12 Easy Iftar Recipes for Ramadan
Although I no longer live in Southern California, one thing I do appreciate about growing up there was the exposure to so many different cultures at such a young age. The first time I ever heard of someone participating in Ramadan was when I was in 5th grade. One day, while at lunch at school, several kids were making a ruckus about Raheema not eating lunch that week. She explained to the other kiddos around her that she is fasting, because of her religion, and will eat with her family when the sun goes down. This was interesting to me, at the time, as I had never heard of this before. However, now that I am older and am a little more cultured, I thought it would be great for me to share with you some facts about Ramadan and some easy iftar recipes, some of which include vegetarian iftar recipes and traditional food during Ramadan that I hope you’ll enjoy!
(Scroll further down below to find the list).
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What is Ramadan?
Ramadan is a Muslim holy month and it is observed by Muslims, people who follow Islam, all around the world.
Interestingly, it is celebrated on different days every year.
The reason for this is because Ramadan is observed on the 9th month of the 12-month Islamic calendar, which is used for religious purposes. This Islamic calendar is, in fact, a lunar calendar, based on the different phases of the moon.
In addition, Ramadan is a month of fasting and prayer in which people remember and celebrate when Muhammad (the founder and Prophet of Islam) first received revelations about the Quran, which is the holy book for those who follow the Islamic religion.
Also, Ramadan is a time to practice self-discipline and control and to keep in remembrance those around the world who are less fortunate. Thus, it is common to participate in charity work during this time.
During the month-long Ramadan healthy people, and those who are not pregnant, do not eat or drink anything from sunrise to sunset. In addition, they are supposed to keep their thoughts pure, avoid drinking and sexual activities, and be on their best behavior.
In case you’re interested in knowing, the countries with the largest Muslim populations include:
- Indonesia
- Pakistan
- Bangladesh
- Nigeria
- Egypt
- Turkey
- Iran
In the USA, it is estimated that there are about 7 million Muslims (history.com)
What is Halaal?
I should make a note here that Islamic food traditions call for food that is consumed to be halal.
What does halal mean?
The word halal in Arabic means “lawful” or “permitted”.
All foods are considered halal except for the ones listed here.
Halal food can be found in Middle Eastern markets and sometimes you can find halal meats at your local grocery store!
What is Suhoor?
Suhoor, also spelled Suhur, is the meal that Muslims eat during Ramadan before the sun rises. Thus, it is the meal they eat before they begin fasting for the day and right before fajr prayer (the prayer before dawn).
In Suhoor, it is important to eat a healthy meal so that you can be well and energized for the rest of the day. One should avoid skipping suhoor, because it may cause them to break their fast.
Question: So, what should people eat during Suhoor?
Answer: Complex carbohydrates such as whole grains and brown rice, proteins such as meat and eggs, and fruits with high water content since Muslims are not allowed to have anything to drink during the day while they are fasting.
Here in the USA, some good, nutritious meals for Suhoor may include:
(These are just a few ideas to give you a better idea of what a good, nutritious breakfast may include during suhoor)
- Avocado toast with a poached egg
- Homemade fruit smoothies with peanut butter
- Homemade bran muffins
- Oatmeal with fruit and chia seeds
- Scrambled eggs with veggies wrapped in a whole grain tortilla
- An omelet with spinach and kale and other veggies
What is Iftar?
Iftar is the meal that Muslims eat after the sun has gone down. Typically, people eat dates, apricots, and Ramadan juices, such as Jallab, before attending the evening prayer.
Jallab may be the most popular drink during Ramadan. It’s made with grape molasses, dates, rose water, sugar, and ice.
Other popular Ramadan juices include carab (or Kharoub) and Amar al-Din (an apricot drink). For further information about Ramadan drinks, you can visit okadoc.com.
The reason Muslims eat one to three dates to break their fast is that the Prophet Muhammad ate them to break his fast. If dates were not available, he would sip on water.
Question: So, what do people eat during Iftar?
Answer: A very hearty meal! In fact, many Muslims eat whatever foods are native to their countries.
Just like suhoor, it is recommended that during iftar people eat complex carbohydrates, whole grains, and lean proteins such as fish and poultry.
Also, people should make sure to drink plenty of water to compensate for the water that they did not drink during the day.
Easy Iftar Recipes
OK. So, as promised, here are some easy iftar recipes.
1. Easy Instant Pot Keema (Ground Beef Curry) by Tea for Turmeric
This is an easy Indian and Pakistani iftar recipe that is both healthy and kid-friendly. The ground beef curry can be used for fillings, such as for samosas, and for toppings.
I’m telling you! In my very humble opinion, there is nothing easier than cooking with an Instant Pot (or I guess a microwave … but the texture of foods always comes out funky in a microwave). I absolutely LOVE my Instant Pot because there are fewer dirty dishes and you don’t have to constantly keep your eye on the food as it is pressure cooking.
Fortunately, if you don’t have a pressure cooker, Tea for Turmeric provides instructions on how to cook this recipe on the stovetop.
Also, an added bonus is that this recipe uses a food processor so that you don’t have to worry about chopping or mincing.
2. Easy 5-ingredient Chaat Masala by Tea for Turmeric
What can be any easier than a 5-ingredient recipe? Probably a 3-ingredient recipe, but this recipe, too, is easy.
What is chaat masala, anyway? Simply put, it’s an Indian spice mix. It’s often used to sprinkle on Indian and Pakistani snacks, like a fruit salad or regular salad topping, and it can even be sprinkled on potatoes.
3. Barbeque Nation Style Crispy Corns Recipe by Shelly Food Spot
Ok, I know that fried food is probably not the best because it’s not very healthy for you, but this recipe … mmmm hmmm!
This is an easy iftar recipe because it only calls for a few ingredients and you can use frozen, fresh, or canned corn. Also, it only takes 20-25 minutes to prepare and it can feed a whole lot of people!
The main ingredient is, of course, corn, but what is super intriguing about this recipe is that you deep fry the corn!
I’ve had deep-fried corn before when I was visiting Tennessee and I CANNOT get enough of it!
Check the recipe out for yourself!
4. Aloo Bora (Potato Pakora) by Halima Bobs
Aaahhhh OK sorry but here’s another fried food!
On a positive note, it’s vegan, so there’s that.
This food is a deep-fried potato snack and it’s super popular during iftar (and did I mention it’s an easy iftar recipe)?
I’ve gotta warn ya, it is kinda spicy, though.
5. Lebanese Tabbouleh Salad by Feel Good Foodie
Ok, now THIS recipe is a healthy iftar recipe … and it’s easy.
Tabbouleh is a Middle Eastern appetizer made with healthy extra virgin olive oil, bulgur, herbs, and chopped vegetables.
This is BY FAR my favorite kind of salad … just putting that out there.
Also, I’ve gotta tell ya … it does have a strong taste (but I like it a lot). You’ve got to try it for yourself to know what I mean. You’ll either hate it or love it.
6. Lebanese Crushed Lentil Soup by Feel Good Foodie
Did I mention this? Soup is a very popular food option during Ramadan. The reason for this is that soups replenish the body with fluids that it was deprived of during the fast.
Lentil soup, especially in Lebanon, is especially common during this holiday.
This recipe is super healthy and vegan, too!
Also, it’s an easy Iftar food because it only takes about 30 minutes and requires only a few ingredients.
You should definitely give it a try!!
7. Harira Recipe (Vegetarian and Gluten Free) by The Mediterranean Dish
Speaking of soup, Harira is a very popular Moroccan tomato-based soup made primarily from lentils and chickpeas.
As mentioned in the title, it’s vegetarian (and also easy to make).
*On a side note, not all Harira’s soups are vegetarian. This one so happens to be*
A warning about this recipe: it does require a lot of seasonings and flavors, but none of them should be hard to find at your local grocery store or Walmart.
AND … it’s very possible that you already have many of them stored in your kitchen pantry, like cinnamon, ground ginger, and tomato paste.
8. Authentic Lebanese Hummus by Feel Good Foodie
This, too, is a healthy iftar recipe. It’s also a kid-friendly iftar recipe!
This authentic Lebanese hummus recipe is super easy and only requires a few ingredients, the main one being canned chickpeas (or garbanzo beans).
(I love to eat hummus as a dip with pita bread or with carrots and celery. Hummus can also be used as a spread in sandwiches).
An added bonus is that hummus can be made for a large number of people, which is perfect for iftar!
9. Fattoush Salad by The Mediterranean Dish
If you don’t already know, you won’t be able to guess what is the primary ingredient in this salad.
Ok, I’ll tell you! It’s fried pita bread! The fried pita bread pieces are used like croutons in a green salad 🙂 (I love croutons … and I love pita bread).
So, if you’ve got some leftover pita bread from that hummus recipe above, you better try to make this fattoush salad!
I mean, you’ve gotta have your greens, right? Why not try it with some fried pita bread?
10. Middle Eastern Chicken and Rice by Multicultural Kid Blogs
Here is another easy and kid-friendly iftar recipe!
This Middle Eastern chicken and rice dish only takes about an hour to cook and takes very little time to prepare.
The main ingredients include chicken breast, butter, rice, chicken stock, and ground beef.
I love that this recipe also includes ground cinnamon and cloves. I LOVE the taste of cinnamon and it’s great for your health, too! Oh, and it also includes toasted slivered almonds. Yummy!!
11. Date, Almond, and Coconut Truffle by With a Spin
I’m seriously in love with all of the ingredients in this recipe! And there are only five!
As mentioned before, dates are typically eaten to break the fast during Ramadan. This date dessert, though … my oh my!
Take a look for yourself!
12. Jallab (Lebanese Drink with Date Molasses and Rose Water) by Little Ferraro Kitchen
As mentioned before, Jallab is a drink that is commonly drunk during Ramadan.
It’s very refreshing and sweet!
The main ingredients are water, date molasses, and rose water. Yum, yum!
Conclusion
In conclusion, I hope you learned a little more about Ramadan and Iftar, in particular. Also, may your tummies be oh so full and happy after you have tried some of these recipes. Which ones are you eager to try?
