31 Ramadan Recipes to Help You Break Your Fast

These recipes span a number of cultures and are ideal for a filling and satisfying iftar.

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.

South Asian Recipes

Aloo Samosa (Samosa Stuffed With Spiced Potato and Peas)

This recipe walks you through how to make the classic potato-stuffed South Asian snack at home.

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Lamb Kheema Samosa (Samosa Stuffed With Spiced Ground Lamb)

This meaty version of the beloved snack features spiced ground lamb stuffed in a pastry and fried.

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Butter Chicken

The sauce for this butter chicken is simmered on the stovetop and takes on a rich tomato flavor, while broiled marinated chicken adds char to the final dish.

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Fish Bhuna (Bengali-Style Fried Fish in Onion and Tomato Curry)

A change of pace from your usual fish dinner, this is great served alongside rice and a simple cucumber salad.

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Palak Paneer

Often mislabeled as "saag paneer," this dish of fried paneer in a spinach sauce is proof that sometimes simple is best.

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Vegetable Biryani

This celebratory meal features aromatic and spiced rice and tender braised vegetables.

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Vegetable Qorma

An assortment of tender vegetables and paneer in a rich, creamy sauce—this is vegetable qorma done right.

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Chickpea, Coconut, and Cashew Curry

This curry is intense with garam masala and ginger, cooled by coconut milk and ground toasted cashews.

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Southeast Asian Recipes

Malaysian ABC Soup

This no ho-hum chicken soup is deeply flavorful and satisfying, with an ease to deliciousness ratio that's hard to beat.

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Malaysian Fish Head Curry

South Indian and Malaysian cuisines come together in this spicy vermillion curry that's simmered with fish heads, eggplant, and okra.

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Middle Eastern Recipes

Mansaf (Palestinian Spiced Lamb With Rice and Yogurt Sauce)

The quintessential dish of Bedouins, mansaf features lightly spiced lamb, fluffy rice, and a tangy jameed-based yogurt sauce, all piled on top of torn flatbread.

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Maftool (Palestinian Wheat Pearls in a Vegetable, Chickpea, and Chicken Stew)

Caviar-sized pearls made of whole wheat served in a brothy stew with onions, chickpeas, butternut squash, and tender chicken make up this Palestinian dish.

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Fesenjān (Persian Pomegranate and Walnut Meat Braise)

Fesenjān—an iconic Persian braise—gets its signature sweet-and-sour flavor from pomegranate molasses and its velvety texture from ground walnuts.

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Khoresh-é-Bādemjan (Persian Meat and Eggplant Stew)

Filled with melt-in-your-mouth meat and luscious eggplant, this aromatic stew is hearty, comforting, and undeniably delicious.

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Kotlet (Persian Ground Meat and Potato Patties)

These versatile pan-fried patties are made from a mixture of ground meat, eggs, and finely mashed (or riced) boiled potatoes.

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Halal Cart-Style Chicken and Rice With White Sauce

Here, the chicken is marinated with herbs, lemon, and spices; the rice golden; the sauce, as white and creamy as ever.

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Maqlubeh (Palestinian "Upside Down" Meat, Vegetables, and Rice)

In this recipe, layers of meat, fried vegetables, and spiced rice are flipped over to reveal a complete and festive meal.

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Msakhan (Palestinian Flatbreads With Onion, Sumac, and Spiced Roast Chicken)

Served atop taboon, msakhan is a triumphant contrast of flavors and textures.

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Kafta bi Bandora (Palestinian Ground Meat Patties in Tomato Sauce)

Lamb with herbs, onions, and spices make the juiciest version of this ancient dish.

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Qidreh (Palestinian Bone-In Lamb With Spiced Rice)

The hallmark dish of the Palestinian city of Hebron, qidreh is brimming with tender bone-in lamb and fragrant spiced rice.

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Hashweh (Palestinian Spiced Rice and Meat)

Spices bloomed in ghee add complexity to this celebratory Palestinian dish.

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North African Recipes

Moroccan Egg Drop Harira (Vegetable and Legume Soup)

This version of harira features both lentils and chickpeas, and is finished with a drizzle of beaten egg.

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Kabab Halla (Egyptian Braised Beef With Onions)

Kabab halla, a signature Egyptian dish, consists of tender beef braised in a velvety sauce of caramelized onions.

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Moroccan Kefta and Bell Pepper Briouats (Ground Meat and Bell Pepper Pastries)

Caramelized onions and red bell peppers lend sweetness to these briouats, while paprika, cumin, coriander provide an additional layer of flavor.

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Chicken M’qualli Tagine With Olives and Preserved Lemon

Bold, sweet, fragrant—but also sour and bitter with olives and preserved lemon—m’qualli carries a myriad of flavors that make it a special and comforting meal.

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West African Recipes

Chicken Yassa (Senegalese Braised Chicken With Caramelized Onions)

This Senegalese dish is a citrus-forward version of your favorite stewed and smothered chicken-and-onion dish.

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Ghanaian Chicken and Peanut Stew (Groundnut Soup) Recipe

Peanut butter and tomatoes lend a rich and creamy backdrop to this simple, hearty Ghanaian chicken stew.

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Nigerian Meat Pie

These Nigerian meat pies feature minced beef, onions, carrots, and potatoes in a curry-spiced sauce.

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Nigerian Beef Stew

A mainstay of many Nigerian meals, there are countless ways to make this stew.

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Nigerian Jollof Rice

Jollof rice, a seasoned tomatoey rice dish, is eaten at every party, Sunday lunch, and everything in between.

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Moin Moin (Nigerian Steamed Bean Cake)

Moin Moin is a tender cake of black-eyed peas that can be steamed in ramekins or packages formed out of sturdy moin moin leaves.

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