Iftar is the meal eaten every evening after sunset during Ramadan, the holy month of 1.9 billion Muslims.
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| During the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, the iftar meal is a time for family members to sit together after a day of prayer. (Source: Times now News) |
About 1.9 billion Muslims around the world (about 25% of the global population) are observing the holy month of Ramadan, which runs from March 11 to April 10.
When the sun sets during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, Muslims eat a “fast-breaking” meal, or iftar, with their families.
However, with prices rising, many families are having to consider cutting back on some of their favorite dishes. Here are some traditional iftar meals of Muslim families around the world.
Argentina
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| Image of a Muslim iftar meal in Argentina. (Source: Al Jazeera ) |
In February 2024, Argentina experienced one of the highest inflation rates in the world, with food costs rising 303% compared to February 2023.
The iftar meal for a Muslim family in Argentina typically consists of a main course of beef asado, served with chimichurri, a fragrant parsley-based dipping sauce, and empanadas, a pastry filled with ground beef or vegetables. Dessert is pancakes with dulce de leche sauce and fresh fruit. Argentines often enjoy a traditional herbal tea made from the yerba mate plant.
To prepare this special iftar meal, a portion costs about 7,200 pesos ($8.4), much higher than the 1,782 pesos ($2) in 2023.
Australia
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| Image of a Muslim iftar meal in Australia. (Source: Al Jazeera ) |
In the world's largest island nation, the iftar meal reflects Australia's multicultural identity, blending flavours from around the world.
The main course of the meal was the halal snack pack, a popular street food dish made with lamb, fries with barbecue sauce, lentil soup with vegetables. Finally, the dessert was lamingtons - chocolate-covered sponge cake, jam filling and topped with shredded coconut.
The meal also comes with concentrated fruit juice, a sweet and refreshing drink to rehydrate after a day of fasting in hot weather.
Like other Western countries, Australia is also struggling to contain inflation. As a result, an iftar meal with the above menu costs around 12.5 AUD (8.1 USD) per serving, up from 11 AUD (7 USD) last year.
The biggest price increases came from key ingredients including meat and eggs.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
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| Image of a Muslim iftar meal in Bosnia and Herzegovina. (Source: Al Jazeera ) |
Among the countries with the highest Muslim populations in Europe, Bosnia and Herzegovina has many traditional dishes that reflect its multicultural heritage. A sure bet on the iftar table is pita krompiruša, a baked pastry filled with mashed potatoes, onions and spices.
Next comes topa, a slow-cooked cheese and butter, and hurmašica. The iftar ends with a glass of sok od drenjina, a popular drink made from Cornelian cherries.
The above meal costs around 2.9 BAM ($1.6) per serving. Meanwhile, in 2023, the same meal will cost 2.7 BAM ($1.5), an increase of 7%.
Egypt
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| Image of a Muslim iftar meal in Egypt. (Source: Al Jazeera ) |
As a country with a long culinary tradition, the Egyptian iftar table includes grape leaves rolled with a mixture of rice, minced meat and spices, served with molokhiya (jute) soup and kunafa for dessert.
In addition, to quench their thirst, they also use qamar al-din, a traditional drink made from apricots that is loved by many people.
Egypt is currently experiencing record inflation and a depreciating currency, so a meal like this will cost around 68 EGP ($1.40), up 74% from the 39 EGP ($0.80) meal in 2023.
India
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| Image of a Muslim iftar meal in India. (Source: Al Jazeera ) |
India has a wide variety of iftar meals to choose from. One of the most popular is ghugni, a vegetarian curry made from peas or chickpeas cooked with onions, tomatoes, and a variety of spices.
Side dishes include pakora, a crispy fried vegetable dish made with onions and green chillies, and dessert is suji halwa, a pudding cooked in ghee, sugar and topped with nuts.
The cost of a meal is around 149 rupees ($1.8) per serving, up 9% from 162 rupees ($1.9) in 2023.
Indonesia
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| Image of a Muslim iftar meal in Indonesia. (Source: Al Jazeera ) |
In the world's largest Muslim country, Indonesia's traditional iftar meal includes bubur, a porridge of shredded chicken, peanuts, vegetables and spices.
A popular side dish is bakwan, a deep-fried vegetable mix of shredded carrots, cabbage and bean sprouts. For those with a sweet tooth, kolak pisang, a dessert made from bananas cooked in coconut milk, sugar and pandan leaves, is a great dessert.
To end the flavorful meal, Indonesians enjoy a glass of es timun suri, a refreshing drink made from watermelon and coconut.
The cost of preparing the meal is about 66,600 rupiah ($4.2) per serving, lower than the 62,600 rupiah ($3.9) in 2023.
Malaysia
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| Image of a Muslim iftar meal in Malaysia. (Source: Al Jazeera ) |
As a predominantly Muslim country, Malaysian meals include beef rendang, a rich and spicy dish of beef cooked in coconut milk.
Malaysians also enjoy sayur lodeh, a fragrant vegetable stew made with coconut milk, eggplant, beans and nuts. To add to the rich flavours, many Malaysians will drink a glass of sirap bandung, sweet milk mixed with rose syrup. Finally, there is the double-layered seri muka dessert: sticky rice and pandan custard ice cream.
The cost to make the meal is about 6.9 ringgit ($1.5) per serving, higher than the 6.4 ringgit ($1.3) in 2023.
Nigeria
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| Image of a Muslim iftar meal in. Nigeria (Source: Al Jazeera ) |
Nigerian cuisine is known for its diverse ingredients and unique spices. For main dishes, Nigerians often enjoy jollof rice served with chicken.
To add flavor to the meal, one can enjoy a savory pudding made from black-eyed peas or black beans called moi moi. The drink with the meal is usually zobo, a drink made from dried hibiscus flowers. Fresh fruit is served for dessert.
The cost of preparing one meal is about 6,500 naira ($4.4), up 68 percent from 3,860 naira ($2.6) last year.
Pakistan
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| Image of a Muslim iftar meal in Pakistan. (Source: Al Jazeera ) |
Iftar in Pakistan begins with dahi baray – fried lentils drizzled with yogurt and topped with a sweet and spicy sauce. It is accompanied by a fruit salad sprinkled with chaat masala (a spiced powder made from ingredients such as dried mango powder, dried pomegranate seeds and black salt), and a dessert of jalebi, a popular street food in South Asia, the Middle East and Africa. The iftar ends with a drink made from rose syrup.
The total cost of buying an iftar meal is 172 rupees ($0.60), higher than the price of 141 rupees ($0.50) in 2023.
Palestine
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| Image of a Muslim iftar meal in Palestine. (Source: Al Jazeera ) |
One of the most widely eaten dishes in Palestine is maklouba, a savory rice dish layered with sliced eggplant, meat and other vegetables. In addition to maklouba, iftar also includes dagga, a traditional spicy tomato and cucumber salad dressed with olive oil. Palestinians also enjoy a popular tamarind and sugar drink called Tamir with their meals and katayif, a crescent-shaped pastry filled with walnuts or cheese, for dessert.
The total food cost for a meal is about 31.5 shekels ($9) per meal, up from 28.5 shekels ($8) in 2023.
South Africa
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| Image of a Muslim iftar meal in South Africa. (Source: Al Jazeera ) |
The Rainbow Nation is home to many different racial and ethnic groups. During Ramadan, Muslims here often eat pap en vleis (or shisa nyama) - a corn porridge served with grilled meat. This is accompanied by a chakalaka soup made with onions, tomatoes, carrots, beans and spices, and a dessert of koeksisters.
Finally, a glass of “Stoney” ginger beer will bring a refreshing end to the iftar meal.
To prepare the above meal will cost about 77 rand (4 USD) per serving, more expensive than the 68 rand (3.6 USD) in 2023.
Türkiye
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| Image of a Muslim iftar meal in Turkey. (Source: Al Jazeera ) |
As the sun sets in Türkiye, many families enjoy dolma – a vegetable dish stuffed with a mixture of rice, meat and herbs – along with a bowl of cacik (creamy yogurt mixed with cucumber) and a dessert of muhallebi, a milk pudding flavoured with cinnamon and nuts.
To aid digestion, Turks also use salgam, a fermented beetroot beverage.
With the above dishes, a meal costs about 60.5 lira ($1.9), 20% more expensive than the 50.6 lira ($1.6) last year.
Older brother
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| Image of a Muslim iftar meal in the UK. (Source: Al Jazeera ) |
There are around four million Muslims in the UK. Their choice of iftar depends largely on their family background. The most typical is a salmon fillet served with rice and vegetables, followed by a bowl of fruit yoghurt. Finally, a cup of green tea, which is full of antioxidants and aids digestion.
This type of meal costs around £2.20 ($2.70) per portion, up slightly from £2.10 ($2.60) in 2023.
America
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| Image of a Muslim iftar meal in the US. (Source: Al Jazeera ) |
The United States is home to a diverse Muslim community of three to four million people, about 1% of the population.
In the United States, a popular main dish for Muslim families during iftar is grilled chicken marinated in herbs and spices. The grilled dish is served with fattoush - a traditional Middle Eastern green salad mixed with crispy fried chicken or crispy toast. They also cannot miss the dessert of kunafa, a sweet cheesecake with nuts. Finally, a glass of fruit-flavored milk or chocolate.
The estimated cost for a meal is around $7.10, up from $6.70 in 2023.
(according to Al Jazeera )
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