Nasrin Amara was born and raised in Kafr Kana. She completed her high school studies at Ibn Rushd School in the village, and then studied in Nazareth to become a dental assistant. She worked with a local dentist for a year until she got married.
Nasrin, who has seven children, has been part of the Sindyanna team since 2016, doing great work promoting our activities and strengthening the local community.
What do you like most about your job?
Coming to work at Sindyanna divides my daily schedule in the most efficient way. My children are grown up so they don’t really need me at home anymore. When I work, I feel like I am using my time and don’t get bored.
How has your life changed since you started working at Sindyanna?
I started working at Sindyanna nine years ago. Before that, my daily routine was routine and repetitive. The work turned me into a creative and productive woman. Also financially, my salary helps sustain our household. It has allowed me to enroll the children in classes, and some of them even went on to higher education.
Tell us about a significant moment you experienced at work
All my moments at work are beautiful. The special friendships I made with my colleagues at work give me the strength to get through the day and overcome all my difficulties, whether personal or work-related.
What did you learn from your colleagues that you didn’t know before?
I am an educated woman. I love to learn and expand my horizons. I read a lot and strive to be constantly exposed to new and valuable information. You could say that I learn from my colleagues at work, but not as much as I do independently.
What difficulty did you overcome which has made you especially proud?
A few months ago I was transferred from the production line to preparing the orders that come in from the online store. That was a big challenge. It was difficult for me at first, but thanks to my desire to learn and experience new things, I overcame the difficulty. Today I perform all my tasks at work perfectly. This promotion taught me that nothing is impossible, when there is desire and determination. That’s why I am proud of myself.
What values are you passing on to your daughters and sons, and have they changed as a result of your work at Sindyanna?
I have always taught my children to appreciate the importance of work. Work nourishes the mind, soul and body. My work at Sindyanna allows me to give them a living example of what it’s like to be dedicated to your work, and the desire to do that work in the best way possible.
What special family recipe do you like to prepare with Sindyanna oil?
My family’s favorite dish is grape leaves stuffed with rice and ground beef, with lots of olive oil. Their taste is amazing.
What is your favorite olive oil variety and why?
Coratina has the closest taste to the Syrian olive oil we are used to. Sindyanna’s Coratina has a strong and very pronounced bitter taste. It has a dominant taste in the throat and contains a rich aroma of olives and hot peppers. If you like a strong taste followed by a sharp-bitter sting on the tongue, I recommend that you try our Cortina, and hope it will hit your taste buds in just the right way.
Can you share one of your favorite recipes?
Mograbiah is a delicious dish made with maftoul (a variant of couscous with larger pearls), chickpeas and olive oil. It’s a traditional dish which perfectly combines rich flavors, precise seasoning and quality olive oil.
Ingredients (for 4 servings)
1 kg maftoul (couscous, ptitim)
3 large onions cut into brunoise (small cubes)
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin seeds
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 cup cooked or thawed chickpeas
Salt to taste
4 tablespoons of organic oil from Sindyanna of Galilee
1 liter water (or chicken/meat broth)
Preparation
Prepare the onions: Sauté the onion cubes in a wide pot with Sindyanna’s olive oil blend for 10-15 minutes until they soften and brown lightly.
Add the spices: Add the cumin seeds and black pepper to the onion mixture, and mix well for a few minutes so that the flavors can spread.
Cook the maftoul: Add the maftoul and cooked chickpeas to the pot and mix everything together. Then, add the boiling water (or broth) and bring to a boil.
Continue cooking: Reduce the heat and cook until the water evaporates and reduces, and the couscous is soft and tasty.
Serve: By adding creamy yogurt, green olives and some fresh vegetable salad, you will get a rich, tasty and comforting dish – perfect for a family meal.