This past April 23 Ramadan has started. It coincides with the date on which the Prophet Muhammad received the first revelation of the Koran. The best known of this celebration is its fast but it actually goes much further. For this reason, we want to delve into the gastronomy and typical dishes in Ramadan. These days are an exercise in introspection for the world's nearly two billion Muslims. With this celebration, in addition to its religious function, the organism is purified and mental strength is increased to reinforce the will. It also has a moral component since you can feel what it is starving and needy.
The Ramadan this year 2020 will last 30 days. It is always the ninth month of the lunar calendar, beginning with the appearance of the new moon and ending with the next new moon. It is mandatory compliance. Only the elderly, the sick and children, as well as people with very hard jobs or who are traveling, are exempt. Even so, many of these groups practice it equally.
The famous fast
El fast It takes place between the time of sunrise and the one at which it sets. During those hours, you cannot drink water, eat, or have sex. Smoking is also not allowed. This state breaks at sunset and begins the iftar. This is a family meal in which - depending on the part of the world where it is made - there will be some products or others. They tend to abound dates, nuts, local fruits, milk, soups of all kinds and strong dishes such as to the thread, Couscous or Tabulate, among others. Normally, eating very greasy foods, red meat and any ingredient that can prevent you from falling asleep is usually avoided.
The feast is usually started with sweet products, especially dates, plums and raisins that can quickly provide much-needed energy after fasting for so many hours. Drink is also very important, they are usually fruit juices and, of course, water. It must be abundant in order to help eliminate toxins that the body has accumulated during the day and needs to expel. Those are some brushstrokes of the gastronomy and typical dishes in Ramadan.
In some homes and before sunrise it is possible to return to make a small meal before returning to work. This food is called shoo and in this case it can include meals with fattier meats and products rich in vitamins. Of course, all ingredients must be Halal, that is, follow the Islamic food laws described in the Koran and that, if possible, they are certified by an accredited entity.
Gastronomy and typical dishes in Ramadan
Many dishes that are part of this celebration and that are nutritionally very complete. The case of the Harira, a soup where there is usually chicken, legumes like chickpeas and lentils, too eggs and vegetables like tomato, carrots, onion and coriander. Of course, it has soup pasta like noodles and spices like pepper. This soup is accompanied by breads, of different flavors and textures. One of the most famous is the mlawi: a puff pastry made with fine semolina and wheat flour.
Then, as it normally coincides with summer or spring and it is not very cold in our latitudes, the Tabulate it is quite popular. Is a cold salad a base wheat semolina, such as couscous, to which chives, parsley, mint and lemon juice are added. Perhaps it is one of the best known of the gastronomy and typical dishes in Ramadan. On the other hand, there are sfixes or fatay, which are also quite common delicacies. We talk about stuffed empanadas vegetables or chicken or beef, usually well seasoned.
There are many others typical and homemade dishes which are locally cooked such as cooked meats and vegetables that meet the need to be rich in nutrients, especially Vitamins, in order to regain strength.
Sweets and desserts
In these meals, sweets have an important relevance, very present in the gastronomy and typical dishes in Ramadan. The Crepes They are one of the most typical desserts at this time. The typical gatayef. These are a fried dough and later bathed in a syrup scented with rose water. They are made filled with nuts, cinnamon, and cheese. Another great sweet of this time is the briwat. This is a fried puff pastry and covered with orange blossom water, cinnamon, sugar, butter and filling almonds. To drink with these sweets they are usually consumed basically tea and coffee.
The end of Ramadan: Eid al-Fitr
When this period of daily fasting ends, the so-called Eid al-Fitr. This celebration is a party where the end of Ramadan is socialized and celebrated. Muslims wear and wear their best dresses. In addition to the traditional food already mentioned, sweets such as Beghrir, some pancakes made with semolina that are served with honey and butter. In the same way other types of cakes are served such as Malawi.
Now you know a little better the gastronomy and typical dishes in Ramadan. Do you dare to try any of them on these dates indicated for them?
