The best Ramadan recipes for iftar

Mark this special time of year with delicious Ramadan recipes for iftar. In your trusted hands, favourites like a feast-worthy aubergine fatteh and buttery biryani are elevated with fresh ingredients and a little Lurpak®. So, strap on your apron and invite joy and fulfilment to your table this Ramadan.

From simple to glorious, these light and tasty dishes will awaken your palate and prepare you for the main course. As you break your fast during Ramadan, begin your iftar meal with delightful starters and appetisers. Enjoy these shared moments with family and friends as you savour the flavours of these thoughtfully selected recipes.​

Soups are excellent for breaking the fast, especially when it is this creamy pumpkin soup. The pumpkin is sautéed in butter with curry powder, onion, and garlic, giving it that perfect balance of sweetness and spice. Top the soup with a dollop of fromage frais and a sprinkling of chives – so simple, yet so delicious.

Lentil soup is a favourite in many homes during Ramadan, which is why this recipe is packed with wholesome lentils, carrots, and potatoes. These ingredients are briefly sautéed in butter along with aromatic spices, then gently simmered in water. Once cooked, simply blend the soup and garnish with homemade sourdough croutons. This lentil soup will add a cosy and warm feeling.

This recipe for baked aubergines is fantastic for cooks searching for something easy to make and scrumptious to taste. The combination of salty feta, juicy pomegranate seeds, and spicy harissa paste gives you a beautiful starter with plenty of flavour. It also makes for a festive and colourful addition to your iftar table.

Cheese fatayer makes for a wonderful appetiser with a satisfying crunch and a melt-in-your-mouth filling. These cheese pies are made with a homemade fatayer dough and filled with crumbled feta cheese and fresh mint. They are baked to golden perfection, featuring a crispy outside with a soft tangy centre.

Break your fast with light and crispy veggie filo parcels filled with a tasty combination of chickpeas, vegetables, and harissa paste. These delicate parcels are great for iftar, offering savoury flavours with a hint of spiciness all wrapped in a flaky filo crust. Pair them with a cool yoghurt dill dip to complete the experience.

Exceed every expectation with a variety of main dishes for Ramadan, bringing tastes from around the world right to your table. Ramadan is a special time for reflection and togetherness. What better way to connect than sharing a meal? Impress your loved ones with delicious mains everyone will enjoy while you celebrate this meaningful time.​

This chicken kabsa brings together tender chicken, warm spices, and fluffy rice in the best possible way. As it is all cooked in one pot, the rice absorbs the delicious flavours from the chicken and homemade kabsa spice mix. If you are looking for a dish that embodies the spirit of sharing and gratitude during Ramadan, this recipe is perfect.

Aubergine fatteh is a splendid choice for iftar, featuring layers of toasted pitta bread, tender aubergines, savoury beef sauce, and cool, tangy yoghurt. Topped with toasted pine nuts, fresh parsley, pomegranate seeds, and sumac, this recipe offers a delightful mix of textures and flavours that refresh the palate after a day of fasting.

Chicken biryani is loved for its aromatic spices and tender marinated chicken pieces nestled among fluffy basmati rice. Garnished with butter-fried onions, it is a celebration of taste and tradition in every spoonful. Finish your masterpiece fresh mint, coriander leaves, and a few chopped cashew nuts, to add a wonderful touch of freshness and crunch.

Savour the deep, rich flavours of lamb kabsa, where tender lamb is slow cooked with aromatic spices, butter, and tomato purée; all served on a bed of rice. This hearty meal is enriched with the sweetness of golden raisins and the crunch of almonds, cashews, pine nuts, and pistachios. It is a feast that captures the generous spirit of Ramadan.

In this recipe for fish sayadiyeh, delicately seasoned fish is paired with spiced basmati rice and fried onions. This traditional coastal dish is known for its simplicity and elegance, capturing the essence of the sea with a light touch of cinnamon, turmeric, and cumin. The tender butter-fried fish is served on top of the rice accompanied by fried onions and toasted nuts.

Lemon & caper roast lamb offers a refreshing take on the classic roast, perfect for impressing at iftar time. The lamb is rubbed with melted butter, garlic, rosemary, and lemon zest, infusing the meat with delectable flavours and ensuring juicy, tender result. It is served with a lemon butter sauce featuring herbs and capers, which complement the tender lamb wonderfully.

Crack those eggs, toss the flour, and get ready to bake some delightful Ramadan desserts. With a good measure of Lurpak, you can recreate these amazing treats just in time for iftar. The recipes listed below are not only tasty, but some also hold deep cultural meaning, making them a central part of the fasting month. You can prepare all of them in advance to ensure you have plenty of delicious options throughout the holiday.​

Elevate your iftar table with mango kunafa, a tropical reimagining of the traditional dessert. Like its classic version, this delights with crisp kataifi pastry, a rich cheese filling, and a sweet syrup made from rose water. But what really makes it stand out is the addition of ripe, juicy mango, which adds a refreshing note to this decadent dessert.

This recipe for kunafa features a cheesy filling enveloped in a crispy, golden kataifi pastry, all soaked in syrup infused with orange zest and rosewater. A sprinkle of chopped pistachios adds the finishing touch. Serve it warm to best enjoy the delightful contrast between creamy cheese and crunchy pastry. This is a festive treat that brings a celebratory feel to any iftar meal.

No iftar is complete without a delicious basbousa. It is particularly popular during Ramadan, and with this recipe, you can easily make it at home. This moist semolina cake is soaked in a sweet syrup flavoured with orange essence, rose water, and lemon juice. Its comforting sweetness pairs wonderfully with a cup of mint tea or coffee.

Delight in a rich and moist sticky date cake where dates take centre stage. This delectable cake is served with a homemade toffee sauce made from cream, butter, and brown sugar. Simply pour the hot sauce over the cake and savour the satisfyingly sweet and gooey texture with each bite. It is the perfect way to end any meal on a high note.

Date ma'amoul are exquisite butter cookies that make a special appearance during Ramadan. Filled with a sweet, spiced date paste and encased in a buttery semolina dough, these cookies are a traditional choice to enjoy at iftar. Thanks to their delicate shape with a decorative pattern and a light sprinkle of icing sugar, they are a treat for both eyes and taste buds.

Every feast deserves a grand finale, and what better way to do it than with this recipe for saffron butter bundt cake? The buttery cake is delicately infused with the luxurious taste of saffron, giving it a beautiful golden hue and a slightly sweet, floral note. It is decorated with lemon icing, pistachio brittle, and fresh raspberries, making it a stunning dessert to share with family and friends.