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Coffee and Crumpets

Real Food with Altitude

Breads and Pastry Cuisine Holiday Dishes Ramadan Recipe Index

Ramadan Favourites Roundup

Spinach and Feta Fatayer

Spinach and Feta Fatayer

Hello Friends! It’s that time of the year again; a most blessed and eagerly awaited time for the Muslims around the world: Ramadan.

Ramadan starts next week either on June 6th or 7th, depending on the new moon sighting. This is the fun part of Ramadan; everyone eagerly awaits the official word whether the moon has been sighted or not and whether we have to get up for our morning breakfast(suhoor) before dawn or we can sleep in one more day.

Yes, there are scientific methods of calculating new moons and such but where is the fun in that? Where is the fun of knowing EXACTLY which day we should start fasting 🙂 NO, we Muslims are a fun lot; we like excitement, mystery, living on the edge….

The real reason some of us choose not to follow scientific methods and criteria for calculating the appearance of the new moon is, tradition. In Prophet Muhammad’s (peace be upon him) time they only had the sky for guidance; the moon and the stars. There is nothing wrong in using new methods but we actually enjoy the unknown!

For those of you who are not familiar with Ramadan, it is one of the two most important holidays for Muslims around the world. The timing of the holiday changes because we follow a lunar calendar so every year, Ramadan falls during a different month, usually it’s about 2 weeks earlier year to year. This year, it begins June 6 or 7. During this month, observing Muslims fast from before sun up till sundown: no food, no water, no sex, no bad language, no bad deeds, no bad behaviour, and so on. It’s a month to reflect on ourselves, to pray, worship and give charity. We try to be the best people we can everyday but during Ramadan we try harder, and if during the year we lose our way, Ramadan is a good time to get back to observing good habits.

If you’d like to learn more about Ramadan, please check out my Ramadan posts from previous years:

Ramadan 2015

Ramadan 2012/2013

Since there’s just under a week until Ramadan begins, I’ve been busy shopping and stocking up. It’s hard to go shopping during Ramadan, especially when it starts getting really hot during the day and I’m running around without water and food. More than the hunger and thirst, the fatigue from the early mornings, late nights and odd sleeping hours makes running around a bit challenging.

Potato Samosas

Potato Samosas

As Ramadan approaches, I try to do a spring cleaning of sorts, vacuuming, dusting and thoroughly cleaning the kitchen. I stock the freezer with meat and phyllo/puff pastry, either home made or shop bought. I make my life easier during Ramadan and buy store bought, preferably organic, crusts and phyllo doughs.

I also make a mental note of food I will be preparing and ask my family if they have any requests. It’s easier to ask and buy supplies so I have everything on hand. Every Ramadan I have great intentions to make food ahead and freeze, especially savoury snacks for Iftar, but it never works for me! I am never that organised!! 

This year, I will be on a limited work schedule during Ramadan thanks to a very understanding events coordinator. I hope to get some rest while fasting, and working on this poor, neglected blog. I will have time to prep and cook during the day, so I am a little excited about the opportunity to spend some time in my own kitchen for a change.

I thought maybe a little round up of my favourite Ramadan recipes might be helpful for those observing the fasts and even those who just want a good recipe for dinner one evening. I have included some iftar/snack favourites, some hearty dinner favourites and of course, sweets!

There’s a good mix of cold weather and warm weather food for my friends in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres.

When Muslims break their fast at sundown, we usually open our fasts with dates, water and delicious, snack type foods and fruit. The food that is consumed at sun down is known as Iftar. We have a lot of iftar foods which, of course, vary from country to country. I make a variety of iftar foods and sometimes, we just eat dinner and call it a night. It depends from day to day. Some of our favourites at iftar are soups and savouries:

 

IFTAR

Borek, Kale Soup, Chicken Noodle Soup and Phyllo Rolls

Borek, Kale Soup, Chicken Noodle Soup and Phyllo Rolls

 

Spinach and Feta Fatayer

Kale Meatball Soup

Curried Chicken Noodle Soup

Potato Samosas

Sweet Potato and Ground Beef Phyllo Rolls

Egg Roll Borek

Some days, I just feel like making dinner and keeping iftar simple. On these days, we open our fasts with water, dates and some fresh fruit, or maybe just some soup. Soup is great because it is jam packed with nutrients and is very hydrating after a long day without water. I will make a big dinner if I didn’t go all out on iftar. Here are some of my family’s favourites:

DINNER

Chicken Kabsa_Saudi Style Chicken and Rice

Chicken Kabsa_Saudi Style Chicken and Rice

 

Chicken Kabsa

Jujeh Kebabs and Baghali Polo

Harees

Nehari

Harissa Roasted Lamb

Butter Chicken

Baked Chicken with Preserved Lemons and Olives

Jujeh Kebabs, Harees, Preserved Lemon Chicken, Butter Chicken, Nehari and Harissa Lamb

Jujeh Kebabs, Harees, Preserved Lemon Chicken, Butter Chicken, Nehari and Harissa Lamb

 

No iftar or dinner is complete with our dessert. The sweet cravings are strong after a long day of fasting! Sometimes, I don’t wait till after dinner to have dessert; I have it right after I break my fast! The best iftar desserts are the ataif, a Palestinian pancake stuffed with cream, sweet cheese or coconut and walnuts. Many Middle Eastern countries have their own versions and it doesn’t matter which one, they are an ubiquitous Ramadan sweet. I have included my two favourites.

RAMADAN DESSERTS

 

Ataif with Walnuts and Coconut

Ataif bit Ashta

Layli Lubnan

Luqaimat

Date Ma’amouls

Apple and Rhubarb Hand Pies

Gulab Jamun

 

Gulab Jamun

Gulab Jamun

I hope this roundup helps all of you who are observing Ramadan and hopefully those who just want something good to eat for dinner tonight.

Ataif bit Ashta

Ataif bit Ashta

I want to end with a thought/observation: sometimes during Ramadan we get caught up in the excitement of the holiday and the thought of breaking our fasts with delicious foods and drink. And as much as Ramadan is a time of family and community, we cannot forget the ones who suffer this hardship, the lack of food and water, on a regular basis. The importance of Ramadan will always be the fact that we must feel the hunger and pain of no food and water and the fact that so many of our brothers and sisters in humanity suffer like this. Please enjoy Ramadan, cook and feed your family, but do not forget the hungry. This is the month of charity, rewards and good deeds; may God help us with our endeavours and save us from any excesses.

Date Ma'amouls, Layli Lubnan, Apple Rhubarb Pies and Luqaimat

Date Ma’amouls, Layli Lubnan, Apple Rhubarb Pies and Luqaimat

Ramadan Kareem to all!

From my family to yours; may the blessings, peace and joy of this month be with you all.

Nazneen xx

I love to hear from my readers so please leave me a comment! If you enjoyed this post please share!

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Comments

  1. Kiran @ KiranTarun.com says

    June 7, 2016 at 1:58 am

    Have and safe and Happy Ramadan.
    Kiran @ KiranTarun.com recently posted..Acai BowlMy Profile

    • Nazneen says

      June 10, 2016 at 2:34 am

      Thank you, Kiran!

  2. Marie Kléber says

    June 6, 2016 at 9:04 am

    May you have a blessed and peaceful Ramadan Nazneen, may you enjoy this holy month.
    Thinking of you and sending you love and light from sunny Paris.
    Thanks for the delicious recipes.
    Stay well.
    Marie Kléber recently posted..Social Media – Love / Hate relationshipMy Profile

    • Nazneen says

      June 10, 2016 at 2:36 am

      Thank you so much, Marie!

  3. Lisa Ho | Lisa’s Lemony Kitchen says

    June 6, 2016 at 5:42 am

    Ramadan Kareem, Nazneen.
    Love your Ramadan spread. Ramadan is that time of the year I’d miss home, food and family get together 🙁
    Lisa Ho | Lisa’s Lemony Kitchen recently posted..Thai Green Curry ChickenMy Profile

  4. Nancy | Plus Ate Six says

    June 6, 2016 at 2:20 am

    I love reading about your Ramadan – what it means to you, what the month holds and how special it is to you and your family. I know it is a very spiritual month for you so I wish you well and send love and support x
    Nancy | Plus Ate Six recently posted..In My Kitchen {June 2016}My Profile

  5. Kat says

    June 4, 2016 at 6:27 am

    Thanks for this post Nazneen! It’s a great recipe round up. As a Muslim convert I don’t have any traditional dishes that we would make at my house during Ramadan since we never celebrated it. Your page inspires me to try new recipes and create our own family traditions 🙂 (Shami kebabs are already in the freezer ;)) Ramadan Mubarak to you and your family!

  6. Karen (Back Road Journal) says

    June 2, 2016 at 1:54 pm

    I remember your posts from previous years and the importance and excitement Ramadan brings to your family. Each and every dish that you have shared looks absolutely delicious.
    Karen (Back Road Journal) recently posted..A Blogger’s AnniversaryMy Profile

  7. David says

    June 2, 2016 at 7:17 am

    What a beautiful post, Nazneen – especially the last paragraph. Thanks for sharing the joy, excitement, and even the science of Ramadan! Hugs, David
    David recently posted..Fantastic FungiMy Profile

  8. John/Kitchen Riffs says

    June 1, 2016 at 7:53 am

    Ramadan must be harder during the summer, with the longer days. Such a wonderful celebration, though! Great roundup of ideas to help the celebration along — loads of inspiration here. Thanks.
    John/Kitchen Riffs recently posted..The White Lady CocktailMy Profile

  9. Karen Harris says

    June 1, 2016 at 7:33 am

    A beautiful recipe roundup indeed! My mouth is watering.
    Karen Harris recently posted..Saucy Mama Blogger Contest 2016: Craft Beer Battered Fish Tacos with Jezebel Slaw and Stacked Steak and Potato SaladMy Profile

  10. Angie@Angie's Recipes says

    June 1, 2016 at 2:10 am

    I wish I could get to taste each single of them! They look exotic and delicious!
    Angie@Angie’s Recipes recently posted..White Chocolate Beetroot TrufflesMy Profile

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