Ramadan is a highly anticipated month in the region. Not only do people have the opportunity to detoxify by observing fasts from sunrise to sunset, but can also reward themselves with a delectable spread during Suhoor and Iftaar. While you may be encouraged to stay indoors and limit outdoor activities this Ramadan, there’s nothing stopping you from enjoying some of your favourite dishes.

Put Your Culinary Skills to Test

This Ramadan you have the perfect opportunity to experiment in the kitchen with home-cooked meals. Not only are meals made at home a safer option during this time, but they also act as a great family activity. Bring your family members together and create some intimate memories as you experiment in the kitchen and prepare your own unique creations. You can also try to recreate some of the classic Ramadan dishes from around the world.

Which ones, you ask? Keep reading for some inspiration!

Harees: A staple dish from the United Arab Emirates

To experience Ramadan like a true Arab from the UAE, you must try out Harees, a popular dish enjoyed during Ramadan and Eid in the UAE. It’s a light and nutritious dish that’s easy on the stomach, yet very delicious! Served as a standalone dish or with accompaniments, it’s made out of harees (also known as wheat berries), chicken or lamb and saman, which is the locally produced clarified butter, making it a wonderfully wholesome meal.

Kabsa: A popular rice-based preparation from Saudi Arabia

Similar to the popular Biryani, Kabsa is one of Saudi Arabia’s favourite dishes. Made with ample amounts of meat and rice, people from around the world are often seen relishing this dish during Ramadan. Cooked with simple, readily available ingredients and an easy to follow recipe, this is definitely a good dish to prepare at home.

Harira: A Moroccan delicacy

Another light yet flavourful dish is Morocco’s Harira. Harira is a lentil-based soup made with various lentils, chickpeas, rice and meat stock. A lot of people in Morocco prefer breaking their fast with this soup as it prepares you for a bigger meal.

Qatayif: Egyptian special pancakes

Any meal, especially during Ramadan, isn’t complete without desserts. Egyptians traditionally love ending their meals with Qatayif. An interesting dish with quite the mix of ingredients, Qatayif are often referred to as Middle East’s pancakes (and sometimes even dumplings if the batter is folded). It’s prepared with different varieties of fillings such as sweetened cheese, cream, nuts, raisins, fruits and sometimes even sweetmeats, which makes this dish both indulgent and filling. The younger generation prefers to have a Nutella based filling, so this truly is a dish enjoyed by the entire family.