Ramadan is a month of reflection, community, family, and, of course, scrumptious food that also nourishes the body and soul. When consuming food after breaking their fast at Iftar, many people get their hands on the unhealthiest dishes available, fried in oil or dipped in sugar syrups. This is precisely where many muslims fasting during this month end up eventually harming their bodies, even more than what they benefit while fasting.
Keeping such factors and situations in mind, this blog brings to you some of the amazing yet healthy must-try recipes for Iftar, to offer you a balanced and wholesome meal. From salsas to traditional favourites, these energising recipes are here to keep you feeling energised, along with fulfilling the demands of your taste buds.
Importance Of Healthy Eating In Ramadan:
Considering your physical wellness, fasting during the month of Ramadan is a kind of intermittent fasting, itself, providing you with diverse health benefits. According to research, fasting from sunrise to sunset comes with a detoxification or body cleansing process, which removes dysfunctional and destructive cells along with regenerating the healthy ones in your body. Additionally, eating healthy is essential, without neglecting the advantages of fasting.
Delicious Yet Healthy Recipes For Iftar:
Most muslim households prepare a snacky, big iftaar, which is rich in deep-fried food options that are definitely not the healthiest options available. Moreover, indulging in such unhealthy snacks for a constant 30 days will eventually drain all your energy and result in other health complications. This is why we bring to you some of the delicious, easy and healthy recipes to try this Ramadan at Iftar:
- Chana chat:
Chana chat street food is made with beans and other organic vegetables, which fulfil your cravings with a healthy twist. Here’s how you make it-
Ingredients:
- Diced potatoes
- Chickpeas
- Salt
- Tamarind sauce
- Water
- Red chilli powder
- Roasted cumin powder
- Onion
- Tomato
- Green chili
- Cilantro
- Yogurt
Step 1- Peel and dice the potatoes. Rinse them well and boil for around 20 minutes. Once boiled, drain them and transfer them to a bowl along with chickpeas.
Step 2 – Chop all the veggies, including red and spring onion, green chilli, tomato, and cilantro, and put them aside. Once you mix the potatoes and chickpeas in a medium-sized bowl, add all the chopped veggies, roasted cumin powder, chilli powder, salt, and mix well.
Step 3 – Now add tamarind sauce and mix everything nicely. Drizzle yoghurt if you prefer. And now garnish it with a tangy masala and a handful of cilantro. Serve fresh!
- Mango corn salsa:
This salsa comes with the perfect combination of spicy and sweet with a pinch of refreshment.
Ingredients:
- Frozen sweetcorn
- Peeled and chopped mango
- Chopped jalapeño
- Chopped red onion
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Coriander leaves
- Lime juice
Step 1 – Soak the frozen corn in boiling water for around five minutes. While the corn cooks, chop the mango into small pieces and mix them with the chopped jalapeño and onion. Transfer them to a bowl, add salt, lime juice, and black pepper as per your taste. Now sprinkle coriander and mix everything together.
Step 2 – Also add the cooked corn to this mixture, let it rest for around 10 minutes for the flavours to melt together and enjoy.
- Club sandwiches:
The sandwiches are stable in almost every coffee shop, restaurant or street food cart.
Ingredients
- Hung curd
- Boiled and chopped chicken
- Pepper
- Salt
- Multigrain bread
- Eggs
- Shredded cabbage
Step 1 – Boil the fresh chicken for 30 minutes.
Step 2 – Add salt and pepper to your chicken while boiling, for taste.
Step 3 – Once boiled, debone the meat and shred or chop it into small pieces.
Step 4 – Add salt, pepper, cabbage, and hung curd to the shredded chicken and mix well.
Step 5 – Whisk eggs and add a pinch of pepper and salt. You can also add cilantro or green onions to the mixture for enhanced taste.
Step 6 – Heat the pan and fry omelettes in different batches.
Step 7 – Now, for assembling, take a slice of bread and the mixture of chicken. Place a piece of omelette on the chicken, add tomatoes, cucumbers, and lettuce, along with cheese and cover it with the second slice of bread.
Step 8 – You can use a sandwich maker or a ceramic pan to toast your sandwich. When the bread turns golden crisp and the cheese melts, take out your sandwich, cut it in half, and it’s ready to serve with chips and ketchup.
Conclusion:
When preparing to enter the month of Ramadan, make sure to plan a well-balanced and healthy diet to follow throughout the month. Be it Iftar or your pre-dawn meal, with a healthy start, you can provide your body with the right energy, immunity, and hydration to stay consistent all over the month. Given above are some of the must-try recipes for healthy snacking during Iftar.