Ramadan is the holy month for Muslims all around the world. During this month Muslims eat two times in a day i.e. before Dawn and after Sunset. Because these timings are different from the usual breakfast, lunch or dinner timings- the type of food cooked in the home kitchens, also changes for majority of the Muslims. It can go from simple menu to extremely lavish one served at Iftar (After Sunset) or Sehri (Before Dawn). I have had the opportunity to have Aftari in Saudi Arabia where they have a very traditional menu,  from bread with this spice powder and hot tea to  rice with meat and chicken roasts.

As home chefs, I believe  its one of the most exciting months, as we get to experiment on snacks and cook something different each day. I made Chicken Kachori for the first time and they were wonderful!

In Pakistan, majority of households would have the following menu for Iftar

1. Variety of Pakoraye (Potatoes, Onions, Brinjal coated with Gram flour and spices paste)
2. Fruit Chaat (Diced fruits with addition of salt, black pepper, lemon juice, sugar and chaat masala- a mixture of tangy spices)
3. Dahi Bhalae ( Yogurt with White lentils dumplings)
4. One more dish that would be an experiment.

As for Sehri- the dishes usually include.

1. Parathay (Roti with oil)
2. Different types of eggs (scrambled, omelet, fried)
3. Masala dishes from meat dishes like minced meat or boneless chicken
4. In vegetables fried potatoes are our favourite.

As the tradition goes, people invite  relatives and friends over for Aftari and Sehri (instead of lunch or dinners). This Ramadan,  I could only invite our friends once over for Iftar. The biggest challenge in these long fasting hours is cooking in the kitchen. Thank god for the help we get from our family and the helpers in the house. The second biggest challenge is to make a great menu, something different from the usual Iftar menu yet comforting.

I decided to show off my cookery skills, and make the dishes that I have learnt and tested in last few months. This is the menu that I came up with -

1. Thai Spring Rolls
2. Chicken Kashgaree (Marinated Fried chicken)- Rohi Aunty made.
3. Chicken Kachori 
4. Open Sandwich with Sesame Seeds
5. Spaghetti with Minced Chicken in Red Sauce
6. The Philadelphia Cheese Cake 
7. Dahi Bhalaye  and ofcourse
8. Fruit Chat

I know it is quiet an extensive menu but it was worth it as all my friends loved every dish! The best part, I didn’t have to serve dinner afterwards, as this menu was very filling as well.

So I hope this gave you a sneak peak into the special food world during Ramadan.