7 Ramadan recipes to cure fasting fatigue

The month-long Muslim fast, known as Ramadan has begun. Each culture - and family - have their own dishes that form part of their suhoor (the meal before dawn) and iftar, (the feast that breaks the fast at sundown). Here are ours.

The woman cooked the man in a traditional Emirati rice dish Source: SBS

1. Prepare with potato

The saying: “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day,” is never truer than in the month of Ramadan, when food is forbidden from dawn until dusk. Wake up before the sun does and prepare this quick breakfast sago pilaf. A common fasting meal in India’s Maharashtra province, the sticky, savoury dish makes for a tasty porridge alternative.

Source: China Squirrel

2. Chick-peace for all

After a full day of fasting, it makes sense fill up slowly. Enjoy a dip here, a bite there with our hummus and spiced lamb. Carrying notes of cinnamon and allspice, along with a decent drizzle of pomegranate molasses, this crowd-pleaser will whet palates like no other.

3. Something to hi-five about

The ritual Ramadan fast, known as sawm, is one of the five pillars of Islam and is said to train Muslims in the act of self-restraint. Admittedly, this Indian recipe for fish in tamarind and coconut may test your willpower (who wouldn’t be tempted to devour the curry in one fell swoop?), but we urge you to make it all the same.

Iftar is happening a little differently this year. Source: Chris Chen

4. Show sawm support

The phrase, “Ramadan Mubarak”, or “Have a blessed Ramadan” is a pleasant way to greet Muslim friends partaking in the 30-day feast. An even kinder gesture would be to cook them this Middle Eastern chickpea, pumpkin and Persian feta salad and hand-deliver after dusk.

Source: Benito Martin

5. A date to remember

During Ramadan, it’s customary for Muslims to break their fast with a date, as this is something the Prophet Mohammed liked to do. For those wishing to finish iftar (the night time breaking of the fast) with a similar pang of sweetness, we recommend this Persian date cake. If you’re in dinner party mode, this sweet piece is stunning with a cup of Middle Eastern coffee.

Date cake (ranginak). Source: Feast

6. The Emirati one-pot wonder

Rice is another regular on the Ramadan menu. Similar to Indian biryani, Emirati’s dajaj machbous sees the chicken and spiced rice cooked all together. Simple to make and tremendously sating, this is an ideal winter warmer for those in the Southern hemisphere.

Source: Chris Chen

7. Ready, set, sago

These simple-to-make vanilla-scented sago cakes are a popular Ramadan recipe in Indonesia. The springy sweets need a couple of hours to set, so whip them up as soon as you return home and enjoy as an after-dinner delight.

Vanilla-scented sago cakes (cantik manis) Source: China Squirrel

Read more about Eid al-Fitr, the three-day festival celebrated at the end of Ramadan, or check out our recipe collection of feast-worthy dishes to mark the occasion.