During Ramadan, prepare these fulfilling Sehri recipes for a delicious morning meal.
I have a fondness for consuming food in the wee hours of the night, be it a box of nachos while watching a late-night movie or a bowl of cereal as a bedtime treat. In the Islamic month of Ramadan, which includes a period of fasting for the Muslim community, there are two significant times to eat: Iftar, a meal taken after sunset to end the fast, and Sehri or Suhoor, the early morning meal eaten before the fast starts.
For different people, the beginning of Ramadan can bring up different emotions. Some might feel very excited about the community events, solidarity, and spiritual renewal that takes place during this time. Others might start feeling a bit anxious at the thought of going without food all day. Myself, I'm somewhere in between. I definitely don't want to go hungry, and I make sure to take my two allowed meals during Ramadan very seriously. In a previous post, I discussed tips for hosting a successful Iftar meal. Now, let's talk about the second meal of the day, Sehri.
When it comes to Sehri, I usually think of three different kinds. The first one is the one I get up for during the weekdays, before starting my workday. The second one is the meal I have at 2 or 3 a.m. following a long night at the mosque. The third one is when I am entertaining guests late in the evening. Let me share with you some of my go-to recipes for each type of Sehri.
The initial group of dishes requires a quick and easy breakfast option. Usually, I wake up only for this meal and need to consume it in no time so I can get back to bed within half an hour. If I linger for too long, I cannot go back to sleep. Luckily, I have some selections that meet those demands, such as omelet roll-ups, oats with a peanut butter and jelly twist, and a refreshing smoothie made of dates and fruit.
My grandma used to make omelet roll-ups when we were in a hurry to leave the house. She would create a thin egg layer, place it on a flatbread and roll it up. I use tortillas instead of flatbread because I don't have any. PB&J oats is a great way to have a fulfilling breakfast without compromising on taste. Brown sugar gives it a similar taste to white bread. The fruity date smoothie recipe is simple and nutritious, but most importantly, has caffeine to help ease the fasting symptoms.
The Midnight Meal Before Fasting
The next group requires something incredibly filling. It's likely that I returned home from the mosque late, and I know I have a busy day waiting for me tomorrow. This meal is the type that you consume knowing that the upcoming period of fasting will be strenuous.
In general, I don't have a problem investing more time and effort into getting exactly what I want. On occasion, I may make use of food that's left over, or order in via Uber Eats for some fried chicken or pizza. However, my preferred choice hands down is a traditional tuna melt with an abundance of crunchy celery and red onion, accompanied by Cape Cod chips which are smothered in Frank's RedHot sauce, and to top it off, a tasty dill pickle. It fulfills all my desires for a comforting and gratifying evening meal. Give it a chance before you criticize the combination of hot sauce and kettle chips.
Enjoy the classic delicacy of diners with oil-packed tuna as its main ingredient, combined with crispy celery, a dash of red onion and capers for an exciting flavor, and your preferred type of cheese that melts smoothly.
The final group necessitates a more casual and social event with finger foods. After inviting your friends over and persuading them to hang out after breaking the fast, they'll likely stay until the morning prayer (which happens more frequently than you'd think). Whether it's a pre-dawn meal party or a get-together after evening prayers, or perhaps you've casually run into an old acquaintance at the mosque and invited them over, hunger is inevitable.
I'm looking for a dish that will be enjoyable and hearty but not too complicated to make. I've selected party wings for the occasion. To create this recipe, I used a commonly used South Asian spice blend called tandoori masala that has a smoky and bright flavor. Typically, tandoori masala is combined with yogurt to marinate Tandoori Chicken. However, in this recipe, I combined a spoonful of tandoori masala with butter and added lime juice, honey, and hot sauce to put a unique spin on the classic dish. It's so good you'll want to lick your fingers! To complement the dish, serve it over naan bread to absorb any excess sauce, along with flavorful herbs and delicious yogurt to balance out the spiciness.
These flavorful chicken wings are seasoned with a blend of fragrant tandoori masala spices and Frank's RedHot, combining the classic Buffalo wing recipe with an extra touch of pizzazz.
