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Ramadan in my kitchen usually means I fall back on the same meals every year. Not because I have to, but because they’re the Ramadan recipes that work. They’re filling enough after a long day of fasting, practical enough to prep ahead, and familiar enough that everyone actually looks forward to them.
30 Ramadan Recipes
This roundup pulls together 15 iftar recipes and 15 suhoor recipes that I personally make during Ramadan. Some are comforting and traditional, some are quick and simple for early mornings, but all of them are dishes I’ve cooked more than once and know hold up. It’s basically what my real Ramadan rotation looks like in one place.
Suhoor Ramadan Recipes
Ground Beef and Eggs
This Ground Beef and Eggs recipe has a combo of Mediterranean spices, lean ground beef and eggs scrambled all together in one skillet.
Shakshuka Recipe
Shakshuka is a popular Middle Eastern breakfast that is poached eggs in a spicy tomato sauce. It takes just about 30 minutes to make, but it’s so worth it to make sure you’re full all day for Ramadan!
Zaatar Manakeesh
Zaatar Manakeesh is a Mediterranean flatbread that’s made with dough and zaatar spice. It’s an easy recipe to make from scratch using very few ingredients!
1 hour 22 minutes
Savory Oatmeal Recipe
This savory oatmeal recipe is great for Ramadan; it has Parmesan oatmeal as its base and is topped with sautéed vegetables and a fried egg.
Egg White Bites Recipe
These cheesy Starbucks copycat egg white bites with red bell pepper, spinach, and cottage cheese are a great protein-packed breakfast.
Date Shake
If I wake up late, I make a quick shake for Suhoor like this date one. It’s filling and is packed with good stuff!
Cheese Fatayer
Cheese Fatayer is a delicious Lebanese pastry perfect for dinner, savory breakfast, or brunch, offering irresistible flavor and comfort in every bite.
2 hours 10 minutes
Protein Muffin Recipe
Protein muffins made with oats, cottage cheese, eggs, and protein powder, with 8 grams of protein per muffin and a moist, bakery-style texture.
Ful Medames
Ful Medames is a popular Middle Eastern breakfast recipe that’s made with cooked fava beans and cumin, then topped with a garlicky, lemon olive oil sauce!
Iftar Ramadan Recipes
Shish Tawook
Shish Tawook is one of my fav Iftar recipes to make during Ramadan. It’s tender, juicy chicken marinated in yogurt, lemon, and garlic.
Tabbouleh Salad Recipe
This authentic tabbouleh salad is a fresh Middle Eastern classic made with parsley, tomatoes, bulgur, and a bright lemon dressing; serve as a side or light meal!
Lebanese Crushed Lentil Soup
The lentil soup recipe is a Ramadan and a Lebanese staple, also referred to as crushed lentil soup it’s made with red lentils, onions, carrots, and rice! It’s so good!
Lebanese Meat Pies
These Lebanese meat pies (sfeehas) are a delicious Middle Eastern appetizer. Made with a crispy dough and filled with a spiced meat filling.
2 hours 30 minutes
Arayes
My arayes is an authentic Lebanese recipe made with spiced meat stuffed in pita or flatbread and then baked, fried, or grilled until crispy, great for Iftar.
Peas and Carrots Stew
Bazella W Riz is a Peas and Carrots Stew that is a popular Lebanese recipe made with a tomato base broth and served with vermicelli rice and is great for Ramadan.
Lebanese Spinach Stew
Try this authentic Lebanese style Spinach stew made with simple ingredients; it’s wholesome, well-balanced and perfect to feed a large family
Lebanese Chicken Fatteh
This authentic Lebanese Chicken Fatteh is an amazing combo of flavors made with yogurt, spiced shredded chicken, chickpeas, toasted pine nuts & pita bread!
Lebanese Mujadara
Mujadara is a Middle Eastern lentils and rice recipe with crispy caramelized onions. Just 7 ingredients make a easy vegan, protein-rich meal!
Stuffed Eggplant Recipe
This authentic Lebanese stuffed baby eggplant recipe has a spiced beef & rice stuffing and cooks in a garlicky tomato broth!
2 hours 30 minutes
Lebanese Chicken and Rice
Enjoy the flavors of Lebanese Roz a Djej with this easy-to-make shredded chicken and aromatic beefy rice recipe. The perfect comfort food.
1 hour 35 minutes
Beef Kafta
This is a Lebanese style Beef Kafta recipe that’s made with ground beef, parsley, onions and a blend of Middle Eastern spices- perfect on the grill or stove
Falafel Recipe
Authentic falafel recipe made with dried chickpeas that have been soaked overnight and blended with fresh parsley, cilantro, garlic, onion, and Middle Eastern spices, which is then fried until extra crispy.
Tips for Making Ramadan Recipes
- Have well-balanced meals. Make sure each of the two meals includes complex carbs, high-fiber food, and protein-rich foods. These well-balanced meals will help you replenish your energy.
- Cut down on processed foods and those with refined carbs such as sugar and white flour. They don’t have many nutrients and will not give you the energy and nutrition your body is craving.
- Cook in batches. Soups, stews, and rice dishes reheat beautifully. Make larger portions so you have leftovers for the next day or can freeze extras for later in the month.
- Prep the night before. Suhoor comes early, so set yourself up for success by prepping the evening before. Assemble overnight oats, wash and cut fruit, boil eggs, portion smoothies, or set the table ahead of time. Even marinating proteins or chopping vegetables for iftar can make the next day feel much smoother.
How To Keep Food Warm
- Oven: As long as you’re not cooking anything in the oven, you can set it to 200°F and store dishes in there to keep them warm.
- Aluminum Foil: If your oven is not free, you can simply use aluminum foil, which has reflective properties that protects the food from light and oxygen. The foil reflects the thermal energy back to the food which maintains the moisture, flavor and texture.
- Crock Pots and Instant Pots: Think of recipes that can be made in your crock pot or instant pot that will keep warm during the party. You can even use them to keep foods warm even if you don’t cook in them.
- Insulated coolers: You can use a cooler to keep food hot as well as cold. The insulation technology that keeps out the heat to maintain cold foods also works to trap heat in and keep food hot for hours at a time. You can even line the cooler with aluminum foil for even better results.
How To Store Leftovers
- Cool it down. Make sure to cool any hot recipes to room temperature before storing.
- Label everything with the name and date. Keep track of all your leftovers so you know how long you have to enjoy them or toss them if needed.
- Use plastic containers or freezer bags. Keep your food fresh by storing food in airtight containers.
- Save or trash? If you have any perishable items (like meat or dairy), make sure to store them in the fridge. If they have sat out longer than 4 hours, it’s probably best to throw it out.
FAQs
Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar. During this holy month, Muslims fast and abstain from food and water during sunlight hours. We do this every day for 30 days.
Fasting helps to cleanse the soul, teaches self-discipline and empathy for those less fortunate, and encourages acts of generosity. There’s so much more on this topic online. And I can provide more amazing resources if anyone’s interested. But today, I want to focus on the health aspects and delicious Ramadan recipes.
There is no one “best” food for iftar, as everyone’s tastes and preferences vary. However, some good options include fruits, vegetables, lean protein, and healthy fats. My go-to recipes are peas and carrot stew, mujadara, beef kafta, and fattoush salad.
You can eat your normal diet for iftar, but it’s important to make sure your meals are healthy and balanced. Try to avoid eating processed, convenience foods with little nutritional value. If you’re craving sweets, opt for homemade desserts made with healthy ingredients. If you’re craving salty, load up on hummus and pita chips. Things that are high in sugar and unhealthy fats should be consumed in moderation.
Suhoor is typically a light meal, so try to avoid eating heavy foods that will weigh you down throughout the day. You want to eat something that is going to keep you satiated but not make you feel bloated or sluggish. My favorite suhoor recipes are overnight oats that I mentioned above. You may also want to consider drinking a balanced shake or smoothie to help keep you energized throughout the day.
What happens if you eat food or drink water during Ramadan?
Ramadan is all about intentions, and it’s a personal commitment you make to yourself. If you eat or drink by mistake, you can resume with your fast as intended. If you are tired and can no longer continue the fast, it’s best to put your health first and break the fast before sunset with some food and water and try again tomorrow.
Check out the picture cards for all the recipes listed above. You can click on any of the recipes cards to take you directly to those recipes.
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