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We’ve officially entered the holy month of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar when Muslims fast—from food, and yes, even water—from dawn until dusk for 30 days. Non-Muslims often express shock when I share this with them, but contrary to what many may think, Ramadan is a time of celebration; it’s about community, an increased sense of faith and worship, and, of course, joyful gatherings with loved ones. Whether it’s with a small group of relatives or a larger group of both friends and family, Muslims gather at the end of the day for iftar, the breaking of the fast.
It’s tradition for many Muslims to immediately break their fast with water and dates, which provide an initial boost of energy. From there, many cultures serve some type of soup along with a source of protein and rice. A meal my family frequently sits down to at iftar is a savory, garlicky tomato soup with bulgur, a refreshing farmers salad, and sambusa, a fried, hand-held meat pie that my mother fills with cinnamon-spiced ground beef—a personal favorite of mine.
Given that there are more than 1.6 billion Muslims on Earth, the religion is practiced across a number of different cultures. In Malaysia, people gather for bubur lambuk, a comforting chicken and rice porridge. In Morocco, many replenish themselves with harira, a hearty lentil and vegetable soup. Fesenjān, a sweet-and-sour braise of pomegranates, walnuts, and meat is a mainstay of Persian iftar tables. Everyone celebrates in their own way. Below, you’ll find Ramadan recipes spanning several cultures to break your fast with.
