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6 Min
17/02/2026
Festivals take on different shapes across the globe, intermingling local traditions with ancient rituals. But if there’s one thing that remains consistent, it’s the joy that food brings. Especially when you share it with your loved ones. In fact, that’s a core part of iftar celebrations during Ramadan. And for Ramadan 2026, this article brings the best iftar recipes from the Middle East that can warm your soul, soothe your taste buds, and leave you and your loved ones grinning, ear to ear.
When it comes to Ramadan, two meals sandwich the daily fast — suhoor and iftar. Suhoor (pre-dawn meal) is consumed before dawn to sustain energy for the day's fast, and iftar (sunset meal) is taken immediately after sunset to break the fast. These meals are essential for daily nourishment, typically beginning with dates and water or milk for Iftar. While suhoor focuses on food items that help avoid dehydration and hunger, iftar is meant to replenish energy. Both meals are often shared with family and community, symbolising gratitude and spiritual discipline. When it comes to preparing these meals, especially the iftar party that takes on a more celebratory nature, families are often on the lookout for easy but delicious iftar recipes that keep people satisfied. Here’s a round-up of classi middle-eastern iftar recipes that will elevate your meals during Ramadan 2026.
While iftar meal is not meant to be extravagant, there is almost always a significant variety on the table – especially if multiple families are getting together to enjoy the meal. An iftar meal usually begins with a glass of water for hydration and dates for an energy boost, as they are high in natural sugars. It’s usually followed by a soup (mostly lentil soup) to prime the digestive system. Since the body has been fasting throughout the day, it’s important to begin the iftar meal slowly to allow the digestive system time to adjust.
Following the milk-date-soup trio, the iftar meal moves to a spread of appetisers and mains, which includes both vegetarian and non-vegetarian fare. Think kebabs, hummus, mezze platter, salads, shawarmas, dolma, and more. Rice-based dishes also find their way to the mix. And of course, desserts end the meal. Again, the food is not meant to be luxurious or rich, but most families opt for a different variety every day to keep up the celebratory feel.
When it comes to starters and small plates, opt for iftar recipes that are easy to put together, or can be prepared in advance – allowing you time to focus on the mains:
Hummus: The ultimate classic Levantine dip, hummus is traditionally made from chickpeas blended with tahini, garlic, lemon, and olive oil. It is usually served with warm pita bread, vegetable sticks, and even crackers. You can choose to infuse hummus with different ingredients — beetroot lends a touch of sweetness and incredible reddish-pink colour to the dip that makes it fit enough for a restaurant. You can also swap the core ingredient and opt for a rajma hummus or black chickpea hummus to bring a creative twist to your daily feast.
Soup: The traditional soup is shorbat adas, a warming lentil soup where red split lentils are simmered with onions, potatoes, and carrots, and gently spiced with cumin and coriander. You can also serve harira soup, an earthy Moroccan speciality which includes nutritious ingredients like chickpeas, lentils and noodles, flavoured with warm Middle Eastern spices.
Sambousek: If you’re looking for freezer-friendly iftar recipes, sambousek is a must-try. A crunchy, savoury pastry that can have either a meat or a vegetarian filling, it’s similar to gujiya in appearance. For a quicker prep, use spring roll pastry.
Fatayer: A marginally healthier alternative to sambousek, fatayer are Lebanese savoury pastries that are baked, not fried. Fatayer is shaped like a triangle, with a softer, pillowy dough (as compared to sambousek’s flaky exterior). It’s not crunchy, and typically includes a filling of spinach and cheese.
Other common dishes you can opt for are falafel (chickpea fritters), baba ghanoush (roasted eggplant dip), sigara boregi (fried spring rolls), etc.
For mains, go for hearty dishes that can satisfy the hunger pangs that emerge after a day of fasting. Balance them with classic flatbreads and refreshing salads; it creates a good contrast between the dishes and prevents the meal from becoming too heavy.
Moussaka: A layered casserole where eggplants (and sometimes potatoes) are layered with meat and bechamel sauces; it’s similar to a lasagna. It makes for an excellent iftar recipe as it can be assembled 24-48 hours in advance and stored in the fridge.
Beef or Lamb Kofta Kebabs: Minced meat skewers are mixed with parsley, onion, and Middle Eastern spices and grilled. The kebabs are served with dips, sliced onions, and soft flatbreads.
Chicken Mandi: A traditional Middle-Eastern dish, Chicken Mandi, or Mandi Rice feature fragrant spiced rice served with tender roasted chicken. In some cases, roasted lamb may be served instead of chicken. The dish is usually topped with sliced onions and almonds, or even raisins.
Sumac Chicken and Onion/Musakhan: This is one iftar recipe that scores low on effort and high on authentic flavour, making it an easy choice to break the Ramadan fast. To prepare this Palestinian sheet pan dinner, marinate the chicken and onion slices with traditional Middle Eastern spices and roast in the oven. It’s usually served with bread or rice.
Maqluba (Makloubeh): A one-pot dish, this iftar recipe is a show-stopper if there ever was one. The word Maklouben literally translates to “upside down”, referring to the dramatic, show-stopping method of flipping the cooking pot onto a serving platter to reveal layers of rice, meat, and vegetables. Similar to a biryani, the ingredients are layered in a deep, heavy-bottomed pot, typically starting with meat on the bottom, followed by vegetables and rice. Everything is cooked together, but the final flourish comes in the inverted presentation. It’s topped with almonds or pine nuts.
Manakish: Considered the Lebanese pizza, manakish is a staple breakfast or lunch item across Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Palestine. It is traditionally baked in a communal oven. The dough is topped with za'atar, cheese, or minced meat, then baked until soft on top and slightly crisp on the bottom. Lahm Bi Ajeen is a popular version, topped with seasoned minced lamb, tomatoes, and onions.
Fattoush: This is a fresh salad made with cucumber, tomato, herbs, and toasted pita chips, tossed in tangy sumac dressing.
Tabbouleh: If you’ve ever seen a Middle Eastern party, you must have seen the gorgeous green salad, tabbouleh, on the table. It’s a parsley-heavy salad with bulgur, tomatoes, lemon juice, and olive oil.
No iftar party is complete without desserts and drinks. Some popular choices include:
Kunafa: A shredded pastry layered with cheese or cream, baked and soaked in sugar syrup, kunafa has earned the moniker, “Queen of Arabic desserts”. It’s a unique combination of crunchy and creamy, and is a staple during Ramadan.
Basbousa: A semolina cake flavoured with rose or orange blossom water, basbousa is moist, crumbly, and sweet. It’s often considered a one-pot cake because dry and wet ingredients are mixed together in a single bowl. The base is made from coarse or fine semolina, desiccated coconut, yoghurt (or milk/sour cream), melted butter or ghee, sugar, and baking powder/soda. It’s not as light as the typical sponge cake, but slightly denser. Crucially, the hot syrup is poured over the hot, freshly baked cake immediately after it comes out of the oven.
Baklava: The dish that’s achieved international fame, baklava is a layered phyllo (filo) pastry filled with chopped nuts and sweetened by sugar or honey syrup. Numerous thin layers of filo dough are brushed with butter or oil, sandwiching chopped nuts. The pastry is then drenched in honey or syrup before being cut into rectangles and served.
With these iftar recipes, you can bring an authentic Levantine flavour to your daily meal. Be sure to keep a balance of simple and complex items, so you get to enjoy the iftar party you host. After all, iftar isn’t just a chance to grab a quick meal and replenish your energy. Rather, it’s a way to come together as a community and share joy through food.
