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Easy-prep recipes to see you right through Ramadan

Managing food during Ramadan is no easy feat. Fortunately, a little bit of planning pays off from sun up to sun down.

Kofta-stuffed bullhorn peppers

Kofta-stuffed bullhorn peppers Credit: Maja Smend


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Across Australia Muslim friends and family are observing Ramadan. It's the most important month on the Islamic calendar and one of prayer, community, reflection and, of course, fasting.
Preparing food for Ramadan can be a juggle, especially when you are fasting daily between sunrise and sunset. For , it's all a matter of careful planning. Her tips for staying organised all month:
  • Make a meal plan for the week and ensure you have all the ingredients. Lina usually makes a meal plan on the weekend to grocery shop for any ingredients she needs before Monday.
  • If you have room to store food, Lina suggests pre-prepping as many ingredients as you can. For example, she chops vegetables and marinates meats in advance.
  • Lina often cooks dishes like soups and stews in larger batches. She then freezes portions to reheat throughout the month.
  • Make use of slow cookers and pressure cookers. They can save time and effort, especially for dishes that require long cooking times.

Suhoor at sunrise

While it can be tempting to oversleep and miss suhoor, it's an important meal that sets you up for a long day of fasting... so make it count. Lina's family loves ba'at which they warm in the microwave and eat with labneh.
Ba'at or ka'ak - Lebanese sweet flatbread
"Dipped in some labneh and a hot cuppa, ba'at is the perfect quick eat," says Lina. Source: Supplied
Find Lina's ba'at story and recipe .

Other filling, nourishing suhoor recipes include and egg sandwiches, which Lina premakes and keeps in the fridge for her family to grab and reheat.

Iftar at sunset

Iftar is the meal that breaks the fast at sunset. This usually begins with a plain offering. "Sweet tea, freshly baked bread, cheese, dates, walnuts … they usually break their fast with these," says . People aren't fond of tea, or some who don’t believe in tea during iftar, will simply drink boiled water in glass cups, she says.


The dates are "a must", notes Lina. "[They are] traditional for breaking the fast, [because] they provide a quick source of natural sugars to replenish energy levels."

A deliciously soupy start

As well as offering dates, Lina's family always start their meal with soup, which is comforting after a day of fasting. Soup is also simple to batch-prep and freeze, so you always have some on hand.

A particular favourite of Lina's is nourishing lentil soup, which is made from pantry staples.

Shared dishes and plenty to go around

"[Ramadan] is not only about starting fast or breaking fast it’s [also] about the joy of communication with loved ones," says Mahshid. "It’s very common to invite friends or family members together to enjoy iftar together."
Indeed, providing iftar is said to bring many blessings so far that reason, dishes are made for sharing: Soups, stews or big plates of grilled meats served with vegetables and flatbreads.
Chicken and prune tagine with pistachio couscous
This chicken and prune tagine served with pistachio couscous is a one-dish wonder that is on the table in no time.
Find the recipe for this prep-ahead, one-dish chicken tagine .

Make-ahead recipes can also make meals quicker to serve.
Kofta-stuffed bullhorn peppers
Kofta-stuffed bullhorn peppers are a great make-ahead and reheat meal. Credit: Maja Smend
Recipe .

Everybody's favourite any time of day

Shakshuka
Shakshuka is the perfect meal for breakfast, lunch, dinner, any time! This variant is specifically for summer into autumn – with a focus on tomato and spice. Credit: Kitti Gould
Recipe .

Well-earned sweets

Tahini and nut halva
Sticky, sweet halva is perfect with a strong cup of Turkish coffee. Credit: Tammi Kwok
Find the recipe for tahini and hut halva .

"It usually doesn't matter if the iftar is big or small, [there is] always some kind of sweets made specifically for this time of the year," says Mahshid. "Halva, rice pudding, saffron rice pudding and sweets made with dates are very common."
Labne with spiced fruits in brown sugar
Labne with spiced fruits in brown sugar is a simple make-ahead dessert that brims with flavours of the Middle East. Credit: Kitti Gould
Get the recipe for labne with fruit .

Keep it healthy

The important thing is to choose dishes that energise, satiate and nourish throughout Ramadan.
That means choosing the best-quality ingredients you can afford, drinking plenty of water and eating an abundance of whole fruits and vegetables. Eat right when you can and you should find it much easier during fasting.

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SBS Food is a 24/7 foodie channel for all Australians, with a focus on simple, authentic and everyday food inspiration from cultures everywhere. NSW stream only. Read more about SBS Food
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Cooking and conversation are a bridge to understanding people and their culture. On The Cook Up with Adam Liaw his guests - world renowned chefs, entertainers, sports and social media stars - prepare food, eat, laugh and give us a glimpse into their lives.
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4 min read
Published 10 March 2024 11:43am
Updated 12 March 2025 9:21am
By Bron Maxabella
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