Break Your Fast

Topic of the Day: Iftaar!

Have you ever wondered what Pakistani Muslims eat when they break their fast? My mother usually makes the same delicious meals for Ramadan that she makes every year when that special time comes around. I always look forward to this time of year! First you always break your fast with a date. I took pictures of a date tree when I went to the Bahamas, they are yellow when ripe. The dates that we eat are dried, when they are 'freshly dried' they are so sweet and soft in the center. Sometimes I've seen them sell dates where they take the pit out from the middle and replace it with an almond, those are so good!

In the picture below my mother just laid out almonds with the dates.

To drink we have something called Rooh Afza which is basically a special syrup that is made of concentrated squash, fruits, herbs and vegetable extracts. You mix it with milk and sugar, it's delicious! When you buy the bottle it's a bright red color. Mixed with milk it becomes pink. My mother also likes to put in a little vanilla ice cream as well as Falooda (a type of noodle).

I'll start off with what we like to think of as our main dish - Cholai! In English translation those are red lentils that is most commonly used to make hummus. My mother makes it in a sort of 'chaat' mixed with different ingredients such as tomatoes and a certain* herb. The picture to the right is called Dahi Bara. It's made by first deep frying whatever 'dough' you are using, lentils, potato or flour then it's mixed with beaten yogurt and topped with a certain* masala.

 

Then we have Pakorai (plural) Pakora (singular). It's made out of chickpea batter, the center is whatever you want it to be. My favorite is potatoes, the picture on the left. In the middle are hot peppers (the fat thick kind sold at Chinese markets). My mother has also made them with eggplant as well, they are so yummy. The picture on the right are pastries filled with whatever you desire. My mother usually makes them with keemah (beef) or chicken. You use the three sauces while eating these too. :)

These are the three sauces (all with unique flavors of their own) that you can mix to create a wonderful palate to please your senses of taste. The green is a bit of a spicier sauce, the light brown is full of flavor and the dark brown - called Meetee Chutney is a sweet sauce and my favorite! I always mix it with ketchup and it's amazing. You can probably eat it with anything!

    A good way to end the night - dessert! My whole family loves fresh fruits.

*CERTAIN - I say this because it has an unpronounceable name in Urdu and I have no idea what it is in English!

I'll have to come back to this blog post later and update it when I find out what the spices and herbs are! :)