Ramadan Meal Plans

I was asked by a dear reader to come up with a small write-up of Ramadan menu suggestions as the holy month is quickly approaching. Ramadan is a time of generosity and goodwill, and cooking not only for your family gatherings together, but also for neighbors, friends, and complete strangers. More important than food is prayer and charity. May Allah preserve our Muslim brothers and sisters and grant victory to the protectors of our faith and honor, the Jihadists worldwide, and grant them and their loved ones the highest Heavens where they dwell among the Prophets in sha Allah. May the more fortunate of us strive to ease the difficulties of our less fortunate brethren. May we all unite in this world before the next under the same Sovereign cause and goal of spreading Allah's word and living in hopes of achieving His blessing and honor of being able to look at His face.

Below are various menu suggestions which I like to pair together. My family always breaks the fast with a date, which is a Sunna as per our beloved Prophet's (may peace and blessings be upon him) ways. The dates can be fresh if in season, or stuffed with different nuts or other stuffings for added nutritional value (Walnut Stuffed Dates, Pistachio-Stuffed Dates, Halva Stuffed Dates).

Once we break our fast with an odd number of dates (either one, or three, or five, or seven) and a glass of water or shineena (yogurt drink), we pray the meghrib prayer then gather together to eat the iftar meal. After a day of fasting, we always like to have some sort of soup on the menu as it is nutritious and easy on the stomach. This can sometimes be replaced with a stew. It is also typical of a Ramadan table to include something dry, usually fried. We must have a salad on the table, Ramadan or otherwise. A main dish of protein is absolutely compulsory, as is a carbohydrate accompaniment. With time, I have come to resent the presence of soda on the table, and the homemade drinks I make instead are so much better loved and enjoyed. We tend to be more decadent in the sweet department as well during Ramadan.

Besides the main iftar meal, Muslims have one more lighter meal late at night not long before the fajir early morning prayer named the suhoor. I posted an outline last year of what my family likes to have on hand for the suhoor, which you can see here.

It is important to point out that too much food waste happens in many places during Ramadan, and that is the exact opposite of the spirit of the month. It is not shameful to re-serve leftover food to the family. I understand if you have guests over and making too much food, but there are many ways you can give the food rather than throwing it away. Make sure it is presented with care because no one wants to be given food that looks like leftovers.

Suggested drinks for Ramadan:
Orange-Pomegranate Juice
Qamr Aldeen Drink
Hibiscus Karkaday Lemonade
Fresh Lemon Iced Tea
Lemon-Mint Refresher Drink
Melon-Mint Smoothie
Yogurt Drink: Shineena

 Menu 1
Freekeh Soup 
Maryam's Fattouche 
Haloomi Cheese Bourag Rolls 
Pistachio Kebab Kofta
Iraqi Vermicelli Rice
Khoshaf, Dried Fruit Salad

Menu 2
Chickpea-Coriander Soup 
Aubergine Rocket Pomegranate Salad 
Lamb Pomegranate Bourag 
Roast Chicken With Vegetables 
Barley Mushroom Pilaf 
Blueberry Qataef 

Menu 3
Pea Crouton Soup
Balsamic Dressed Salad
Steak with Magic Sauce
Roast Potato Wedges 
Banoffee, My Way

Menu 4
Red Lentil Soup
Corn Tabboula 
Vineleaf, Onion, and Prune Dolmades
Knafa Buns

Menu 5
Carrot Dill Soup
Mediterranean Salad
Indian Split Pea Patty Fritters
Delectable Curried Chicken
Fragrant Spiced Rice
Qatari Sago Halawa

Menu 6
Tomato Meatball Soup
Mexican Salad 
Salmon Skewers
Shrimp Broccoli Fettuccine
Berry Terrine

Menu 7
Iraqi Turnip-Kubba Soup
Fried Aubergine Pomegranate Molasses Salad 
Beef Tongue 
Sumac Roast Chicken
Iraqi Carrot Rice
Date-Tahini Halawa 

Menu 8
Broccoli Cheddar Soup 
Puffed Cheese Straws
Cabbage Tomato Salad
Iraqi Stuffed Baby Aubergines
Iraqi Potato Rice 
Rice Mohalabi Pudding

Menu 9
Iraqi Bamia or Okra Stew
Iraqi Crispy Crust Rice
Black Eyed Peas Salad 
Iraqi Coconut MacarOOns 

Menu 10
Brown Lentil Soup 
Farmer's Salad
Carrot Fritters 
Barberry Zarshk Pilaf
Iraqi Roast Lamb Ribs 
Berry Pavlova 

Menu 11
Chinese Chicken Noodle Soup  
Shrimp Club Salad
Pomegranate Sesame Chicken with Ginger Coconut Rice 
Cappuccino Cupcakes

Menu 12
Qatari Harees Meat Porridge
Beetroot and Green Apple Salad
Leek Quiche
Tray Baked Salmon with Green Beans
Ageeli Saffron Cake 

Menu 13
Cream of Chicken Soup
Cos Salad 
Iraqi Dill Kubba
Squash Mucver (Turkish Courgette Patties)
Hachis Parmentier 
Coconut Basboosa

Menu 14
Pumpkin Soup
Liver Salad
Spanish Tomato Bruschetta
Chicken Fettah
Mosaïc Jello 

Menu 15
Kubba Labania (Minted Yogurt Soup with Kubba)
Caraway Seed Rice
Lamb Kofta with Tahini and Pom Chili Jam
Chocolate Mousse 

Menu 16 Suhoor Cooking Ideas
Iraqi Thareed Bagilla
Cheddar Popovers with Mint Scrambled Eggs
Mushroom Cream on Toast
Egg Pudding Cheese Soufflé
Raspberry-Chocolate Overnight Oats
Cheese Snails - Halazon
Chicken Musakhan Cones
Iraqi Iroog Bread
Iraqi Meat Flatbread
Sujuk Rolls
Lamb Pide 
Cheese Pide

Menu 17 Vegetarian
Chestnut Sage Soup 
Turkish Couscous Salad 
Felafels
Stuffed Cabbage Leaves
Aubergine Lasagna
Gazelle Horns