Cooking for guest family during Ramadan

[Anonymous]

A close family friend and family will be staying with us over the Fourth of July (just one night). They observe Ramadan and I have offered to cook a meal for their break fast after sundown. She told me that they usually have a glass of tea and then more protien than carbs but some rice or naan and try to go light on salt so they aren't thirsty the day after. Any recipes or good ideas of what to make? A certain type of tea? Thanks!

[Anonymous]

It depends a bit on what culture they are from. We usually break fast with a date, followed by a small 'snack' such as samoosa, naan and yogurt, small meat pies and then a soup. Usually its made from barley, wheat, lentils etc (haleem is popular, but I am sure any soup is fine).

We then have a regular meal a little later after prayers.

So... basically, snack + soup and then dinner.

We are of South Asian origin.

If you want to recreate - then TJs has good samosas (heat in oven), lentil soup to break fast and then just a regular dinner.

[Anonymous]

You should cross post in Religion. There were a lot of responses to a Ramadan thread there a few days ago. I'm not Muslim but I love South Asia, Central Asian, and Middle Eastern food so I'm happy to see any recipes here.

[Anonymous]

"Tea" is kind of broad - Turkish tea for example, is very different than Indian tea.

But as pp mentioned, breaking one's fast usually goes something like this: (1) Iftar (date + snacky finger foods, water/drinks) (2) prayer (3) main dinner

"Iftar" is the breaking of the fast, and it's customary to break it with a date, and then some snacky finger foods. Other than dates, there aren't any common elements and it varies from culture to culture. But common snacky things include fruit, cheeses, maybe some cookies/crackers, nuts, etc.

Dinner (after prayer) has no set theme. It can be pizza, or chicken tikka, or kabobs, or lasagna, or whatever. Most people who fast are hungry for just about anything! Dinner depends on culture to culture, and person to person. It's like any other normal dinner, except maybe more quantity (to compensate for not eating all day).

[Anonymous]

OP here. thanks for the suggestions. I think I'll do kabobs and naan. I'll ask them if there is a specific type of tea. Just want to make it a nice evening for them as they are treasured friends!

[Anonymous]

If they're South Asian, then probably a good, strong black tea brewed and served with heated milk.

Note that people are very hungry right before the fast but then don't actually manage to eat so much all at once at dinner. There may be some midnight snacking.