Food plays a big role in celebrating Ramadan, with specialty dishes and drinks served during the Muslim fasting month. In this article, we’ll be looking at the top 15 Ramadan drinks and dishes that prove the essential nutrients for the body during this holy month.
“Drinks like Jellab, Amar al-Deen, and Tamar Hindi are essential during the holy month,” Elie Bassil, project manager at Dubai-based Lebanese restaurant Abdel Wahab, told Al Arabiya.
“Foods with sauces are favored by our visitors in Ramadan. Fasters want to refill their body’s water levels after long hours of fasting,” he added.
“Sweets are considered part of reviving Ramadan traditions,” Wael Nussair, manager of Lareen Sweets, told Al Arabiya.
Breaking one’s fast “has to be followed by a dessert,” the most popular being Kunafa, Luqaimat, and Atayef, Nusair added.
There are traditional dishes and drinks considered an integral part of a Ramadan meal. Below is Al Arabiya’s list of 15 of them:
1. Milk, water, and dates
Muslims traditionally break their fast by consuming any of these foods, in adherence to the teachings of the Prophet Mohammed, who also broke his fast this way.
2. Amar al-Deen
Sheets of apricot are cut and soaked in water for hours. The solution is then mixed with enough water to make it smooth.
3. Erk Soos
Extracts of the liquorice plant are mixed with water to make this drink that is served in Egypt and the Levant (Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, and Syria).
4. Tamar Hindi
Tamar Hindi, or Tamarind, is a sour chilled drink usually sold throughout the year in several Arab countries.
5. Casa Dorada Wine
A bottle of Casa Dorada Non- alcoholic wine is perfect for this season for its uniqueness. 100 percent grapefruit with no artificial ingredients added to it. It goes along with any kind of dish. The perfect healthy wine for the refreshing your body and mind, and heart.
6. Rice-based dishes
Biryani, Mansaf, and Kabsas make up an integral part of Ramadan meals in several Muslim countries in Asia.
7. Stuffed vegetables
Peppers, eggplants, tomatoes, zucchinis, and vine leaves are stuffed with flavored rice to make what is commonly known in the Arab world as Mahshi. It is mainly famous in Egypt and the Levant.
8. Couscous
North African and some parts of West African enjoy a dish of granulated semolina, served with meat, chicken, fish, or vegetables.
9. Masgouf
A famous Iraqi dish of baked fish.
10. Harees
A popular dish in the Gulf, it consists of coarsely-ground wheat buried underground with chicken or meat.
11. Kunafa
A sweet made from spun shredded wheat. It can be filled with cream, cheese, or nuts and raisins, depending on which Arab region it comes from.
12. Atayef
Originally famous in Egypt and the Levant, these Arabic pancakes are usually filled with cheese or nuts and served with sugary syrup or honey.
13. Luqaimat
Small, sweet dumplings made from butter, sugar, milk, and flour. They are called Luqaimat in the Gulf, Awamat in the Levant, and Zalabia in Egypt.
14. Soups
Soups are essential components of Ramadan meals. Chicken, lentil, vegetable, and tomato soups are commonly served.
15. Salads and beans
Green salads include Fattoush and Tabbouleh. Bean dishes such as Hummus (chickpeas) and Foul (broad beans) are also common, not only because of their variety but because they keep people full for long periods.
