10+ Ramadan Recipes for Delicious and Easy Meals to Share

Ramadan is a special time focused on fasting, reflection, and spending time with family. Preparing the right meals helps keep your energy up and makes breaking the fast enjoyable.

Ramadan recipes offer delicious and nourishing meals for this holy month. You can use these recipes to make suhoor (pre-dawn meal) and iftar (meal to break the fast) more enjoyable.

Ingredients

• Various fresh vegetables
• Lean meats like chicken or lamb
• Grains such as rice or semolina
• Spices like cumin, cinnamon, and cardamom
• Dairy items such as yogurt or paneer

Cooking Instructions

1. Wash and chop vegetables or meat.
2. Measure spices and grains for your recipe.
3. Simmer dishes on medium heat, following cooking times.
4. When baking, set the oven between 350°F (175°C) and 375°F (190°C).
5. Serve meals warm for the best flavors.

1) Kebab Pilaf with Spiced Carrots

Kebab pilaf is a tasty dish for Ramadan. It combines rice with kebabs and spiced carrots.

The spices create a warm, comforting flavor. You can use meat or a vegan kebab alternative.

Cook carrots with turmeric, cumin, and cinnamon for a sweet and savory taste. Stir everything gently at the end to mix the flavors.

This dish takes about 40 minutes to make and serves 4 to 6 people.

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp oil
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 2 medium carrots, cut into batons
• 2 garlic cloves, sliced
• 2 tsp turmeric
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 cinnamon stick
• Cooked kebabs or vegan kebab alternative
• 2 cups basmati rice
• 4 cups vegetable or chicken broth

Cooking Instructions

1. Heat oil in a large pan and cook onion until soft.
2. Add carrots and garlic, then stir in turmeric, cumin, and cinnamon. Cook for 5 minutes.
3. Stir in rice and mix well with the spices.
4. Pour in broth and bring to a boil. Cover and simmer on low heat for 15-20 minutes.
5. Add cooked kebabs and stir gently. Heat through for 5 more minutes before serving.

For more details, check kebab pilaf with spiced carrots.

2) Aromatic Lamb with Dates

Aromatic lamb with dates balances savory lamb and sweet dates. The recipe uses spices like cumin and coriander for a warm, rich taste.

Start by frying lamb with onions until browned. Add sweet potatoes and spices.

Put dates in near the end to keep their sweetness. Serve this dish with couscous or rice.

Ingredients

• 1 lb lamb, cut into chunks
• 1 onion, sliced
• 2 cups sweet potatoes, diced
• 1 cup dates, pitted and chopped
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp coriander
• 2 tbsp oil
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Fresh coriander for garnish

Cooking Instructions

1. Heat oil in a pan over medium heat.
2. Add onion and lamb; cook until lamb is lightly browned.
3. Stir in sweet potatoes, cumin, coriander, salt, and pepper.
4. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes until lamb and sweet potatoes are tender.
5. Add dates and cook for 10 more minutes.
6. Sprinkle with fresh coriander before serving.

3) Egyptian Egg Salad

This fresh and healthy dish combines hard-boiled eggs with fava beans for a protein-packed meal. Lemon juice, garlic, and tahini add a rich, tangy flavor.

Cumin gives the salad a classic Egyptian taste. Serve it as part of your iftar for an energy boost.

You can make this salad ahead and keep it chilled. It pairs well with warm pita bread or fresh vegetables.

Ingredients:

• Hard-boiled eggs
• Cooked fava beans
• Lemon juice
• Tahini (sesame butter)
• Garlic
• Onions
• Ground cumin
• Grapeseed oil

Cooking Instructions:

1. Chop the hard-boiled eggs and cooked fava beans.
2. Finely chop the onions and garlic.
3. Mix lemon juice, tahini, grapeseed oil, and cumin in a bowl.
4. Add eggs, beans, onions, and garlic to the bowl.
5. Stir everything together and chill before serving.

Find more details in this Egyptian Egg Salad recipe.

4) Qatayef Asafiri (Stuffed Semolina Pancakes)

Qatayef Asafiri are small semolina pancakes stuffed with a creamy filling. They are half closed, shaped like little birds, and often dipped in crushed pistachios.

These sweet treats are popular during Ramadan and make a perfect dessert for iftar. The pancakes have a soft texture and a light sweetness.

Fill them with cream, nuts, or sweet cheese. After stuffing, fold them gently to keep the filling inside.

Serve with syrup or honey, and add a sprinkle of powdered sugar if you like.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons finely ground semolina
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon active dry yeast
• Cream or nut filling
• Crushed pistachios
• Simple syrup or honey

Cooking Instructions

1. Mix flour, semolina, sugar, and yeast with water to make a batter.
2. Cook small circles on a hot griddle until bubbles appear.
3. Let pancakes cool, then add filling to the center.
4. Fold pancakes in half but leave one side open.
5. Dip tops in crushed pistachios.
6. Drizzle with syrup or honey before serving.

5) Maraq Misir (Red Lentil Soup)

Maraq Misir is a simple and hearty red lentil soup from Somali cuisine. It’s easy to digest and gives good energy after fasting.

This soup uses a few basic spices for warm, comforting flavors. You can cook red lentils until soft, then blend or mash them for a smooth texture.

Garlic, onions, and cumin add flavor without making the soup heavy.

Ingredients

• 1 cup red lentils
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 4 cups water or broth
• Salt to taste
• 2 tablespoons oil

Cooking Instructions

1. Heat oil in a pot over medium heat.
2. Add onions and garlic; sauté until soft.
3. Stir in cumin and cook for 1 minute.
4. Add lentils and water or broth.
5. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 20-30 minutes.
6. Mash or blend slightly, season with salt, and serve warm.

Learn more about this dish here.

6) Strawberry Lassi

Strawberry Lassi is a cool, refreshing drink for Ramadan. It mixes fresh strawberries with yogurt and a little sweetness.

You can make it quickly in a blender. The yogurt keeps you full and hydrated, and strawberries add natural flavor and vitamins.

Add a pinch of cardamom for a gentle spice.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup fresh strawberries
• 2 cups plain yogurt
• 1/4 cup chilled milk
• 2 tablespoons sugar or maple syrup
• A pinch of salt
• A pinch of ground cardamom (optional)
• Ice cubes (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Wash and hull the strawberries.
2. Add strawberries, yogurt, milk, sugar, salt, and cardamom to a blender.
3. Blend on low, then increase speed until smooth.
4. Add ice cubes if you want it extra cold and blend again.
5. Pour into glasses and serve right away.

Find more about this recipe and variations at NYT Cooking.

7) Namoura (Syrup-Soaked Semolina Cake)

Namoura is a Middle Eastern semolina cake soaked in sweet syrup. It has a soft, moist texture and a subtle nutty flavor.

Almonds or pine nuts often top the cake. The syrup has lemon juice or rose water for a fresh taste.

Prepare the batter, bake the cake, then pour warm syrup over it while still hot. This lets the syrup soak in perfectly.

Ingredients

• 2 cups semolina flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup plain yogurt
• 1/2 cup melted butter
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 cup almonds (whole or chopped)

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Mix semolina, sugar, yogurt, melted butter, and baking powder until smooth.
3. Pour batter into a greased pan and smooth the top.
4. Place almonds on top.
5. Bake for 30-35 minutes until golden.
6. For syrup, boil 1 cup water, 1 cup sugar, and a squeeze of lemon for 10 minutes.
7. Pour syrup over hot cake. Let it soak and cool before serving.

Find more details at NYT Cooking.

8) Chicken Tikka Masala

Chicken Tikka Masala is a tasty dish perfect for Ramadan meals. You start by marinating chicken pieces in yogurt and spices like cumin, paprika, and garam masala.

This step helps the chicken soak up flavor. Next, cook the chicken until it’s tender.

Then, simmer it in a creamy tomato sauce with garlic and ginger. The sauce is mild, a little tangy, and a bit sweet.

It pairs well with rice or flatbread.

Ingredients

• 500g boneless chicken pieces
• ¾ cup plain yogurt
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• 2 tsp garam masala
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp paprika
• ½ tsp turmeric
• 1 tsp garlic paste
• 1 tsp ginger paste
• 1 cup tomato puree
• ½ cup cream
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Mix yogurt, lemon juice, garam masala, cumin, paprika, turmeric, garlic, and ginger in a bowl.
2. Add chicken and marinate for at least 1 hour.
3. Cook chicken in a pan until lightly browned.
4. Add tomato puree and simmer 10 minutes.
5. Stir in cream and cook another 5 minutes.
6. Serve hot with rice or bread.

For a detailed recipe, see this Chicken Tikka Masala recipe.

9) Dahi Bhalla

Dahi Bhalla is a cool and tasty snack perfect for Ramadan iftar. It has soft lentil fritters soaked in spiced yogurt.

You can add sweet and spicy chutneys on top for extra flavor. Making Dahi Bhalla takes a little time, but the result is worth it.

Fry the lentil balls until golden, then soak them in water before adding them to flavored yogurt. This keeps them soft and delicious.

Ingredients

• 1 cup urad dal (split black gram)
• 4 cups yogurt
• 2 tsp green chili chutney
• 1 tbsp chaat masala
• 1.5 tsp salt
• 2 tsp sugar
• Oil for frying
• Tamarind chutney and mint chutney (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Soak urad dal for 4-5 hours, then grind into a smooth batter.
2. Heat oil to 350°F (175°C).
3. Fry small spoonfuls of batter until golden brown.
4. Soak fried bhallas in water for 20 minutes, then squeeze gently.
5. Whisk yogurt with salt, sugar, chaat masala, and green chili chutney.
6. Place bhallas in the yogurt mixture.
7. Top with tamarind and mint chutneys before serving.

For more details, see this Dahi Bhalla Ramadan Recipe.

10) Fruit Chaat

Fruit Chaat is a simple and refreshing snack you can enjoy during Ramadan. It combines sweet, spicy, and tangy flavors in one bowl.

Use a mix of apples, bananas, mangoes, and oranges for the best taste. Add chaat masala and a little sugar to bring out the flavors.

Some recipes also include chickpeas or a splash of orange juice for extra taste. Firm fruits like apples last longer, while bananas can become soft quickly.

This dish is easy to make and perfect for Iftar when you want something light. You do not need to cook it, so you can prepare it quickly.

Ingredients

• Apples
• Bananas
• Mangoes
• Oranges
• Chaat masala
• Sugar
• Orange juice (optional)
• Chickpeas (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Cut all the fruits into bite-sized pieces.
2. Place the fruit pieces in a medium serving bowl.
3. Sprinkle chaat masala and sugar over the fruit.
4. Add orange juice.
5. Add chickpeas if you want to include them.
6. Mix everything gently.
7. Serve right away or chill for a short time before serving.

For more details, you can check a fruit chaat recipe.