Ramadan, a religious month of fasting for muslims, is a very important month. As muslims fast from sunrise to sunset, good food is needed to fuel your body for the long days without water and food. Each Ramadan new trends and recipes arise for muslims to try during suhoor and iftar. Suhoor is the meal Muslims have before fasting, when the sun hasn’t risen yet, while Iftar is the meal Muslims break their fast with after the sun sets. There are many recipes out there for people to try, but here are some that I recommend! Here are some recipes my family, friends, and I have tried and approved for you to try!
1. Shakshuka
Shakshuka is an amazing high protein recipe for suhoor. Originating in north africa, this dish combines a mix of vegetables, spices and eggs, to make a delicious dish filled with fiber and protein that keeps you full the entire day. This recipe is great for people who love savory foods, but it’s also good for people that like sweet food as there is a hint of sweetness from the tomatoes. Here’s a recipe to try from Downshiftology!
To make it, start with adding olive oil, diced onion bell pepper, chopped garlic cloves and spices to a pan. Pour a can of whole peeled tomatoes and use a large spoon to make dents in the sauce, then add the eggs into the dents and enjoy. This recipe is so simple and nutritious, it makes for the perfect dish for suhoor. It’s perfect for tomato lovers and keeps me full for a long time.
2. Nutella Baklava
Baklava is a traditional dish believed to have roots dating back to the ancient civilizations of mesopotamia. This dish, spread throughout many cultures like Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, Syria, and Turkey, is usually made with pistachio, but for people who don’t like pistachio, this nutella version is perfect for you!
You make this dish by layering phyllo dough, nuts, and nutella together. Finish it with pastry and bake it for 45-50 minutes. After you immediately pour syrup on it, you have to let it rest for more than 6 hours. This recipe, as you can tell, takes a lot of time but it’s definitely worth it. Not only is it delicious and sweet, it’s the perfect dessert after iftar, giving you energy for taraweeh!
3. Stuffed Date
Dates are very significant for Muslims, especially during ramadan. This fruit is mentioned most within the Quran, the holy book of islam, and is usually how many people break their fasts. It is sunnah (a good deed) to break your fast with a date and they provide a lot of value. Stuffed dates are made of dates, peanut butter, and chocolate. A simple but delicious and healthy way to break your fast.
The first thing you need to do is get your dates and fill them with peanut butter. After you dip each one into chocolate, finish it off with any nuts you like and put them in the fridge until the chocolate hardens. This recipe is simple but delicious, and gets a lot of nutrients from the dates while also basically tasting like a snickers bar.
4. Overnight Oats
Overnight oats are a simple and filling recipe packed with fiber and protein for suhoor. This particular recipe keeps you full for the whole day while fasting. This recipe is great for people who have a sweet tooth but it’s also so customizable that you could add spices to it and make it savory oats!
Combine old-fashioned oats, chia seeds, and greek yogurt to a container. Use your choice of milk and put it in the fridge overnight. Finally you can top it with anything you want and enjoy! This recipe is so good and simple, while also being nutritious and easy when you don’t want to cook a whole feast for suhoor.
5. Manakish
Manakish is a flatbread topped with a mixture of za’atar spices. This dish is traditionally Levantine and a middle eastern cuisine staple. This bread is delicious paired well with almost any curry, soup, or savory foods, but can also be enjoyed plain.
You start making this bread by mixing flour, white sugar, salt, yeast, water and milk together. You make small balls of dough and raise it completely. After flattening add a za’atar spice blend and as much olive oil you want on top. Bake it for only about 10 minutes and enjoy! This recipe calls for most ingredients you have at home and barely takes any time to prepare and cook. It’s a good side dish and so delicious for iftar.