Ramadan Food: When and What to Eat

Ramadan…

• Ramadan (in Arabic: رمضان, Ramadān) is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar.

• During the whole month, faithful observers of Islam fast from sunrise (Sahour). • During the fast, no food or drink is consumed, and thoughts must be kept pure.

• Followers of Islam believe that fasting helps the Muslim learn patience, modesty, and spirituality.

• Meals are served before sunrise and after sunset, and eaten with family or with the local community.

People are exempting

from the fasting

Elderly

Mentally ill

Women during the period of

their menstruationWomen

nursing their

newborns

Pregnant women

Sick

• In some Muslim communities, people who miss the fasting portion of Ramadan are expected to compensate by feeding the poor and unfortunate during the suhoor and iftar meals.

• In 2009, Ramadan ended on September 20th.

• The Islamic calendar is based on lunar cycles, so it retrogresses about two weeks backwards every year.

• In 2010, Ramadan was closer to the middle of the summer, and this year, 2013, it began on July 8 and will last until August 7.

• The fast is strictly observed, even in higher latitudes. • Muslims living in Northern Europe or Canada have to fast longer than Muslims living in the Middle East due to daylight hours being longer.

During Ramadan, two main meals are served:

The suhoor• Which is served before dawn.

The iftar • Which is served after sunset.

Suhoor• Since the suhoor is

intended to last one throughout the day, it tends to be a heavy and hearty meal.

• Suhoor ends when the sun rises and the fajr, or morning prayer, begins.

Iftar• At the end of the day,

when the sun sets, the maghrib prayer starts, and the day's fast is broken with the iftar meal.

• Many Muslims break their fast by eating dates before beginning the iftar meal.

• Muslims can continue eating and drinking throughout the night until the next day's suhoor.

Eid al-Fitr

• At the end of the Ramadan month, Muslims celebrate the Festival of the Breaking of the Fast, called Eid al-Fitr.

Both of the suhoor and iftar meals contain :

Fresh fruit

Halal meats

Cheeses

Sweets

Breads

Vegetables

• Remember that the Muslim world is large and is not constrained to the Middle East;

• There are Muslims worldwide in• Europe• North America• Asia• Africa•Australia.

The types of food served vary by region. The meals are served either at home with

family, or in the community mosques, or other designated places within the Muslim community.

Some foods that may be served at a Ramadan suhoor or ift ar

Dates

Pistachios

Some nuts

Dried fruits

Fresh seasonal vegetables Chabbakia .a dessert made of fried dough

flavored with orange blossom water and coated with sesame seeds and

honey. (China) Ramazan Kebabi

a dish made with lamb, onions, yogurt, and pita bread.

(Turkey )Chapatis unleavened flatbread that is

rolled up with vegetables and meats.

(Morocco)Paomo a bread and mutton soup

(Turkey)Sherbet the world's first soft drink, developed in the Ottoman Empire. Sherbets are made from

fruit juices, extracts of flowers, or herbs, and combined with water and sugar.

(India and Pakistan )a soft, thin crackerbread.

(Armenia, Azerbaijan )Fattoush

a salad made of vegetables and

pita bread

(Lebanon and Arab countries )

Tabbouleh – a salad made

with fresh tomatoes,

parsley, garlic, and bulgur

wheat .

(Middle East ) - Khyar Bi Laban

cucumber and yogurt salad

(Middle East )Chorbalamb stew with tomatoes and

chickpeas

(Morocco) stew with green beans

and meat (North Africa and the

Middle East )Bamia a stew made with meat and

okra

(North Africa and the Middle East )Mujadarra

a dish made with rice and lentils

(Middle East) – a pastry made with phyllo dough and

cheese

(Middle East) a type of Arabic pancake filled with sweet cheese and .nuts

(Saudi Arabia, Palestine )Ful medammes fava beans cooked with garlic and spread on bread.

(North Africa) a fruit dessert made , , with palm sugar coconut milk and pandanus leaf .

(Pakistan )

Shabikebab

fried patties of ground meat and chickpeas.

(Indonesia) - a

porridge made of, meat, wheat

and lentils .

Fruits such as jackfruit or banana are

added, or mung beans .

(Persia and India )Jalebi - deep-fried

dough batter soaked in syrup.

• If you are currently traveling in a Muslim country or live in a Muslim neighborhood, please recognize that right now is a holy time for Muslims and they are fasting during daylight hours.

• If you need to purchase food or drink during fasting hours, please be respectful and carry them in a non-transparent bag back to your home or hotel room where you can consume them in privacy.

• Additionally, if you are interested in learning more about Ramadan and meeting Muslims in person, many mosques and Islamic cultural centers have community outreach programs where they invite non-Muslims to enjoy an iftar meal with the other members of the mosque.

Be sure to check before hand what the dress code is, as women may need to cover their arms and/or head.

Here is a primer on Muslim etiquette.

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