Asylum Seeker Resource Centre's fundraising feasts return

While 2020 was a year like no other for everyone, it posed enormous challenges to organisations such as the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, whose vital fundraisers were stymied by lockdowns.

With gatherings allowed to resume, ASRC is banking on major support for its 2021 fundraising push, Feast for Freedom.

It's simple: register to host a dinner party, work lunch, or park feast, prepare recipes donated by refugees, and ask guests to donate.

This year, recipes are coming from Palestinian asylum seeker Aheda, who has cooked for Tamil Feasts and Free to Feed. Her recipes include sayadieh samak (a glorious, golden, spiced fish and rice dish), green falafel, baklava and smoky baba ghanoush.

There are also vegan Sri Lankan recipes including spiced dhal fritters, paruppu vadai, and kothu roti (a vegan roti stir-fry) from Niro, who began cooking while held in detention and now runs food cart Tuka Tuka KothuRoti Man.

Can't host a whole feast? Dessert genius Darren Purchese and Aheda have created an online dessert masterclass that you can access for a donation.

The official Feast weekend is scheduled for March 26-28, but you can register, grab your recipes and host any time. All donations help, but $1000 feeds a family through ASRC's food bank for a year. feastforfreedom.org.au