When Ramadan cycles into the longer days of spring and summer, the countdown to sundown becomes a harder task. That’s because longer days mean longer periods of fasting. During the month-long observation, millions of Muslims around the world will adhere to a strict fast from sunup to sundown.
This year, Ramadan begins April 23 and runs until May 23, when Eid al-Fitr marks a celebration of food and faith.
During Ramadan, the iftar — the meal that breaks the fast — often is a community event, with friends and family gathering to pray and feast. This year, many will break their fast in isolation because of the coronavirus.
No matter how large or small your group, our Recipe Finder is filled with options for those who want to break their fast with nourishing dishes that will carry the faithful into the next day.
Yemeni Breakfast Lentil Stew (Adas), above. Lentils for breakfast will keep you fueled up through the end of the day. It’s totally vegan for those who want to eschew meat.
Malabar Chicken Biryani. Biryani is a dish for company, and while there may not be the large crowds you’re used to because of the novel coronavirus, that doesn’t mean you can’t fire up FaceTime or Zoom and celebrate from afar. This is one you can make ahead and eat leftovers of.
Indian Masala Chai. There’s no teatime in warm-weather Ramadan because of the late sunset, but you’ll want some chai to get you moving in the early hours.
Potato Tahdig. Cozy, filling rice dishes are never out of place at the dinner table. A crispy potato tahdig is no exception. You can make a larger quantity of this and keep it on hand for evenings when you don’t feel like cooking.
Hummus With Spiced Lamb, Scallions and Dill. This dish is suitable for folks isolating in small groups (or alone), as it serves two to four people. It’s adaptable to just about any tender herb you can get.
Sticky Toffee Pudding. There’s always room for something sweet for Ramadan, and these sweet little cakes do the trick. You can even freeze them for later if you’ve only got a small crowd around. Best of all, they include dates, which are often traditional during iftars.
