Ramadan is just around the corner and it has sent everyone prepping for a slightly more ‘normal’ Ramadan as compared to the last two years. While everyone has different plans on how to get through the Holy month, food preparations form a major portion of this planning. Qatar, being home to a culturally diverse population, enjoys a wide range of Ramadan dishes that are popular throughout the month.

Here’s a list of the top nine popular dishes in Ramadan, which everyone in Qatar enjoys:

Sambousa/Samosa

Sambousa, or Samosa as it is popularly called, obviously tops the list because who can say no to fried food for iftar. The snack is quite popular in many Asian and Arab households and makes for the perfect food item to munch on during iftar or a post-Taraweeh break. These are fried or baked triangular pastries that can be filled with a wide array of stuffings, as per preference. The most common fillings are spicy potatoes, minced meat, veggies, or cheese. Some people even make them sweet!

Samosas are mostly made in all households during Ramadan. However, many small cafeterias and restaurants make it, so it is pretty much widely available at most Indian and Arabic cafes.

Harees/Haleem

Again a shared dish across many Arabian and Asian cultures, hares/Haleem form an integral part of Ramadan dish preparations. The dish is a heavy porridge made of shredded meat, wheat, and lentils. The dish could be mildly seasoned with basic spices or have a lot of rich, full spices to it, depending on personal tastes. While Harees is a milder, less spicy version, the Haleem is a richer, spicier variant. Both make for excellent energy-giving meals for iftar and suhoor.

Haleem is available at most Indian-Pakistani cafes such as Royal Mehfil, Pak Pakwan, New Shane Lahore, Hyderabadi Spices, and Pistachio Restaurant. Harees is available at Arab restaurants such as Desert Rose café, Kashta Restaurant, AlKout Kitchens, Orient Pearl, Al Ghariyah Kitchens and many more.

Kebabs

Kebabs are an intrinsically important food item for many households during Ramadan. Many rely on the spiced meaty (mutton, chicken, or beef) patties for their daily protein intake and also to gain more energy for the entire course of the day. Kebabs come in various marinations and can again be eaten as a dish in itself or accompanied with bread, chapati, or rice.

Popular kebab versions include shami kebabs, seekh kebabs, joojeh, burra, koftas, chapli, koobideh, and so many more. You can always order some great kebabs from any Pakistani, Iranian, or Turkish restaurant.

Luqaimat

The list would absolutely be incomplete without a dessert mention and we are sure Luqaimat tops the one. These sweet, deep-fried dumplings are dipped in sugar syrup or coated in date syrup. These could turn pretty addictive so you need to watch yourself around them. Luqaimat makes for a pretty sweet snack at the end of a long day of fasting.

Luqaimat can be bought by the kilo at many traditional sweet shops like Lebanon Modern Bakery, Darb Al Zalaq Kitcghen, New Zam Zam Bakery, Al Watan Kitchen, and Jabri Sweets and Restaurants.

Qatayef

Another popular sweet snack, Qatayef is a form of sweet dumpling that is usually filled with cream or nuts. It resembles a folded pancake and could be fried or baked. Qatayef is eaten either crunchy or soft and it is definitely very addictive.

Qatayef can be ordered from Al Aker Sweets or Dr.Kanafa.

Harira soup

Harira is eaten throughout the year, yet it holds more importance in Ramadan as a really good energy-giving dish to eat during Iftar and suhoor. Harira soup is a savory soup is a rich broth that takes its flavor from lentils, tomatoes, and meat broth. The overall dish makes for a very hearty, warm meal. Harira soup is available at Argan Restaurant, Tajeen Restaurant, The Mezze House, and Tipaza Grill Restaurant.

Chana/Chhole

Undoubtedly high on fibre, chana or chhole are chickpeas that are cooked in a myriad of spices and served for iftar. Not only are they high on energy, but chana also makes for a good meal to fill up on for a long night of prayers ahead. Chana is boiled and seasoned with mild spices or could be cooked with lots of tomatoes, spices and herbs for a rich, hearty meal. The dish may be eaten as itself or along with rice or rotis.

Chana masala is available at New Shaheen Restaurant, Lahore Restaurant, Roof Garden Restaurant, Lyari Darbar, and Taste of Asia Restaurant.

Thareed

Also popularly called the Arab lasagna, Thareed is a traditional dish that has pieces of bread cooked in a vegetable or meat broth. This makes for an ideal meal with the right amount of wholesome carbs, protein, and fiber in a wholesome stew. While nothing beats homemade thareed, the ones available in restaurants are also really good. You can order yourself a bowl from Muglat Harees Al Waldah, Hareesna, Darb Al Zalag, or Hot Shot Café.

Umm Ali

There’s a lot of fan-following for Umm Ali, which is a popular Ramadan dessert. The dish is a traditional version of a bread pudding layered with pastry, soaking in sweetened milk, and topped with nuts and raisins. The entire mixture also contains hits of slight cardamom, cinnamon or even saffron and the variations are also really satisfying. Umm Ali can be eaten warm or cold and is available at Yoza Restaurant, Al Khaima, Oumi Asha Traditional Foods, Desert Rose Café, Papa Kanafa, Poori & Karak, and so many others.

 What has your favorite Ramadan dish been, so far? Let us know!