A lot of people may be fasting Ramadan by themselves this year. And while in previous years, if you weren't planning to cook, you could still manage Ramadan iftars thanks to family gatherings and iftar buffets with friends, this year is, as we all know, a little different. However, you don't have to be a cook to make yourself a delicious iftar meal.
As a working mum of three, my biggest challenge every Ramadan has always been managing my time between work and home. This year, even during quarantine, it is no different. Between working from home, homeschooling two children, and a little toddler around the house, prepping an iftar dinner for the family, all while fasting, is an even bigger challenge this year. That's why my solution is to go for simple, but delicious recipes. So, if you're doing Ramadan solo, here are four simple recipes I make that you can try at home. Let's start cooking.
1. Lentil Soup
Ingredients
2 cups of orange lentils
Fresh vegetables. I like to include 1 potato, 1 carrot, 1 zucchini, and 1 tomato. Include 1 onion and 2 gloves of garlic as it adds flavour
2 tablespoons of olive oil
Spices: salt, cumin and curcuma
Method
Chop the vegetables into medium size pieces. In a large pot, add the lentils, olive oil, cumin, curcuma, and all the vegetables (including the garlic and the onion) at the same time and cook in 4 cups of water under medium heat until soft. Once the lentils and the vegetables are soft, add salt and blend using a blender until smooth.
Serve warm. Some people like to squeeze a bit of fresh lemon, or add small pieces of fried pita bread. It's optional.
2. Fattoush Salad
Ingredients
Five Romaine lettuce leaves
1 tomato
2 cucumbers
1 small onion
1 lemon (squeezed)
2 tablespoons of olive oil
1 tablespoon of pomegranate syrup
1 clove of garlic (crushed)
Spices: salt, sumac and cinnamon
Method
Wash the vegetables very well and chop them into medium size pieces. In a small bowl, make the dressing by adding garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, pomegranate syrup and half a teaspoon of salt. Add the dressing to the chopped vegetables. I like to add one teaspoon of sumac to the lettuce leaves and one teaspoon of cinnamon to the onion after chopping. Mix well.
Some like to add fresh pomegranate seeds and small pieces of fried pieces of pita bread. It's optional
3. Spaghetti with Bolognese sauce
Ingredients
Spaghetti
250 grams of minced beef
1 small onion (chopped into small cubes)
3 tablespoons of tomato paste
2 tablespoons of olive oil
1 cup of warm water
Spices: 1/2 teaspoon of salt and cinnamon
Method
In a pot, boil the spaghetti. Add a drop of olive oil and some salt to the spaghetti while cooking, so they're not sticky.
When ready, drain and set aside.
In a pot, add olive oil to fry the onions under medium heat. Once soft, add the minced beef, and then the salt and cinnamon. Let it cook with the onions for a few minutes.
Add the tomato paste and the water to the cooked beef. Cook it for another 10 to 15 minutes until the tomato sauce is thick.
Once ready, add the spaghetti.
Add salt and pepper to taste. Some people like to add cheese, so you can add grated mozzarella or parmesan if you like.
4. Mdaradra, or Mujaddra (A rice and lentil dish)
Ingredients
1 cup of rice
1/2 cup of green lentils
1 large onion (chopped into half moon shapes)
4 tablespoons vegetable oil
Salt
Yogurt (1/2 cup per serving)
Method
Soak the rice in water half an hour before cooking. I use Uncle Ben's. Boil the lentils in two cups of water until they're al dente. This should take about 12 minutes. Drain the lentils but don't throw out the water as we will use it to cook with the rice later.
In a pot, fry half the onions in two tablespoons of vegetable oil until golden. Then add the rice (after draining), add the lentils and a cup and a half of the water you had set aside from the lentils. If the water you have from the lentils is not enough (not a cup and a half), then don't worry, you can add regular water. Add half a teaspoon of salt, cover the pot, bring to a boil and then reduce to medium low heat.
In a small pan, add two tablespoons of vegetable oil and cook the rest of the onion until they're almost burnt.
Garnish the dish with the fried onions. I really can't have this dish without them as they add incredible taste to it.
Serve with yogurt on the side.
There's a Palestinian version of this dish on our website, if you're interested in taking a look.
If you're having trouble making any of these, write me. I'm always happy to help a reader out.
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Toss: Kerala Knights, opted to fielf
Pakhtoons 109-5 (10 ov)
Fletcher 32; Lamichhane 3-17
Kerala Knights 110-2 (7.5 ov)
Morgan 46 not out, Stirling 40
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Southampton 0
Manchester City 1 (Sterling 16')
Man of the match: Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City)
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Director:Matt Reeves
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Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
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Countries recognising Palestine
France, UK, Canada, Australia, Portugal, Belgium, Malta, Luxembourg, San Marino and Andorra
The biog
Family: Parents and four sisters
Education: Bachelor’s degree in business management and marketing at American University of Sharjah
A self-confessed foodie, she enjoys trying out new cuisines, her current favourite is the poke superfood bowls
Likes reading: autobiographies and fiction
Favourite holiday destination: Italy
Posts information about challenges, events, runs in other emirates on the group's Instagram account @Anagowrunning
Has created a database of Emirati and GCC sportspeople on Instagram @abeermk, highlight: Athletes
Apart from training, also talks to women about nutrition, healthy lifestyle, diabetes, cholesterol, blood pressure
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Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 38,387
Karl Malone 36,928
Kobe Bryant 33,643
Michael Jordan 32,292
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Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Results
Stage 4
1. Dylan Groenewegen (NED) Jumbo-Visma 04:16:13
2. Gaviria (COL) UAE Team Emirates
3. Pascal Ackermann (GER) Bora-Hansgrohe
4. Sam Bennett (IRL) Deceuninck-QuickStep
5. Caleb Ewan (AUS) Lotto Soudal
General Classification:
1. Adam Yates (GBR) Mitchelton-Scott 16:46:15
2. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates 0:01:07
3. Alexey Lutsenko (KAZ) Astana Pro Team 0:01:35
4. David Gaudu (FRA) Groupama-FDJ 0:01:40
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Jaguar F-Pace SVR
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Price: Dh465,071
What are the GCSE grade equivalents?
- Grade 9 = above an A*
- Grade 8 = between grades A* and A
- Grade 7 = grade A
- Grade 6 = just above a grade B
- Grade 5 = between grades B and C
- Grade 4 = grade C
- Grade 3 = between grades D and E
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Cagliari 5-2 Fiorentina
Udinese 0-0 SPAL
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Lazio 4-2 Lecce
Parma 2-0 Roma
Juventus 1-0 AC Milan
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At Manchester United Appearances: 559; Goals: 253
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As a UAE-based travel agent who processes tourist visas from the Philippines, Jennifer Pacia Gado is fielding a lot of calls from concerned travellers just now. And they are all asking the same question.
“My clients are mostly Filipinos, and they [all want to know] about good conduct certificates,” says the 34-year-old Filipina, who has lived in the UAE for five years.
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- Mashable: In 2005, Pete Cashmore created Mashable in Scotland when he was a teenager. The site was then a technology blog. Over the next few decades, Mr Cashmore has turned Mashable into a global media company.
- Oculus VR: Palmer Luckey founded Oculus VR in June 2012, when he was 19. In August that year, Oculus launched its Kickstarter campaign and raised more than $1 million in three days. Facebook bought Oculus for $2 billion two years later.
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UAE squad
Esha Oza (captain), Al Maseera Jahangir, Emily Thomas, Heena Hotchandani, Indhuja Nandakumar, Katie Thompson, Lavanya Keny, Mehak Thakur, Michelle Botha, Rinitha Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Siya Gokhale, Sashikala Silva, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish (wicketkeeper) Udeni Kuruppuarachchige, Vaishnave Mahesh.
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All matches in Bulawayo
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Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
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Boyd Tonkin, Galileo Press
