Iftar is the act of ending the fasting period, especially in the context of the Islamic month of Ramadan. It is done every day at Maghrib time, when the sun sets, and Muslims stop abstaining from food, drink, and other activities considered to nullify the fast throughout the day.
Iftar begins with eating dates or drinking water, following the tradition of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), followed by light snacks before proceeding to the main course. Here are 10 food menu that are often served during iftar.
1. Nasi Kebuli
Nasi Kebuli is a Middle Eastern dish consisting of rice cooked with spices, meat (usually lamb or goat), as well as nuts and raisins. This dish has a rich and aromatic flavor due to the spices used, such as cloves, cinnamon, and cumin.
2. Nasi Mandhi
Another dish originating from the Middle East is Nasi Mandhi, popular in countries like Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and Kuwait. Made from rice cooked with spices like turmeric, cloves, cinnamon, cumin, and cardamom, Nasi Mandhi is usually served with meat, such as chicken, lamb, or goat, cooked with the same spices or with a special recipe that produces a distinctive flavor.
3. Nasi Briyani
Nasi Biryani is a popular rice dish in various parts of the world, especially in India, Pakistan, and the Middle East. Its main ingredients are spices like cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, and cumin, often supplemented with the yellow color of turmeric or saffron to provide a rich taste and aroma. Nasi Biryani is usually served with meat, such as chicken, lamb, or goat, cooked first with a mixture of spices.
4. Mie Goreng
Mie Goreng is popular in Southeast Asian cuisine, especially in Indonesia. This dish consists of fried noodles with various spices and additional ingredients like vegetables, meat, or seafood. Mie Goreng is often served as the main dish or as an iftar menu during the month of Ramadan due to its simple preparation and satisfying taste.
5. Kebab
Not just various rice dishes, kebabs are also popular in the Middle East. This dish is made from pieces of meat roasted or grilled traditionally on metal skewers and served with various sauces, vegetables, and bread. The meat used in kebabs can vary, such as beef, lamb, chicken, or even other types of meat depending on local preferences.
6. Soto
Soto is a popular soup dish in Indonesia. This dish is made from chicken or beef broth rich in spices, added with noodles, boiled eggs, meat slices (usually chicken), and various complementary ingredients like potatoes, carrots, green beans, celery leaves, tomatoes, and fried onions.
7. Martabak
Martabak is made from dough made of wheat flour, eggs, yeast, sugar, and water, which is then fried in plenty of oil or butter. There are two popular variants of martabak, namely sweet martabak and egg martabak. Sweet martabak is usually filled with a mixture of sugar, chocolate, cheese, or nuts, while egg martabak contains a mixture of eggs, minced meat, and spices.
8. Gulai
Gulai is cooked from meat (usually beef, chicken, or goat) with thick, spiced gravy. Gulai seasoning generally includes turmeric, ginger, galangal, lemongrass, chili, shallots, garlic, candlenuts, coriander, pepper, and coconut milk. Gulai is often served with warm white rice and can be served as a delicious and filling iftar dish.
9. Nasi Padang
Nasi Padang is a typical dish from West Sumatra, Indonesia, consisting of white rice served with various Padang-style side dishes such as rendang, fried chicken, balado, gulai, lungs, green chili sambal, and many more. This dish is known for the diversity of flavors and textures of each side dish.
10. Curry
In Indonesia, curry is generally influenced by Indian and Malay culinary culture. The curry sauce is rich in spices such as turmeric, coriander, cumin, cloves, and coconut milk. Some popular variations of curry in Indonesia include chicken curry, beef curry, and goat curry.
With various delicious dishes, iftar becomes a highly anticipated moment filled with pleasure and deliciousness. These menus not only satisfy hunger but also delight the taste buds with their distinctive flavors and appetizing aromas, making them an ideal choice for enjoying iftar time with family and friends.
