With Ramadan fast approaching, many Muslim individuals look forward to a month filled with fun, traditions and favorite foods. Ramadan is the celebration of self-discipline, as it deepens our connection with God through periods of withdrawal from food. To acknowledge the conclusion of Ramadan, Muslims celebrate Eid—a time where we dress in traditional attire (shalwar and kameez), spend quality time with loved ones and conclude each day of fasting with a meal at sunset. As a Pakistani who has participated in this tradition every year, this list represents some of my favorite foods that I look forward to during Ramadan, but also some that I do not enjoy as much.
Honorable Mention: Nan khatai
Although this is not a full-course meal, this cardamom-flavored biscuit reminds me of the times when my mother and her friends always made hundreds of batches to give out as gifts. The cookie has the perfect golden-brown top, easily claiming its spot as one of the most memorable desserts from this time of celebration.
10. Rooh Afza
It tastes like you’re drinking a bed of roses, and not in a pleasant way. The syrup is often too strong, making it taste awfully sweet. I don’t care about the ongoing conflict between the correct liquid base being milk or water; nothing can redeem the flavor profile.
9. Chaat
I like chickpeas, but the mixture of flavors is overwhelming. The acidity from the yogurt does not help to balance it out, and it diminishes the chickpea taste. Overall, there’s too many ingredients for Chaat to be pleasant, especially after hours of fasting.
8. Dahi-vada
I am not a big fan of yogurt-based sauces. It disguises the taste of the vada, making me feel like I am just eating a plain Greek yogurt. The vada itself is average, but the yogurt completely ruins the whole dish for me.
7. Hummus
Hummus is one of the best appetizers to ever exist; however, it does not belong at an iftar party. I love pita bread and hummus, but I would rather eat it at a Mediterranean restaurant, like Kasra, than at a function.
6. Fruit chaat
It honestly depends on the family that makes the fruit salad; while some choose to add weird fruit like banana (making it soggy), others use watermelon, apples and mangoes to make the perfect combination. One essential ingredient in Pakistani fruit chaat is the mango juice that is used to add extra flavor into the. Otherwise, the texture is mushy, awkward and overall nasty.
5. Dates
The staple iftar item, dates are a fruit used by Muslim countries all over the world to break their fast. I don’t mind ending the 12-hour fast with a kujoor, but it is definitely not the best on this list.
4. Pakora
I absolutely despise onions; I will go out of my way to avoid meals with the awful vegetable (if I can help it, of course). Yet pakora is one of my favorite things to eat at iftar time because the breading around the onion completely elevates the taste, masking the gross onion texture.
3. Water
Without water, how would I survive the long periods of fasting? It’s the first thing I snag from the table when the fast is over. When I take my first sip, the dying hunger and thirst I felt moments ago fades away and I do not feel the need to excessively drink so much.
2. Samosa
Whether it’s potato, beef, vegetable or the mini ones you get from Keemat Grocers, I will always love a samosa. Ever since I was a child, I remember the first fast that I completed was concluded with this pastry. I can never get enough of a good quality samosa; it reminds me of childhood.
1. Chicken patty
Even though I am unsure of what my parents put in the chicken marinade, I am sure of one thing: I can eat at least five of them in one sitting. The golden-brown, flaky puff pastry enhances the chicken mixture, making it easily the best appetizer at the table.
