Tart sumac balances sweet caramelized onions in a roast chicken and flatbread dish traditionally baked in a wood-fired oven called a taboon. Ariana Lindquist
During the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset, not even consuming water. Food takes on a special significance during this fast. Before morning prayers Muslims eat suhoor, a heavy breakfast big enough to to get them through the day. Hearty meat dishes are popular during Ramadan as a way to fill up before or after fasting. Skewered meat and vegetable dishes called kebabs are common in the Middle East and curry recipes are a mainstay in Southeast Asia.
After dark comes iftar, or the breaking of the fast. This meal is often a festive, communal affair. No iftar would be complete without rice. Dessert is an important part of iftar and in the Bengali household, mishti is king. In the Middle East, desserts often lean towards the syrupy side and yogurts are a common way to help aid digestion and cool the stomach. We’ve rounded up our favorite Ramadan recipes for suhoor and iftar, as well as for your big Eid-al-Fitr feasts afterward.
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Shish Kebabs
Lentil Stew with Coconut (Dalma)
Indian Samosas
Triangular deep-fried pastries stuffed with spiced potatoes and peas are an iconic Indian snack. Pair them with tangy tamarind chutney or herbaceous coconut-cilantro chutney for dipping. Get the recipe for Indian Samosas » James Roper
Spiced Ground Beef Patties (Shami Kebabs)
Indian Fish and Potato Croquettes
A simple Indian croquette with fish, bold hits of cumin and green chile, and a refreshing mint chutney. This is a great way to use up leftover cooked white fish; simply substitute 8 oz. of cooked fish and skip the first step. Get the recipe for Indian Fish and Potato Croquettes » Matt Taylor-Gross
Fried Chickpea-Battered Potatoes (Bhajiya)
For this Mumbai street-food snack from Raghavan Iyer, chunks of potato are dredged in a light chickpea-and-rice-flour batter that is spiced with turmeric and chile powder. The potatoes are then deep fried until a golden crust forms and served with cilantro and tamarind chutneys. The spiced batter can be also used for other vegetables such as cauliflower and broccoli florets, sliced plantain, and eggplant. Get the recipe for Fried Chickpea-Battered Potatoes (Bhajiya) » Ingalls Photography
Persian Tamarind-Stuffed Fish
A luxurious whole fish preparation flavored with tangy tamarind and fragrant barberries, perfect for Nowruz, the Persian new year. Find barberries in well-stocked Middle Eastern groceries or online. Get the recipe for Persian Tamarind-Stuffed Fish » Matt Taylor-Gross
Persian Rice
Rice is a staple at most meals in Iran; tahdig, the crust of crispy rice that forms on the bottom, is the most prized part. Soaking the rice before cooking for 15 minutes helps to elongate the grains, resulting in a fluffier rice, while the towel on the lid helps to pull the moisture away during the longer cook time. Get the recipe for Persian Rice » Farideh Sadeghin
Roast Chicken with Onion and Sumac Flatbread (M’sakhan)
Romano Beans with Tomatoes (Loubieh bil Zeit)
Baklava
Phyllo pastry layered with ground nuts luxuriating in sweet syrup is a centuries-old dessert that now exists in many variations throughout the Middle East and eastern Mediterranean. Get the recipe for Baklava » Todd Coleman
Lamb and Cauliflower Stew with Harissa
Man’oushé bil Za’atar (Flatbread with Za’atar)
Tabbouleh
Finely chopped fresh parsley and mint are bathed in fruity extra virgin olive oil and lemon juice in this classic Middle Eastern appetizer. Get the recipe for Tabbouleh » James Oseland
Pakistani Slow-Cooked Lamb Stew (Dumbay ki Nihari)
A rich, spicy stew topped with bright cilantro leaves, a squeeze of citrus, and thin-sliced hot chiles, nihari is the ultimate comfort food for home cook and Lahore native Zainab Shah, whose mother makes this dish for her and her family. The dish’s name is derived from the Arabic word nahaar, or “day”, which makes sense considering the long, slow cooking required to coax the rich marrow out of the lamb bones. Get the recipe for Pakistani Slow-Cooked Lamb Stew (Dumbay ki Nihari) » Ingalls Photography
Mashed Eggplant Dip (Baba Ghannouj)
Chickpeas with Pita and Spiced Yogurt (Fattet Hummus)
Across the Levant, you will find variations on fatteh, dishes built on toasted or fried day-old bread. The term comes from the Arabic word “fatta”, meaning to crumble bread. In this Lebanese version from author Fouad Kassab’s mother Isabelle, brown butter tops a layered dish of baked pita and chickpeas tossed with spiced yogurt. To save time, soak the chickpeas in water and baking soda: the alkilinity of the soda breaks down the beans’ cellular walls and can reduce cooking time by thirty five minutes. Get the recipe for Chickpeas with Pita and Spiced Yogurt (Fattet Hummus) » James Oseland
Lebanese Lamb-Stuffed Eggplant (Batenjen Mehchi)
Eggplants are stuffed with a mixture of spiced lamb and rice, then simmered in tomato sauce in a rustic, cinnamon-scented dish from Lebanese author Fouad Kassab’s mother, Isabelle. During the autumn olive harvest, she prepares it with new-season olive oil from the family’s groves. Use smaller-sized eggplants, such as Japanese or fairy-tale eggplants, for this dish. (If you can’t find these varieties, zucchini may be substituted for the eggplant.) Get the recipe for Lebanese Lamb-Stuffed Eggplant (Batenjen Mehchi) » James Oseland
Spiced Lamb Patties with Tomato and Onion (Kefta bil Sayniyeh)
Shirazi Salad
Labaneh
Thick, tart, and creamy, this yogurt-like cheese, is perfect eaten with olive oil, pita bread, and za’atar. Get the recipe for Labaneh » Eilon Paz
Iraqi Stuffed Onions (Dolma Mahshi)
Spiced Chicken and Tomato Kebabs (Jujeh Kabab)
Emirati Grilled Prawns (Rubyan Meshwi)
Pumpkin Halvah (Assidat al-Boubar)
Like many traditional Emirati desserts, luscious pumpkin porridge (in Arabic it’s a halvah, or sweet food) straddles the line between sweet and savory. The dish thickens as it cools, so be sure to serve it while it’s still quite warm. Get the recipe for Pumpkin Halvah (Assidat al-Boubar) » Todd Coleman
Upside-Down Rice with Cauliflower, Eggplant, and Lamb (Maqloubeh)
Iraqi Yellow Spice-Rubbed Chicken (Djaj Bil-Bahar Il-Asfar)
Charred Eggplant with Chile Sauce & Tahini
Saffron-Flavored Fritters (Lgeimat)
Ground Lamb, Bulgur, and Pistachio Kebabs (Simit Kebap)
Emirati Lamb Stew (Tharid)
Often referred to as the Prophet Muhammad’s favorite dish, this satisfying lamb and vegetable stew is served over thin, cracker-like bread called regag to soak up the rich juices (although we found store-bought, toasted roti to work just as well). To make the preparation easier, have your butcher cut the lamb into pieces. Get the recipe for Emirati Lamb Stew (Tharid) » Todd Coleman
Veal and Kidney Bean Stew (Ghormeh Sabzi)
Persian Ground Meat and Onion Kebabs
Spiced Goat and Rice Pilaf (Sindhi Biryani)
Red Lentil and Squash Soup (Shorabit Jarjir)
Honey-Braised Lamb Shanks (Mrouzia)
Pigeon Pea Fritters with Yogurt-Tomato Sauce (Vadai Pachadi)
Syrup-Soaked Cheese Pastry (Knafeh)
