30 delicious and healthy dinner (iftar) ideas for Ramadan - Fasting regularly is a means for the body to rejuvenate itself and it aids the body to repel, restore and regain balance. In order to make that easier on the body and to go easy on the digestive system, I prefer iftar- sunset dishes made with healthy ingredients during Ramadan (the ninth month of the Islamic Calendar). As much as I believe that special dishes are important in the holy month of Ramadan, I also firmly believe that is is the least important part of Ramadan and cooking a special meal every day can be a daunting task. This collection of Ramadan recipes has been gathered with all these things in mind. I hope you enjoy these delicious Ramadan recipes!
30 Healthy Ramadan Recipes
A healthy diet during Ramadan will help with energy levels and make the rejuvenation process easier. Here are our top healthy Iftar recipes (main course) to help you stay on track after a long day of fasting.
If you are looking for breakfast recipes, check out our protein-packed breakfast/suhoor recipes (these are usually consumed just before the sun rises).
MEAT
1. Homemade Chicken Doner Kebab - Chicken Doner Kebab is the best fakeaway Chicken Doner recipe made with fragrant spices. This Iftar meal can be served in Naan, Wraps, Pita Bread, with Rice or even with a simple Salad.
2. Easy Rotisserie Chicken Salad Recipe - A simple Chicken Salad made with leftover rotisserie chicken.
3. Chicken Akni, One Pot Chicken and Rice – Fancy making an easy version of Biryani? This one pot akni is just that! Vibrant colours, Fluffy Rice and Aromatic Flavours make Akni the dish that everyone loves. This is the ultimate comfort food that has all the flavours of Biryani minus the hard work and layering. This is a Memon Akni recipe that is very popular.
4. Chana Dal with Chicken – This is a delicious meal that my mum makes a lot. It is an indian cuisine recipe that always seems to go down well with others too and is so simple to make. It is flavourful, healthy, delicious and gluten free.
5. Roast Chicken with preserved lemons, cumin and thyme - This recipe right here is for my idea of the perfect roast chicken and is a result of some experimentation. More details in the post. You can of course skip the preserved lemon and use the juice of lemon only.
6. Chicken Chapli Kebab - Chapli Kebab, Chapli Kabab or Peshawari Kebabs are a popular tender, melt in the mouth Pashtun-style minced kebab, usually made from ground beef, ground mutton or ground chicken with various spices. These ingredients are marinaded and then combined together to form a patty. Serve with Kachumber, Pulao or Naan.
7. Chicken Tikka Tacos - Chicken Tikka is a starter/appetiser that is popular in Indian homes and restaurants all over the world. In this recipe, we add Chicken Tikka pieces to a Taco/Flour Tortilla to make a Chicken Tikka Masala Taco.
8. Joojeh Kebab - Joojeh kebab or Joojeh Kabob is a popular recipe for juicy, tender, flavourful grilled Persian chicken kebabs. In this recipe, Chicken Breast or boneless Chicken Thighs are marinaded in and then basted with Lemon and Saffron.
9. This One Pot Lemon Chicken and Thyme Orzo is made using very few ingredients including juicy chicken thighs. This is a super quick and easy to make (30 minutes) and it is a dish that everyone will enjoy.
10. Mediterranean Chicken Tray Bake with Potatoes, Olives, Pepper and Feta – One of our favourite meals is this delicious and easy oven baked chicken cooked with citrus flavours and herbs.
11. Tender Leg of Lamb - This is the Most tender Lamb of Leg and I know that you will love it! It has become a firm favourite with friends and family and so I wanted to get the recipe onto the blog asap.
FISH
12. Salmon Curry - This Indian Salmon curry recipe is delicious and bursting with flavour. It is SO tender and is the easiest, most satisfying meal ever! All you need are a few ingredients and 35 minutes.
13. Masala Fish - A simply divine Masala Fish recipe courtesy of my Aunt. This recipe is absolutely packed with flavour. The fish is marinaded and cooked and then added to an incredibly spice infused masala sauce. A ridiculously EASY recipe made using only store cupboard ingredients.
14. Salmon and Vegetable Traybake with Coconut Rice - This is a terrific way to serve salmon that is just so delicious, nutritious and makes for a great mid week meal.
15. Prawn Chow Mein - This is one of my favourite fakeaway recipes and a well known noodle dish. This Easy Prawn Chow Mein recipe is healthy, a fakeaway favourite and quick to make (ready to eat in 15 minutes)! Prawn Chow Mein is made with Fresh Egg Noodles, king prawns, Veggies and a Chow Mein Sauce.
16. Jerk and Honey Salmon - This Jerk and Honey Salmon with Mango Salsa is a great way to serve salmon. It is super quick to make and incredibly delicious too. In this recipe, the Salmon is basted with a Jerk marinade and cooked till juicy and flaky. It is then glazed with a sweet and savoury glaze that makes this Salmon dish irresistible! Serve alongside the sweet Mango Salsa for the most delicious Iftar.
17. Smoky Fish Tacos with Jalapeño Slaw and Sriracha, Chipotle Mayo – you know when you make something and it is requested ALL the time?! This is one of those meals. These tacos are loaded with Cajun flavours and are absolutely delicious.
18. Baked Tandoori Salmon - This Tandoori Salmon recipe is a quick and easy meal to make during the week. In this recipe, salmon is coated in aromatic indian spices to mimic a tandoori marinade. It is then oven baked (or grilled/air fried) until delicious and flaky. Serve with a mint and coriander chutney, cumin rice or air fryer shoestring fries for a healthy meal.
19. Easy Indian Masala Prawns Curry - Prawn Masala is a quick and easy recipe that is delicious, aromatic and spicy. It works great as a starter or side and is best served with Rice or Chapatti.
VEGETARIAN
20. Quinoa and Feta Bites - This is a recipe for mini quinoa and feta bites with meat eaters in mind. This is just a flavour packed, juicy vegetarian mini burger that works well for meal prep, lunch boxes, lunch on the go or as a topping to a well dressed bowl of salad. Easy to make and ready in 15 minutes!
21. Roast Cauliflower salad with zingy dressing - This is absolutely divine. The toasted roast cauliflower is spiced beautifully and the dressing is gorgeously zingy and amended from a Diana Henry recipe. Made with pistachios and lemon, it is a dressing I want to pour onto everything.
22. Rajma Masala (Kidney Bean Curry) - I am yet to come across a person who doesn’t love kidney beans curry – rajma masala. We serve it with fragrant cumin and vegetable rice.
23. Rajma Kebab - Kidney bean kebab is a quick and easy recipe to make and it is so so delicious. A vegan and gluten free recipe that comes from I believe Northern India.
24. Best Vegan Salad - The healthy vegan meal is made with roast chickpeas, kale, roast sweet potatoes and a tahini and soy sauce dressing. This is my favourite vegan salad with a great variety of textures and flavours.
25. Healthy Samosa Recipe - All the flavour of crunchy samosas, with fewer calories! Essentially this is a vegetarian quesadilla made with a lemon, pea and potato filling. It is my favourite vegetarian samosa filling that I use time and time again, sandwiched between 2 wraps. They can also be made vegan very easily by omitting the butter.
26. Moong Dal - Delicious, Warming, Comforting, Nourishing and Nutritious Moong Daal is our go to Autumn/Winter meal and many an indian household. In this North Indian recipe by my Mother in Law, Mung Daal is boiled and then cooked with Spices before a tempering of whole Spices and Yoghurt is mixed in. If you prefer Red Lentils, try this Masoor Dal Tadka.
27. Pesto Pasta with Spinach and Pine Nuts - This easy recipe for Pesto pasta salad is quick to make. It is packed full of flavour and is an easy weeknight dinner that anyone can make!
28. Chickpea Eggs - Chickpea Eggs are a favourite for breakfast, lunch or dinner at my house. In essence, they are eggs on top of delicious Chana Masala.
29. Aromatic Golden Chickpea Soup with Halloumi with turmeric. This soup is quick and easy to make and a real flavour explosion in a bowl.
30. Chicken Hakka Noodles - Chicken Hakka Noodles makes for quick and easy delicious lunch/dinner. A popular Indo Chinese street food which packs a big flavour punch.
I hope you enjoyed this little round up of easy Ramadan Recipes, I would love to know what is on your Ramadan Menu - (Suhoor and Iftar menu). Ramadan Mubarak! I hope you have a wonderful prosperous Ramadan, full of peace, happiness and joy.
more ramadan posts:
30 Delicious and Healthy Breakfast (Suhoor) ideas for Ramadan - This includes healthy snacks, healthy dishes and more delicious food. You can also use some of these recipes for meal preparation.
Duas for Ramadan - A list of Duas for Ramadan.
Ramadan Prep, Tips and Checklist - How to prepare for Ramadan.
3 Stages of Ramadan - 3 Stages of Ramadan and the Duas for each stage.
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