Ramadan Special :Suhoor and Iftar meal.


The most awaited holy fasting month of Ramadan starts in about 2 weeks.To survive the long fasting hours in summer ,when there is absolutely no room for junk food,its essential to feed the body with a balanced meal for the 2 important meals of the day.The fasting etiquette and diet plan should be helpful in planning your meals for Ramadan.

Suhoor(Pre-dawn) meal
Simple and wholesome early morning meal with Lamb Shorba ,Parathas\Roti, Okra and fruits.To get this meal to the table for Suhoor, requires prep work the night before,I make the shorba and Okra curry the night before and keep the dough of parathas ready to roll and roast for the morning.Those prone to UTI(Urinary Tract Infection) should avoid any caffeinated drink like tea or coffee,a glass of milk is my choice of drink.A banana or apple or some toasted nuts should make the meal complete.

Recipe :Lamb Shorba.
Serves 2-3
Ingredients
1 lb lamb or goat with bones,fat trimmed
1/2 cup fresh herbs cilantro and mint, chopped
2 medium onion chopped
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
1 teaspoon hot chili powder
1 teaspoon ginger and garlic paste(use fresh minced for best flavor)
1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
1 teaspoon garam masala powder(ground cumin,coriander,cloves and cinnamon mix)
2 tablespoon fresh herbs like mint or cilantro,finely chopped
2 green chillies,chopped(optional)
1 teaspoon sea salt
2 teaspoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil or vegetable oil

Method
Heat a skillet or a pressure cooker on medium high flame. Add oil ,chopped onions and cumin seeds. Saute until lightly brown ,for about 8-10 minutes and add the garlic and ginger paste, Now add the lamb ,turmeric ,garam masala ,herbs,chillies,salt and chili powder.Saute for a minute on high flame,then add 2 cups of water. Cover and simmer for 2 hours on medium-low flame or in a pressure cooker for 30-35 minutes,until lamb is tender and falls off the bones,serve warm with Parathas\roti.


Iftar(post-dusk)meal

At the end of the day when body is running low in sugar and energy,the ideal nourishing food is Dates.Was also the Sunnah(tradition) of the Prophet Muhammad(pbuh) to eat dates and water for Iftar.


Whole fruits can also be good for breaking the fast.


For dinner - Lentils and Broken Wheat Soup ,Whole grain rolls,fruits and cooling falooda.

Recipe :Lentils Broken Wheat Soup
Serves 2
Ingredients
1/2 cup Brown Lentils
1 cup broken wheat(Dalia)
1/2 teaspoon Turmeric
3/4 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon garam masala powder(ground cumin,coriander,cloves and cinnamon mix)
1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds(Zeera)
1 small onion,finely chopped
1 medium tomato,finely chopped
1 teaspoon ginger garlic paste,or freshly minced ginger and garlic
1 Tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 tablespoon lemon juice,freshly squeezed
2 tablespoon fresh herbs cilantro or mint,chopped
1/2 teaspoon salt

Method
Wash and Soak lentils and broken wheat for 15-20 minutes.
Heat oil in a pressure cooker or skillet with lid,add the onions,cumin seeds and whole spices.Mix in the ginger and garlic when onions turn lightly brown,add the chopped tomatoes,rest of the spices ,saute for a minute.
Drain all the water from the soaking lentils and broken wheat,add to the cooking mixture,saute for 2-3 minutes,before adding 3 cups of water and season with salt.Cover and cook until lentils are tender ,about 10-12 minutes on medium high heat in a pressure cooker or 30-40 minutes in a skillet.Uncover and stir and simmer for another minute ,add chopped herbs and serve warm with whole grain dinner rolls.



Meat Variation:
Add some minced meat(beef or lamb) if desired.

Some Ramadan Favorite posted previously:
Almond Stuffed Dates
Haleem(Spicy Meat Wheat Porridge)
Harees(spicy Chicken Broken wheat Porridge)


Join in Mona's Hyderabadi Ramadan Food Festival for more Ramadan Favorites.


Kreativ Blogger Award
My heartfelt thanks to Parita,Ann,Shri,Ammu,Smitha,Humaira and Aquadaze for passing me the Kreativ Blogger Award.I've already done the 7 meme.I'm passing this to all the creative bloggers(too many to list)

Good-bye Cleveland! Hello Columbus!
Next week is our big move to Columbus(Ohio).A new city and new hopes .I'll be away from blogsphere just for a week(or two).Hope you all don't miss me much.Wish to be back as soon I get settled in the new place :D

Comments

Pari Vasisht said…
Hi Yasmeen, I will stick to the veggie part, the soup looks absolutely yummy and very healthy.
Janan said…
I like your healthy choices.Good luck with the move.
Ann said…
HUumm.. I love the Okra fry and Soup :) looks so delish
Anonymous said…
Yasmeen,your suhoor looks truly healthy and fulfilling..I remember one of the hostels i stayed used to host muslim inmates so well during Ramadan..Great to welcome the month of Ramadan like this Ysmeen..all the best to you and family..
Faiza Ali said…
Wow ! very healthy meals for suhoor and iftar dear :) Especially the suhoor looks soo filling and delicious and also healthy.
Muneeba said…
I like your suhoor menu a LOT ... will be making this for the hubbs come Ramadan. His iftar needs are quite different though .. he needs his fried goodies! ;) The very best of luck on your move next week!
Raks said…
Thats very balanced meal,nice post:)
Sanghi said…
This is really a yummy meal yasmeen! Loved the pictures and the dishes! :)
umm muhammad said…
It looks yummy, I will try it this Ramadan

wa salaam
Shri said…
I love the okra curry!Should I say Happy Ramadan??I am not sure when it starts and when I should wish:(:P
Indian Khana said…
Soup looks very gud and healthy am all tempted to try...all the best with your moving hope to see U soon
sangeeta said…
all these on the spread are my fav things....when you talk about protection from UTI , the fennel tea you once pasted ( in this case sweetened with palm candy) is good for the purpose.one can chew saunf generously after the morning meal.
You have some delicious recipes up ur sleeve. I like that u have healthy stuff and complete nutrition meals.
Subhie Arun said…
wow...v healthy meals yar...grt way to welcome ramadan month....and all the best to u!...
Kerstin said…
Your lentil soup sounds so delicious, filling, and nutritious! Love it!
Anu said…
Please collect your award from my blog :)
Varsha Vipins said…
Thats such a healthy great spread dear..yumm..esply that lamb dish is just great..:)
Hope you are all set for the move..:)..n also the baby boy is fit n fine now..:)
Anonymous said…
Oh this is a great post!
Ramamdan is my favorite time of the year. You somehow feel so much closer to Allah.
My mum has pretty severe UTI and thats a great tip, thanks :)
All the best for your big move!
and ramadan kareem in advance :)
Priya Suresh said…
Wow Wat a delicious platter Yas...Happy moving Yas, come back soon dear!
Khadija said…
I would love try the soup this ramadan,so nutritious really.I love the simplicity of your meals.
Dori said…
That is healthy and delicious, very good to keep your body sustained!
Anonymous said…
Thank you for this post and the links.I learned so much!
XO
sabah said…
Allahhhhh... it looks delicious, nice dishes to start Ramadan.
Ramadan karim Yasmeen !
Jamie said…
I like the lentil soup the most.And the dates indeed are very nutritious.
Lori said…
The lentil soup looks so great. Definitely something I would enjoy. I've made different variations of lentils before, but nothing like this. I'll have to try it.
Vibaas said…
soup looks delicious. Good luck with your move and hope you like the new city. btw, is it columbus, indiana?
Anonymous said…
The soup and the lamb sound very good! Good luck with your move!
CurryLeaf said…
All the Best with your move.Take care.Love the healthy menu and I will go for all the veg dishes.Take Care.
Mythreyi Dilip said…
Hi, thanks for stopping by my blog and for the lovely comments. I loved your lamb shorba and broken lentil soup, looked so delicious and healthy. Keep in touch, going to be frequent visitor:)
Raina said…
Thanks for the healthy ideas.I usually make pakodas and samosas for Iftar,not very healthy I guess ;)
mona said…
Yasmeen, your entries are so nourishing and filling. I make a similar broken wheat-tomato soup everyday on iftaar.
Jazakallah khairun!
Vikis Kitchen said…
Great to know about this fasting. In TN also people do the same procedure...but with rice sevai / idiyappam , mutton curry and a kanchi in night.
Best wishes for a safe move dear.
Rahin said…
Yasmeen a perfect meal for Suhoor and Iftaar, love the dish you have clicked the lentils n wheat in , als Congratulations on ur award n Good Luck with your big move :)
Humaira said…
Yameen, this was a extremely helpful article. The pics look delicious. I have nominated you for a few more awards. Please visit my blogs and accept them.
Saritha said…
Nice info about what to eat after breaking the fast.I appreciate the dedication of the people who fast the whole day,god bless them.

I posted the lamb shorba few days back
Bergamot said…
with the month of Ramzan coming close, this time I too plan to make healthy dishes...hope my hubby likes them..i will visit your blog again for these recipes
Great intro to meals during ramadan. Have fun moving. Columbus is a great city to live. Good luck!
Purva Desai said…
You have shared very important meal plan to follow during this fasting season.....
I know u'll break the fast by ving fruits but got to know the importance of fruits while breaking the fast due to ur post...
thnks for sharing such valuable information
Vrinda said…
Wow,lovely ramadan treats..will try some ramadan recipes from here..thanx for visiting my blog Yasmeen..
Mythreyi Dilip said…
Hi Yasmeen, the chapati/roti you served along with lamb shoraba looks so nice, soft and perfectly cooked. Can u share the Chapati recipe dear?
Yasmeen said…
Thank you so much everyone,I'll be back soooon :D.
Mythreyi,I've a few varieties of parathas\roti\chapati recipes posted here.Enjoy! :D
Arabic Bites said…
Love all the nutritious recipes here Yasmeen.
I hope you and your family are well.

zainab :D
sra said…
Best of luck with the move, Yasmeen!
Unknown said…
Sounds like great healthy food to have after a fast!
vidhas said…
The veg dish is really healthy. Awesome lcikc as ususal. CVollect an award waiting for u in my blog.
syeda said…
wow Yasmeen you are shifting, All the best! back on ur blog after really long time,loved the new look!looking forward for ur ramzan special recipes, your lentil soup looks delish, will def try it out!
s said…
thanks for the nice comments..u did a great job hosting...
Yasmeen tempting pics dear ..looks delicious
Soma said…
When our very close friend would do the Ramadan, we would wait for the iftaar time.. we would all get together & eat all the goodies:-) We are far away from one another now & I still call her &ask what they are having. Love that shorba! esp. with mint.
Anonymous said…
thanks for healthy choice of recipes.

Sammy
Anonymous said…
I made the Lamb Shorba for dh for after taraweeh last night and he loved it! MashaAllaah! Thanks Yasmeen!
I'm making this for Iftarii today, with a rick lamb stock ... thanks for the lovely recipe. Can't wait to try it now :-)
Unknown said…
I've always associated Ramadan with fasting, and initially I thought no food or very least food at all. And I am really surprise that there are actually some Ramadan recipes that look so yummy.

Ramadan is here so I'd like to express my warmest and yummiest Ramadan wishes to all! May you be blessed by Allah and have a fruitful Ramadan!

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