Looking for some inspiration to make delicious and healthy meals during the holy month of Ramadan? Whether celebrating yourself or cooking for your family, these easy and tasty recipe ideas are perfect for Suhoor and Iftar.
Explore a variety of Pakistani and Indian recipes to mix up your Ramadan menu. From fragrant biryanis to spicy curries, these dishes will surely add some excitement to your meals.
For morning meals (Suhoor), keep it simple and light! Try a cool yogurt dip or a chickpea salad that’s easy on the stomach. Then, when the stars come out, and it’s Iftar time, try yummy curries, fluffy rice, and crispy samosas. Don’t forget dessert – end your meal with melt-in-your-mouth kheer or a creamy sheer khurma with nuts and spices.
Need more options? Don’t worry; I have gathered a variety of recipes for everyone.
Table of Contents
What is Ramadan?
Muslims all over the world observe Ramadan, a holy month during which they fast from sunrise to sunset, as a form of worship and self-control. It is a time for reflection, prayer, and giving to those in need.
The meals consumed before sunrise (Suhoor) and after sunset (Iftar) are important moments of breaking the fast and coming together as a community.
Suhoor Recipes
Breakfast Recipes
Date Fig Smoothie
A sweet and creamy Fig Smoothie made with fresh figs, dates, and almond butter is a healthy and decadent treat to start your morning right!
Get the Date fig Smoothie recipe.
Banana Oatmeal
For a delicious breakfast, make these quick Chocolate Chip Banana overnight oats with bananas, rolled oats, chia seeds, and chocolate chips. If prepared the night before, they are ideal for Suhoor.
Get the Banana Oatmeal recipe.
Egg Bhurji
Egg bhurji is the desi twist to scrambled eggs. Packed with the right amount of flavor and spice, these delicious Indian scrambled eggs are perfect for any meal of the day!
Get the Egg Bhurji recipe.
Avocado Smoothie
This creamy, delectable avocado banana smoothie is a must-try! It is full of healthy fats and has a wonderful creamy, thick texture, which keeps you full for a long time.
Get the Avocado Smoothie recipe.
Kala Chana Chaat
This nutrition-packed Black Chickpea Salad is made with black chickpeas, crunchy onions, tomatoes, avocado, and spices. It has fresh and tangy flavors and can be enjoyed as a great protein-rich breakfast.
Get the Kala Chana Chaat recipe.
Iftar Recipes
Appetizers
Veg Pakora
The crispy and golden Air Fryer Pakoras are cooked to perfection! These Air fried onion bhajis are made with sliced onions, gram flour (besan), and spices. These crunchy, flavorful fritters are a perfect snack with a cup of masala chai!
Get the Pakora recipe.
Chicken Pakora
Learn how to make chicken pakoras with this easy recipe for the perfect crispy results. Marinated chicken pieces are coated in gram flour and then fried (or air-fried) to make golden and crispy pakoras.
Get the Chicken Pakora recipe.
Samosa
Air fried samosas are a quick and easy appetizer! Simply place the frozen samosas in the air fryer or oven and when done, serve with your favorite dip or chutney.
Get the Samosa recipe.
Aloo Vada
Vada Pav is the humble street food of Mumbai. A fried potato fritter, or vada, is stuffed in between mini-burger buns called pav, along with sweet and spicy sauces or chutney.
Get the Aloo Vada recipe.
Dahi Bhalla
This favorite Dahi Vada or Dahi Bhalla recipe has the softest lentil fritters drenched in creamy yogurt and topped with sweet and spicy chutneys. This popular Indian street food is loved by all and is a perfect inclusion to any festive menu!
Get the Dahi Bhalla recipe.
Salads
Chickpea Salad
This Chickpea Salad is a healthy, vegan, protein-rich salad that can be assembled in just 10 minutes. Chickpeas are combined with fresh veggies flavored with Indian spices and tangy lemon juice.
Get the Chickpea Salad recipe.
Fruit Chaat
Fruit Chaat is a famous fruit salad from the Indian subcontinent made with fresh fruits tossed in a tangy-spicy dressing! This refreshing chaat is perfect to enjoy when breaking the fast.
Get the Fruit Chaat recipe.
Main Course
Chili Chicken
Make restaurant-style Chili Chicken at home with this easy recipe. I would describe this Chili Chicken as crispy and flavorful. Boneless chicken is marinated in flavorful sauces and fried until crispy; it is stir-fried with lots of ginger, garlic, onions, bell peppers, and sauces.
Get the Chili Chicken recipe.
Chicken Biryani
This Chicken Biryani has fragrant rice cooked with tender, juicy chicken, lots of warming spices, and caramelized onions. This Indian chicken and rice dish is popular all over the world. You can also make biryani as a one-pot version in a pressure cooker with my instant pot chicken biryani recipe. Or make mutton biryani, shrimp biryani, or egg biryani.
Get the Chicken Biryani recipe.
Yakhni Pulao
Mutton Yakhni Pulao combines tender mutton with fragrant basmati rice to create a flavorsome and comforting meal. This delightful Mutton Pulao recipe from the Awadh or Lucknow region in India is served during celebrations, including the holy month of Ramadan and the Eid festival.
Get the Yakhni Pulao recipe.
Keema Biryani
Keema pulao, also known as keema rice or keema biryani, is a delightful and aromatic one-pot meal that combines succulent minced meat with fragrant basmati rice. This flavorful gluten-free rice dish is perfect for a weeknight dinner with cooling raita and salad.
Get the Keema Rice recipe.
Chicken Karahi
Chicken Karahi is a flavorful and aromatic Pakistani chicken curry dish made with chicken, earthy spices, and fresh ginger. This restaurant-style chicken curry is so good that you’ll want to dig in and relish every last bite!
Get the Chicken Karahi recipe.
Rogan Josh
The restaurant classic Indian curry from the beautiful state of Kashmir – Rogan Josh. This curry has tender lamb or mutton slow-cooked to perfection with fragrant spices.
Get the Rogan Josh recipe.
Keema
Keema Curry is one of the most popular Indian & Pakistani dishes made with ground meat. It is an easy one-pot dish that can be made in just 30 minutes. Keema or minced meat is cooked with onions, tomatoes, ginger, garlic, and aromatic spices to make the most flavorful Keema Matar that the whole family will love.
Get the Keema recipe.
Aloo Gosht
This delightful Aloo Gosht is made with goat meat (or lamb), and potatoes simmered in a fragrant blend of spices. This easy, authentic, one-pot recipe makes tender, flavorful lamb and potato curry you will fall in love with!
Get the Aloo Gosht recipe.
Salmon Tikka Masala
Tikka masala combines two iconic Indian dishes: makhani and tandoori. It is essentially tandoori-spiced meat in a makhani sauce. You will love this salmon tikka masala. A splash of heavy cream rounds out this sharp and spicy curry.
Get the Salmon Tikka Masala recipe.
Kebab Recipes
Shami Kebab
Shami Kebab are pan-fried minced meat (mutton, lamb, or beef) patties with a beautiful texture- they are soft on the inside and crispy on the outside. These kebabs are made by boiling & grinding together meat with chana dal (Bengal gram lentils), whole spices, onion, ginger, and garlic.
Get the Shami Kebab recipe.
Aloo Tikki
Aloo Tikki Chaat is a famous Indian Street Food. A crispy Indian potato patty flavored with spices and topped with yogurt and chutneys.
Get the Aloo Tikki recipe.
Seekh kebab
Indian-style chicken Seekh Kebab is ground chicken seasoned with aromatic spices and then grilled. These delicious kebabs are served with rice, roasted veggies, green chutney, and raita.
Get the Seekh Kebab recipe.
Chicken Kebab
Chicken Tikka Kebab is a delicious appetizer that is packed with flavor. It starts with chicken pieces marinated in yogurt along with lime juice and aromatic spices, then threaded onto skewers and cooked to create a delicious appetizer. Make it in the air fryer or oven to serve at the gathering, or include it in your meal prep for the week!
Get the Chicken Kebab recipe.
Vegetarian Dinner Recipes
Chana Pulao
Chana Pulao, also called Chickpea Biryani, is an easy, flavorful recipe perfect for weeknights. With just 10 minutes of prep time, this one-pot pulao can be made in the Instant Pot or on the stovetop.
Get the Chana Pulao recipe.
Vegetable Korma
Easy & Creamy Vegetable Korma is made in an Instant Pot or stovetop. This restaurant-style creamy vegetable korma curry is a perfect blend of vegetables with a creamy coconut-based sauce. A vegan & gluten-free curry that pairs perfectly with naan or rice.
Get the Veg Korma recipe.
Dal Makhani
Authentic Punjabi Dal Makhani (Madras Lentils) made in a Pressure Cooker or Instant Pot. This restaurant-style Dal Makhani made in the pressure cooker is rich, creamy, and flavorful.
Get the Dal Makhani recipe.
Chana Masala
Punjabi Chole Masala is an Indian favorite chickpea curry. This one-pot recipe for authentic Chana Masala can be made in the Instant Pot or stovetop Pressure Cooker. It is a healthy, protein-rich vegan and gluten-free chickpea recipe.
Get the Chana Masala recipe.
Aloo Baingan
Aloo Baingan Masala is an easy one-pot curry made with potatoes, eggplants, and aromatic spices in an instant pot or stovetop. A vegan and gluten-free Potato & Eggplant Curry that is a perfect side with roti, naan, or parathas
Get the Aloo Baingan recipe.
Aloo Gobi
A delicious and easy 20-minute Indian potato and cauliflower stir-fry. A vegan and gluten-free side dish that pairs perfectly with roti, naan, or parathas.
Get the Aloo Gobi recipe.
Kadhi
Punjabi Kadhi Pakora is a comfort food from North India, in which crispy pakoras (onion-gram flour fritters) are dipped in a tangy and thick yogurt soup (kadhi), topped with an aromatic tempering.
Get the Kadhi Pakora recipe.
Drinks
Lassi
This popular homemade sweet lassi is a refreshing, creamy, and cooling drink for summer. Made with a blend of yogurt, sugar, and cardamom, it perfectly complements the spices in Indian food.
Get the Lassi recipe.
Mango Lassi
Fresh Mango Lassi, made with just a few ingredients, is creamy and refreshing. This Mango Lassi, a favorite at Indian restaurants, can be easily made at home in no time!
Get the Mango Lassi recipe.
Masala Chai
A warm cup of authentic Indian Masala Chai, prepared with aromatic spices and ginger, to refresh and brighten your morning!
Get the Masala Chai recipe.
Shikanji
This homemade Indian lemonade, also known as Shikanji or Nimbu Pani, is refreshing and flavorful and helps beat the summer heat. Made with lime juice, sugar, water, and spices, it can be served at any time of the day.
Get the Shikanji recipe.
Desserts
Sooji Halwa
Suji Ka Halwa is a simple semolina pudding made with semolina, sugar, and ghee. It tastes divine and takes just 20 minutes to prepare.
Get the Sooji Halwa recipe.
Kheer
A favorite dessert for special occasions – Rice pudding made with rice and milk infused with saffron, cardamom and assorted dried fruits.
Get the Kheer recipe.
Sheer Khurma
Sheer khurma is a luscious, rich, and creamy dessert made with vermicelli cooked with milk and dried dates and adorned with nuts and rose petals. It is a must-have dessert for the festival of Eid. Try this easy recipe for delicious Sheer Khurma!
Get the Sheer Khurma recipe.
Zarda
Meethe Chawal, or Zarda Rice, is a sweet and rich rice preparation loaded with dry fruits, sugar, and ghee. This aromatic, sweet, saffron-flavored rice is a royal dessert made on special occasions and festivals.
Get the Zarda recipe.
Iftar Recipes from Around the World
Lentils & Beans
Instant Pot Lentils & Rice (Mujadara)
Dips & Chutney
Instant Pot Hummus (Creamy, Smooth & Easy)
Lentils & Beans
