhammad Ridha rears chickens and goats and sources geese, turkey and lamb from local small-holders and farmers who share his vision for organic and eco-friendly farming. “It’s about finding a method of farming that sits with the ethos and spirit of Islam,” he says (organic-halal-meat.com).

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According to Ridha, many abattoirs pay lip service to the halal requirements and Muslims should be more wary when they see meat carrying the halal logo.

He adds: "We passionately believe that 'you are what you eat'. Food that has been produced unethically will have a negative effect on you, spiritually and physically. It is high time Muslims returned to eating meat that is pure, natural, organic and slaughtered correctly."

Read more about Ridha's compassionate farming

Five recipes for Eid

Gordon Ramsay's mutton biryani

Camellia Panjabi's slow cooked almond curry

Lindsey Bareham's lamb stew with aubergine and saffron tomatoes

Jill Dupleix's harissa lamb with couscous and artichokes and rhubarb rice pudding with rosewater

While we’re talking “soul” food: Action Against Hunger launches its Restaurants Against Hunger campaign today through October. At hundreds of restaurants nationwide, diners can leave optional donations or designate a dish on the menu to help families in more than 40 countries produce their own food (restaurantsagainsthunger.org).

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