Ramadan is around the corner…

Ramadan Mubarak (Happy Ramadan) to all celebrating!
We’re celebrating with 15% OFF ALL SPICES with code:

RAMADAN23
(Sale ends 4/21/23, can’t combine with other coupons)

 

What is Ramadan and When is It?

For those who may not be familiar with it, Ramadan is a month-long holy celebration for millions of Muslims in the USA and around the world. It begins on the ninth month of the Hijri calendar, also known as the Muslim lunar calendar.

The precise date starts when the new crescent moon is first seen over Mecca in Saudi Arabia that month, which is expected to be March 22, 2023.

Ramadan ends when the next crescent moon is seen (expected April 21), and then the celebratory days of Eid al-Fitr start right after.

Eid al-Fitr means “Festival of Breaking the Fast” and is celebrated for up to three days. It’s a time for spending time with loved ones and enjoying long, fantastic meals together.

How is Ramadan Celebrated?

Ramadan is seen as a time for Muslims to honor their religion, grow spiritually, become closer to their loved ones, and adhere to “sawm”, which is one of the five main tenants of the Muslim religion and means “to refrain”.

Fasting is one of the main ways people keep with sawm. This is why many Muslims do not eat or drink between dawn and dusk during Ramadan.

RECIPES of RAMADAN

Get to Know Tasty Iftar Meals..

When the sun sets, people gather in homes or mosques to break their fasts with a meal called “Iftar”. This meal is often a celebration with friends and family, and people tend to stay up late to eat, pray and celebrate together.

The food can really be spectacular. Many begin Iftar by eating dates (regular or stuffed), which are excellent sources of potassium, magnesium, vitamin B-6, fiber, sugar and slow carbohydrates, and soups to hydrate after a day of fasting. From there, families tend to make their favorite dishes, which vary greatly but often include favorites listed below. We included a recipe for each but please note there are many versions of these dishes, so it can be fun to search online for the one that strikes your fancy the most:

• Biryani – mixed rice dish with warming spices, eggs, meat and vegetables
• Kibbe/Kibbeh – small fried meat dumplings
• Mahshi – rice stuffed into eggplant with peppers, tomatoes and zucchini
• Shorba – soup often with lentils, meat, curry spices and herbs
• Kebabbs – spiced grilled meat on rods/sticks
• Harira – soup with lentils, chickpeas, rice and meat stock
• Kheer – rice pudding with cardamom and rose water
• Pakora – deep fried vegetables (often potato and onion), paneer or meat fritters
• Mansaf – lamb cooked in yogurt, served over rice and topped with nuts
• Kheema Samosa – minced mutton/lamb fritters with garam masala, ginger, chilies and mint
• Tabbouleh – fresh salad made of wheat/bulgur, mint, parsley and tomatoes
• Tagine Dishes – savory and sweet stews with rich sauce cooked in a conical pot/lid/tagine
• Ful Medammes – hummus-like puree made with fava beans, garlic, olive oil and tahini sauce
• Maqluba – meat, rice and fried vegetables cooked in a pot, then flipped upside down
• Knafeh – phyllo dough pastry stuffed with cheese, nuts or custard
• Omm Ali – bread pudding with cream, milk, cinnamon, nuts, sugar, coconut and raisins
• Dahi Vada – lentil dumplings soaked in a spiced yogurt sauce

We’ve only listed a handful of dishes, but hope you’ve enjoyed exploring them.

If you have a favorite recipe you make during Ramadan and would be willing to share it with the Pinch family, share your recipe here and we’ll send you a $20 Pinch e-gift card as a small token of appreciation.

Suhoor, The Morning Meal

After a full night of eating and celebrating, people go to sleep and many wake up right before dawn to eat and drink again. This meal is called “Suhoor” or “Suhur”, and helps prepare them for their fast that day.

A typical Suhoor meal consists of food high protein and carbohydrates to keep people fueled and full, such as omelettes, strata, oatmeal, bean stew, spiced potatoes, brown rice, fish, chicken, lentils and nuts. Fruit and smoothies are also really popular to help people stay nourished and hydrated, along with at least a few glasses of water.

Popular Spices of Ramadan

Here are some of the most popular seasonings used in the USA and around the world to celebrate Ramadan. Even if you’re not celebrating, these are delicious spices to experiment with if you haven’t tried them before.

See something you’ve never heard of? Click to learn more and see recipe ideas. It might just become a favorite in your spice cabinet.

 

 

 

 

Other Popular Ramadan Spices…

These high quality and organic spices are also essential for many Iftar and Suhoor meals (learn more about those Ramadan meals below):

• Aleppo Pepper
• Baharat
• Bay Leaves
• Berbere
• Black Malabar Pepper
• Cardamom
• Cassia Cinnamon Powder
• Cumin Powder 
• Coriander Powder 
• Ginger Powder
• Garlic Granules
• Harissa
• Nutmeg Powder
• Sesame Seeds
• Sumac
• Turmeric

 

~ We wish you many happy meals with your loved ones! ~