Traditional Ramadan dishes in some Arab countries

The holy month of Ramadan is a friendly guest that visits Muslims around the world yearly. It is a religious month where Muslims fast for long hours and it is part of the five pillars of Islam that each Muslim must abide by.

As the sun sets, Muslims break their fast with a meal known as ‘Iftar’ and each Arab country has its traditional Ramadan dishes that distinguish it from its neighbouring countries.

Despite the different kitchens, some foods  are shared by all countries.

Like  dates, soups mainly lentils and noodles, salads like Tabbouli and Fattoush, and pastries like pastries.

Here are some of the dishes that are unique to each country:

In Syria (Sheikh El Mehshi)

Due to its combination of flavors and laborious preparation, this is one of the most appreciated dishes in Syria in Ramadan

This popular Syrian dish is made of meat, onion, and pine-nut stuffed courgettes/baby zucchini/kousa served with a garlic and mint yogurt sauce on top of rice. Courgettes  are stuffed and fried before cooling and freezing. After that, the yogurt sauce comes together so quickly, meaning you can thaw the stuffed courgettes and have dinner together in about 10 minutes.

The Iraqi Dolma:

This is a popular Iraqi dish that is made of vine leaves and stuffed zucchini. Although this dish is found in other countries, what distinguishes it as an Iraqi delicacy is the use of the pomegranate sauce and tamarind.

The Jordanian Mansaf:

It is a dish that is unique to Jordanians and consists of rice, chicken and meat. It is prepared with a special dried yogurt called Jameed.

Moroccan Tajine:

This healthy meal consists of chicken with special spices. It includes ginger, cinnamon and saffron.

Egyptian Koshary:

It is a popular Egyptian dish characterized by its low cost and high nutritional value. It consists of lentils, chickpeas, rice, pasta, fried onions and a special spiced tomato sauce.

After breaking the fast and eating dinner, sweets is a must have to provide fasters with the energy needed to endure fasting day the following day. Among the most famous Ramadan sweets are Qatayef, Kallaj, Karabeej and many other dishes.

Harees: A staple dish from the United Arab Emirates

In UAE, you must try out Harees, a popular dish enjoyed during Ramadan and Eid in the UAE. It’s a light and nutritious dish that’s easy on the stomach, yet very delicious! Served as a standalone dish or with accompaniments, it’s made out of harees (also known as wheat berries), chicken or lamb and saman, which is the locally produced clarified butter, making it a wonderfully wholesome meal.

Raghda Sawas