Name: Green Coriander Chutney
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Yield: 1
Ingredients: 1 medium bunch of Green Coriander; 2 cloves garlic; 3 Green chilies; 1 teaspoon Cumin Seeds (Zeera/Jeera); 1 tablespoon Coconut, desiccated; 1-2 tablespoons Lemon Juice

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Ramadan is not only abstaining from food and drink but also any wrong doing be it major or minor. It is also a month of reconciliation with self, with the Creator, friends, family and neighbors and to take it beyond this month. It is a month of fasting and not feasting where moderation is the key. Today I am sharing my personal template for Ramadan Meal Prep and Easy Combinations for Iftar that not only are well-rounded in terms of nutrition but also time efficient and does not drain your time, money and energy.

What is Ramadan/ Ramzan?

Ramadan as pronounced in Arabic and Ramzan as in Urdu is the blessed month for Muslims around the world when they fast from before sun rise to sun set. It is the most celebrated month in Lunar Calendar which aims at purifying, resetting not only our physical bodies but spiritually as well. For every good deed the reward goes up to 60 times for any good deed.

It is the month of dry fast (no water) but unfortunately we make it month of feasting rather than fasting. Fasting among many other benefits also makes us realize the pain of underprivilege or under nourished people around us. So let’s aim to celebrate this blessed month in the true spirit.

It is not only abstaining from food and drink but also any wrong doing be it major or minor. It is also a month of reconciliation with self, with the Creator, friends, family and neighbors and to take it beyond this month.

I have made a complete list of my top ten tips to keep you Ramadan meal preparation under two to three hours.

Plus a bonus tip.

Have a look here. I promise you will pickup one or two useful points.

Later in the video, I am also sharing a Ramadan Table Setting Idea which I put together what I had at home.

What foods are eaten during Ramadan?

Food eaten at Iftar and Suhoor varies from culture to culture. South Asian, Middle East, every region where Muslims fast has its own specialty. Fried food is very common but now with awareness, lot of people opts for baked or air fried version. Pakoras, samosas, Spring rolls, Kubbay, Flafel are some of the fried delicacies enjoyed. Yogurt based dishes and dips are also very popular like Chaat, dahi baras/ phulkis and Labenese Fatteh.

What is the best food for Iftar?

Aim for healthy Ramadan – it not only keeps your body healthy but also avoids brain fog, lethargy and mental focus.
Time blocking – a great tool in general for time management but super handy in Ramadan. Set a time, prioritize and finish, leave the rest foe next day.
Ask for Help – Part time help, assistance from family members and task delegation and responsibility is very effective in household as well and not only corporate world.
Keep things handy – Work around systems, items, platters, cutlery, crockery that is commonly used everyday in Ramadan, keep it handy and accessible.
Platters and Boards – Try to plan your menu in themes and platters for better execution, good combination and visual variety. For example check my Middle eastern Menu platter here.
Do not try new recipes – as tempting as it is, please do not get into habit of trying new recipes, not at least in Ramadan to avoid time, energy and money waste.
Pin a wish list – Make a wish list of yourself and your family so that you can plan and make them according to convenience
Get your groceries sorted – it avoids a lot hassle of standing in queues. Time is previous in this month.
Meal Preps are your friend – make ahead meals, multipurpose fillings, doubling up and freezing all are little tactics and secret codes that will give you more time to what actually matters.
Ramadan Menu Template – A well balanced iftar menu or suhoor or dinner lets you preserve everything – time, energy, resources as well as avoid wastage. We as Muslims need to be more modest in our consumption and consumerism. I have a free downloadable template that lets you stay within the parameters and makes decision making easy. You can download it for free here.

What should I make for Sehri?

Team Parathas or team leftover Iftaris? There are a lot of teams when it comes to suhoor, even people like me who cannot possible eat that early. However, it is sunnah to have suhoor be it a date only. I recommend at least a couple of spoons of yogurt with some fruit like banana and plenty of water to avoid exhaustion during long fasting hours.

Personally I make a batch of this healthy granola which has nuts and seeds and lot of nutrients, and take a couple of spoons with yogurt or milk.

You can find the recipe here:

Smoothies are also a great way to incorporate lot of nutrients and fiber for this special meal.

You can try making these smoothies for suhoor.

Which food is traditionally eaten at the Iftar?

Iftar is the first meal to break fast hence it should be concentrated in nutrients and energy. Yogurt based dishes, good fat (not fried), soups and serving of fruits and vegetables not only replenish your energy but also gives sustainable spike in energy.

Dates, a nutrient packed food that is not only delicious, comes in a lot of variety and can be stuffed with some delicious nuts and dairy like cream.

Sometimes I make these Date Energy Balls because they store really well, and can be a great addition to your Iftar Table.

Some of my favorite Ramadan Dishes to make are:

Pakora Platter